A UNIQUE new exhibition has opened at Spaceport in Seacombe that will give visitors a chance to access data from the world's largest robotic telescope.

The Observatory, a joint initiative by Spaceport, Liverpool John Moores University's Astrophysics Research Institute and Merseytravel, is the first of its kind in the UK.

Visitors will get a chance to access data from the Liverpool Telescope, which is situated in La Palma in the Canary Islands.

They will be able to interact with computer generated images using a user-friendly interactive touch screen personal observation decks to surf the sky.

They can join up stars to map out constellations then drill down for information of particular stars in addition to viewing planets in our solar system such as Mars and Jupiter.

Professor Mike Bode, director of the Astrophysics Research Institute, said: "The observatory allows visitors to explore a large CGI image of the night sky as seen by the Liverpool Telescope.

"They can then "observe" and find out about thousands of astronomical objects - from planets and stars to nebulae and distant galaxies."

The exhibition was officially launched by Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Andrew Miller, chairman of the House of Commons science and technology committee.

He said: "The wonders of our universe are a great way to get children interested in science and I congratulate John Moores and Spaceport for their continuing partnership."