Jodrell Bank Observatory has announced an opening date for its state-of-the-art visitor attraction.

The eagerly-anticipated First Light Pavilion is set to open on 4 June, 2022.

The centre’s £21.5 million investment will give further visibility into the inspiration history of Jodrell Bank, which is a proud UNESCO Heritage Centre.

DCMS and the National Lottery Heritage Fund have invested £21.5 million into this Jodrell Bank project.

First Light Pavilion will be a permanent exhibition, designed by Casson Mann. Guests will be immersed into Jodrell Bank’s rich history and science, dating back to 1945.

Exhibition audiences will be able to see a whole host of notable archive materials brought together through audio, film, diaries, letters, notebooks and photographs. Artefacts will include personal items belonging to Jodrell Bank’s founder, Sir Bernard Lovell.

The new visitor attraction will feature a cutting-edge auditorium, featuring a curved projection screen and nine digital projectors for a unique planetarium-style show.

The building was designed by the award-winning architects HASSELL Studio consisting of a grass-topped 76 metre diameter dome and mirrors the shape of the Lovell Telescope.

Professor Tim Anderson, Director at Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement is the brains behind First Light: “After years of planning, we are thrilled to finally be able to announce the opening of First Light. This moment will mark a whole new chapter for Jodrell Bank. We’re looking forward to welcoming our first visitors through the doors and into this beautiful new space.”