THURROCK Thameside Nature Park has been named as one of the top six UK sites to receive a “giant image” to mark the Hubble Telescope’s 25th anniversary.
The eco-park has received the accolade due to its connections with star-gazing and astronomy.
The special European Space Agency image will be unveiled next Thursday by Dr Stuart Eaves, lead mission concept engineer at aerospace company Astrium, and Alexander Scott, president of the British Interplanetary Society.
The image is being kept secret until the unveiling.
Renae Laybourn, centre manager at the visitor centre, said: “We are really proud and excited to have been chosen and really looking forward to actually seeing and visiting the image. We are going to have it for a long time.”
The park runs regular astronomy evenings, which meet on the rooftop of the centre to take part in stargazing.
Opened in 2012 by Sir David Attenborough, the park receives more than 80,000 visitors a year.
The park is also exploring some of the latest technology to look at producing methane and renewable energy from landfill to power local homes.
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