But this year’s New Zealand International Science Festival will dispel the romantic image once and for all, by bringing a giant replica of the moon to Dunedin this July.
Festival director Dan Hendra said the art installation by British artist Luke Jerram — titled Our Moon: Then, Now and Beyond — consisted of a large inflatable orb with a rotating projector inside, projecting one of Nasa’s high resolution images of the moon on to its surface.
"It’s incredibly detailed," he said.
"You probably can’t quite see Neil Armstrong’s footprints on it, but people who have seen it before, say it’s absolutely phenomenal.
"It’s about as close as ‘us normal people’ are ever going to get to the moon."
The moon will be on display in Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s rehearsal facility, Hanover Hall, from July 8 to 18.
"To bring a global artwork of this calibre to Dunedin as part of the festival is just brilliant. It’s such an out of this world spectacle to see."
In addition, popular demand has prompted the festival organisers to bring back virtual reality experiences, which will allow visitors to walk on the moon, kayak the Grand Canyon or run among dinosaurs.
Mr Hendra said a pop-up virtual reality and gaming centre would be set up and allow visitors to play, engage and discover new worlds.
"The festival has partnered with Code and the local gaming industry to showcase the incredible work being done right here in Dunedin."
The festival has also been able to combine theatre and science to create another Big Science Show, which promises all the serious fun of previous shows plus many new wow-factor experiments in the College of Education Auditorium.
The events are among more than 150 planned for this year’s International Science Festival, he said.
"We’re really excited about this and we expect it to be our biggest festival yet."
The full programme will be revealed on June 3.
