The Smith Centre at the Science Museum, opened by her Majesty the Queen on 24 October 2006, pioneered a new facility for promoting Britain's scientific heritage and its relevance to the modern world. Funded by the Martin Smith Foundation, it is used to bring together scientists, policy makers, business people and the public in rooms displaying special exhibitions of the Science Museum's treasures.

The inaugural exhibition, The Most Sublime Science: Treasures from the Astronomy Collection, focuses on amateur astronomy in the Enlightenment. There were five show-cases and much 2D material, often not previously exhibited. The exhibition was not open to the general public, and the Society was invited to go and see it, with a talk and tour by the curator, Dr Jane Wess.

The timing was chosen to follow conveniently after the Jesse Ramsden talk on the afternoon of the same day, so that members could attend both events.

Our pictures show two instruments from the Smith Centre's inaugural exhibition that SIS members will be able to see if they book for this event:

1). An orrery by Thomas Wright c.1720

2). A Moon Globe by James Russell 1797