Giant replica of earth goes on display in Britain

Britain's biggest church, Liverpool Cathedral, became the latest landing place for a 7-m replica of the earth on Saturday.

A woman walks past British artist Luke Jerram's giant earth installation in Hong Kong, China, May 2, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Following its display in China's Hong Kong, the artwork is put on exhibit in the cathedral in Liverpool in northwestern England until June 23, which was created by British artist Luke Jerram with detailed NASA satellite imagery of the earth's surface.

"It's an opportunity to see our planet floating above your head in Liverpool Cathedral," a spokesperson of the cathedral said.

The 3D installation, also known as Gaia, rotates once every four minutes, 360 times faster than the real planet. During certain times of the day, a special surround sound composed by multi-award winning composer Dan Jones will be played.

Liverpool's Deputy Mayor Wendy Simon said: "The environment and climate change is high on the news agenda and as well as being stunning to look at, Gaia is a thought-provoking piece of art which will allow us to appreciate the fragility of the world we live in."

Jerram said: "I hope visitors to 'the earth' in Liverpool get to see our planet as if from space, as a floating fragile ball of life, an incredibly beautiful and precious ecosystem, and a place we urgently need to look after, our only home."