Space travel celebrated

The annual celebration of Yuri Gagarin’s first space flight, 55 years ago, will be celebrated by the Dumfries Astronomy Society and museum volunteers with a range of activities.
From 6 pm to 8 pm there will be a chance to dress like an astronaut, taste space food, make models of Jupiter, draw pastel aurora pictures, make a pinwheel galaxy and learn how space robots detect smells.
Also, the Triathlon Trust will be back at the museum with their Space to Earth Challenge — see how far you can cycle in a minute and try to clock up the 400km to the Space Station.
Writer Andrew J Wilson has also been invited to read his poetry and extracts from a science fiction story.
Chairman of the council’s customer and community services councillor Tom McAughtrie said: “Tim Peake’s participation in the Principia Space Mission has really captured the nations’ imagination.
“It is good to see the museum, with its historical associations with astronomy, working in partnership with the Dumfries Astronomy Society to provide this fun learning opportunity for all ages.”
Refreshments will be available for a small donation.