February 2026 – HELIOS, exhibition at Peterborough cathedral

HELIOS, A STUNNING EXHIBITION AT PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL

HELIOS, the latest artwork from LUKE JERRAM, was on display at the historic city venue in February 2026. Suspended from the Cathedral ceiling and measuring an extraordinary seven metres in diameter, the internally illuminated sculpture presents the Sun at an unprecedented scale, offering visitors a rare and powerful opportunity to experience its surface in remarkable detail.

Below: Photos taken by Jackie Robinson from the Anglo-French Association of Peterborough

Using 72dpi imagery created from high-resolution photographs by astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green (2018–2024), alongside data from NASA, Helios reproduces the Sun at a scale of approximately 1:200 million – where every centimetre represents 2,000km of the Sun’s surface. This striking scientific accuracy allows audiences to safely observe features such as sunspots, spicules, filaments, and even the solar flare source regions linked to the dramatic Northern Lights seen across the UK in May 2024. Scientific guidance for the artwork was provided by solar scientist Professor Lucie Green (UCL).The installation is accompanied by a specially commissioned surround-sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson, weaving together birdsong, choral textures, global musical influences, manipulated fire recordings and NASA mission audio. The result is an immersive soundscape that evokes both the immense power of the Sun and its enduring cultural significance. Drawing on ancient Greek mythology, the artwork takes its name from Helios, the Sun god who was believed to drive his four-horse chariot across the sky each day, bringing light, seasons and life to the world.

Following the tremendous success of Museum of the Moon, Gaia and Mars here at the Cathedral, “Luke Jerram’s installations have captivated our visitors time and again said Gary Cowling, Events Manager at Peterborough Cathedral.