'We Are Stardust' brings true beauty of astrophysics to Light Night Leeds
A giant projection inspired by University of Leeds astrophysics research will headline the institution's biggest-ever contribution to Light Night Leeds.
Research from the School of Physics and Astronomy will be transformed into a large-scale artwork on the side of the Laidlaw Library as part of the city-wide event on 28 and 29 October.
Created by artist-researcher Daksha Patel, 'We Are Stardust' combines scientific visualisations, music and digital art to tell the story of how stars, planets and ultimately life itself came to exist. The installation draws on research from Leeds astronomers studying everything from the birth of giant planets to the collision of supermassive black holes.
The artwork forms part of the University's biggest-ever contribution to Light Night Leeds, with 18 installations and performances across campus. Visitors will also be able to explore research-inspired artworks centred on geothermal energy, woodland regeneration, music, dance and cultural heritage.
One of the researchers behind the piece is Dr Alison Young, Stephen Hawking Fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Her supercomputer simulations of giant planet formation feature prominently in the projection, bringing complex astrophysics research into a public setting.
She said: "Physics research seems mysterious to a lot of people, so it's great that you can come and see it on a wall in huge, illuminated displays!
"You might notice a lot of spiral patterns – from galaxies to nascent solar systems to hurricanes, we see similar structures, that are quite beautiful when you really look at them."
A taster of what's to come from the 'We Are Stardust' Laidlaw Library projection on Light Night Leeds 2026. (Credit: Daksha Patel, Dr Alison Young)
Growing up in Devon, Dr Young's fascination with the night sky inspired her career in astrophysics. She hopes the artwork will encourage others to share that sense of curiosity.
I hope people will see this piece and be inspired to look at the stars, to ask more questions and learn about research at the University.
Alongside contemporary research, the installation incorporates the work of Dr Florence Bell, the Leeds scientist who helped discover DNA's structure through X-ray crystallography.
Handwritten equations preserved in the University's Cultural Collections appear in the projection, linking historic scientific discovery with modern astronomical research.
The piece also features simulations created by PhD researcher Conall Kavanagh, whose work explores how supermassive black holes evolve after galaxies merge. These sit alongside open-source NASA imagery and creative code-generated sequences to create an immersive visual experience.
Daksha Patel said: "I'm fascinated by scientific visualisations because they can change our perception and understanding of the world by revealing what can't be seen by the naked eye. During this project, I was struck by the incredible work of scientists using supercomputers to model and visualise the origins of the universe.
"'We Are Stardust' tells a visual story about how stars and planets are formed, and ultimately, how life on Earth was born out of the powerful forces in the universe."
So much more to enjoy on campus
This year’s Light Night Leeds at the University will be the biggest ever, with 18 installations and performances.
The much-loved carnival performance by RJC Dance, illuminated by costumes designed and produced at the University, will return as a vibrant dance inspired by Greek mythology.
An evening of otherworldly, nocturnal and Gothic piano music exploring vampires, creatures of the night and the supernatural is also on offer at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery. It complements the ‘Quite Shameless’ exhibition, which explores the rich and unsettling legacy of the vampire, and is open specially for the evenings at Light Night Leeds.
Curious visitors can also experience student works, including a giant glowing puppet of Mother Earth; original compositions from School of Music students with poetry, dance and moving images; and lanterns decorated with sun-printed silhouettes of plants. Generous donations from thousands of alumni and University supporters funded the student commissions.
Discover the full programme on open up, the University’s arts and culture box office website.
Further information
- Lead image caption: 'Recut, Retake, Regrow', last year’s projection onto the Laidlaw Library. Credit: Skywall Photography
- For media enquiries, please contact Faculty Communications Manager Matt Gardner at M.D.Gardner@leeds.ac.uk.
