A spectacular sight is appearing in Weymouth and Dorchester to commemorate 50 years since man landed on the Moon. Joanna Davis finds out what we can expect from the Moon celebrations.

TAKE yourself to the Moon and back this weekend and next.

Big lunar celebrations are in order to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing in 1969.

Luke Jerram’s internationally acclaimed Museum of the Moon has travelled all over the world and wowed people.

Now it is making its way to Dorset for the first time.

You can see this seven metre diameter spherical sculpture, which features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface at Weymouth's Nothe Fort today and tomorrow and at Maumbury Rings in Dorchester - which will be known as Moonbury Rings for the occasion - next weekend.

Visitors to the moon in Weymouth will be able to enjoy artwork alongside the sculpture.

There will be a sound installation inspired by the wolf's howl, silent disco headsets and a short performance of collective drawing made by audience participation inspired by Neil Armstrong's iconic words.

People can also see an immersive digital experience inspired by Eugene Cernan’s Apollo 17 helmet.

Steven Booth, Nothe Fort marketing manager, said: “This is a venue like no other in Dorset and we feel visitors will connect with this in a very different way than the other indoor venues in Dorset. The unique setting, on the stunning world famous Jurassic Coast, will be truly a wonderful experience especially at night over the historic wall of this Victorian Fort. You will have to be there to truly take in this amazing sculpture and piece of art. There is a scientific and spiritual dimension to this attraction as well as providing entertainment, promoting cultural tourism, the performing arts and quite reflection."

Dorset Moon in Weymouth neatly coincides with the Dorset Seafood Festival at Weymouth Harbour and offers visitors, who may not be naturally drawn to an arts event, the chance to add a visit to the moon alongside their foodie experience.

*More than 3,500 people are expected to come and see the Moon in Dorchester on Friday, July 19 will be marked with a lantern parade leaving Dorchester Corn Exchange at 6.15pm and heading to Maumbury Rings.

From 7.15pm to 8.30pm there will be a parade through the rings and a warm-up for a huge music performance in the rings, which begins at 8.30pm.

The voices of 500 Dorchester schoolchildren will ring out. Youngsters from St Mary’s CE Middle School, Puddletown, Dorchester Middle School; St Osmund’s CE Middle School, Dorchester and The Thomas Hardye School will be accompanied by choirs including the Quangle Wangle choir.

Geof Edge, a guitar teacher, has written a song called Touch the Moon for the audience to sing on the night as part of the performance. The words and music are available in a simple form at moonburyrings.co.uk and everyone can gather family, friends and colleagues together and join in. The composition will be supported with images and audio.

Geof has been busy rehearsing the cantata with the youngsters. He has previously written music for 1,200 singers from Surrey schools to sing at The Barbican in London.

"I can't wait for it," he said. "I think it's going to be a fantastic event. I'm delighted by the support which has been given by Dorchester Arts and other funding bodies."

Saturday, July 20 will see the return of the popular open air cinema event hosted by Dorchester Youth Extra.

Movie lovers will be able to see Wallace and Gromit in A Grand Day Out at 4pm, followed by WALL-E at 4.30pm and rounding off with Apollo 13 at 6.45pm.

People can stay on after the films and enjoy the spectacle of the Museum of the Moon with a background of lunar themed music until 10pm.

On Sunday, July 21 from noon to 4pm there will be a free science fun day called Learn To Be An Astronaut where people can meet astronomers, astrophysicists, chemists, engineers, physicists, mathematicians and rocket scientists.

Keith Wright, who worked on the original Apollo 11 rocket and will be taking part in Sunday’s science event said: “I am so pleased and proud that Dorchester has decided to commemorate this auspicious anniversary so well, particularly as schools are the centre of the celebration.

"I think that it is the involvement of the schools that that convinced me to get involved as I strongly support the use of space flight to encourage children to be enthused about STEM subjects”.

Anyone who isn't able to make it to the performance can still get involved. Dorchester Arts is collecting 'moon memories' and wants to know where people were on July 20, 1969.

Were you glued to the TV all night long or a small child watching with wonder? Perhaps you were experiencing your own personal milestone at the time like getting married or having a baby?

Or perhaps you weren't born and have grown up listening to tales from family members or fell in love under the light of the moon and want to talk about it. Whatever your story, Dorchester Arts wants to hear it. Send them to Dorchester Arts at @apollo@dorchesterarts.org.uk or tag them @moonburyrings on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

*Dorset Moon, Nothe Fort, Weymouth, View the Museum of the Moon from midday to midnight, Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14. Admission is free. See dorsetmoon.com for more information.

*Moonbury Rings, Dorchester, July 19 to 21. Apollo - One Giant Leap - Friday, July 19; Open Air Cinema - Saturday, July 20; Be an Astronaut Day - Sunday July 21, 12pm to 4pm. View the Museum of the Moon from 6pm to 11 pm on July 19; from 4pm to 10pm on July 20 and from 12pm to 4pm on July 21. Admission is free.