It’s not often that a 3D, 6 foot in diameter rotating Earth comes to town. But then it’s not everyday that it’s the Oxford Festival of the Arts, the two week city wide celebration of culture and the arts.

This year, the big hitters are out as acclaimed British artist Luke Jerram, creator of Gaia (and also Mars and Museum of the Moon), joins the line-up. Free to all, Gaia hangs magnificently from the nave of University Church of St Mary the Virgin on the High Street. Low enough to give you a sense of closeness and high enough to evade the outstretched hands of children on shoulders, this internally lit artwork is 2.1 million times smaller than the actual Earth. Yet somehow it feels huge. And it’s so close, yet looks so far away. As well as being a visual experience, there is an accompanying surround sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones. The pews in the church are still in place and some visitors were sitting, gazing up, whilst others walked around taking in every detail. Children stood underneath, necks craned upwards, whilst others lay on the ground and soaked up the whole experience.

Gaia is on until the 10th July. Make sure to visit because it’s so much more than a rotating Earth, it feels like a once in a lifetime glimpse of the Earth.