Sir, May I ask the Astronomer Royal to fix more events such as last weekend’s total lunar eclipse?
Without prior arrangement, about one-eighth of the residents of our estate found themselves outside their flats, together, observing this heavenly extravaganza. Most did not know each other and, for some two hours, strangers chatted, laughed, looked and learnt — all with a common interest and free of charge. A cutting from Saturday’s Times provided a useful briefing paper.
I’d like to think that friends and strangers came together, in similar ways, throughout the country and across the northern hemisphere. More good may have been done by one eclipsed full moon, and a clear night’s serendipitous stargazing, than many a more formally organised event aimed at bringing people