TV ASTRONOMER Sir Patrick Moore agreed this week to attend Norman Lockyer Observatory s Astronomy Fair in August.

TV ASTRONOMER Sir Patrick Moore agreed this week to attend Norman Lockyer Observatory's Astronomy Fair in August. A keen supporter of the Salcombe Hill observatory near Sidmouth, Sir Patrick, 85, who has presented BBC's Sky at Night since 1957, has visited the site before, opening its planetarium and Mond Dome in 1995. His passion for astronomy was sparked by picking up, at the age of six, his mother's 1898 edition of G F Chambers' book Story of the Solar System.

David Strange, 55, chief observer at the observatory, said: "We were told on Wednesday that he would like to come and we are very honoured. There is a good chance he will come for the day.