Earlier this week, local artist Greg Joughin created a super-sized artwork on Douglas beach intended to be photographed by a high resolution imaging satellite.

The artistic installation took the form of the triskellion, embellished with Celtic knots, and the wording ’2018 Year of Our Island’.

It was ’painted’ by Greg and his helpers using paint rollers to create patterns in the sand.

The public were also invited to get involved with their own temporary art displays for a potential ’space mob’ - a pre-arranged gathering of people carrying out activities to be seen from space.

But don’t worry if you missed it because it is hoped there will be an opportunity to stage another space mob on the island in July.

Chairman of the 2018 Year of Our Island political board, Chris Thomas MHK, said: ’These occasions offer a great opportunity to take part in something a little bit different.’

In other parts of the world, people have made temporary designs and words using blankets, straw bales, and even people.

’They need to be at least 10 metres by 10 metres to be seen properly in the satellite imagery.

Paulo Godinho of DigitalGlobe said: ’Satellite imagery and the information derived from it has become ubiquitous in our everyday lives.

’This is a fascinating initiative to get people excited about space.’

You can share your space mob images on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to the @ourisland2018 account using the hashtags #spacemob and #spaceart.

For more information about the space mob event in July, see www.ourisland.im or www.facebook.com/ourisland2018.