Stephen Hawking visits asteroid spotting observatory
Knighton's Spaceguard Centre is there to make sure the Earth is not caught off guard by an asteroid on a devastating collision course, but its owner was given a surprise of his own when a touring party included world famous physicist Stephen Hawking.
Mr Hawking, the author of 'A Brief History of Time' visited the centre last Saturday.
Jay Tate, owner of the observatory, admitted surprise at seeing that the booking for four had included Mr Hawking.
Mr Tate said that the tour explains the purpose of the centre, which provides information to the Minor Planet Centre in America, advising about comets and asteroids.
He said: "It deals with what we do, the hazard from asteroids, from comets, what the hazard is, how great a hazard is and how we can deal with it."
The centre provides educational trips for school, is the national "near earth object information centre" providing information to the government, and to America, about potential dangers of asteroids.
Mr Tate said that following the tour Mr Hawking's fellow visitors had been "very complimentary" about the visit.
He said: "It was quite a surprise. The first we knew it was him was when he got out of the van and was wheeled up to the front door."
He added: "I am pleased we were able to welcome him here, we are pleased to welcome anyone who wants to come."
Mr Tate said he admired Mr Hawking's ability to communicate his ideas simply to the public.
He said: "He is a great communicator and a quite brilliant mathematician, probably the most brilliant of the century."
