Stars Support Observatory

An astronomy society has enlisted the support of a host of stars in its campaign to bring an observatory to town.

Crewkerne and District Astronomical Society president Kevin Dodgson wrote to a number of celebrities with an interest in star-gazing in an attempt to help them win planning permission to site a telescope near the town.

He received pledges of support from Sky At Night presenter Patrick Moore, rock legend Brian May and other star-gazing celebrities, but is still awaiting a reply from Professor Stephen Hawking, the radical thinker who wrote A Brief History of Time.

The society is appealing for support from businesses and the community to raise funds for the star-spotter site which could eventually become an educational facility for schools and colleges.

Planning permission for the 13m-long observatory is proving an obstacle because the group need to build it on a greenfield site where there is no interference from street lighting. The building would be 3m high and boast a 50cm-diameter telescope.

Mr Dodgson said: "We are looking for support from local schools and colleges because we want to build this observatory. It is going to be something quite special and there will be a fairly sizeable telescope".