Visitors to Questacon may have noticed something rather huge missing from its main auditorium lately.

The iconic moon installation, which hung from its ceiling for over seven years, has been removed to make way for the science centre’s newest exhibition, Quantum Tomorrow: Imagined Futures.

The new exhibition officially opens on Thursday, 2 July, and will be on display for the next 12 months.

It was developed in collaboration with leading Australian scientists working at the forefront of quantum research and presents the potential of quantum technology.

Despite the moon being removed, it isn’t goodbye forever, with Questacon executive director Jo White confirming it will return in some form in the future.

“The moon was very loved within the walls of Questacon and by a lot of people who have visited over the last seven years,” she said.

“It’s still with us, but it technically was our temporary gallery space. With Quantum, we’ve put something else in its place that we are very excited about, but once we find the right match for the moon, it will come back.”

The centrepiece of Questacon’s new exhibition, Quantum Tomorrow: Imagined Futures, is a huge 15-metre video wall that showcases the possibilities of quantum technology. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.

Replacing the moon are three new, smaller inflatable installations that Ms White described as expressions of where quantum technology could advance in the future.

“The three new features take us across three sorts of quantum possibilities,” she said.

“It talks about communication and how quantum tech could advance communication and sensing technology. In this case, it’s replicating quantum computing and how it can actually absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

“The inflatables give a playful expression to how the technology could be visualised and be there for the future.”

The showpiece of the new exhibition is the huge 15-metre-long video wall featuring an animated illustration by Canberra-based artist Paul Summerfield.

The video wall displays a roughly 40-minute animation that takes visitors on a journey through Australian cities, towns, bushland and farms, highlighting how quantum technologies could be used to detect objects hidden underground, enable ultra-secure communication and design entirely new medications, materials and food.

“The collaboration with Paul Summerfield was massive,” Ms White said.

“He’s come up with some brilliant illustrations, and a massive amount of work’s gone into the 40-minute feature, which takes audiences across night and day, it goes through city, town, country, across sea and land, and even has some lovely Canberra references like the iconic bus shelters thrown in.”

Australia’s former Chief Scientist, Questacon Mind in Residence and exhibition knowledge partner, Dr Cathy Foley, said the technology on display in the exhibition is all about getting students and visitors excited about the future of quantum science.

“This exhibition is a wonderful way to bring that science into public conversation and show that Australia is helping shape the future,” Dr Foley said.

“What’s really important is that an industry needs people who work on it.

“Robots and AI aren’t going to take everything away, but we need our young people to realise their future careers.

“There’ll be at least 16,000 careers in quantum-related technology industries by 2040. Kids coming through the centre now can see that this is a pathway to a job that doesn’t even exist yet.”

Quantum Tomorrow: Imagined Futures is at Questacon from 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. Entry is included with general admission or membership.