Heather Couper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heather Couper CBE FInstP FRAS
Heather Anita Couper
Born	Heather Anita Couper (1949-06-02)2 June 1949 Wallasey, England
Died	19 February 2020(2020-02-19) (aged 70) Aylesbury, England
Awards	CBE FInstP FRAS Sir Arthur Clarke Award
Scientific career
Fields	Astronomy
Institutions	Cambridge Observatory Greenwich Planetarium Pioneer Productions

Heather Anita Couper (born June 2, 1949 – died February 19, 2020) was a famous British astronomer, TV and radio presenter, and a great explainer of science. She made learning about space fun for many people.

Heather studied astrophysics, which is a branch of astronomy, at the University of Leicester. She also researched galaxy clusters at Oxford University. Later, she became a senior lecturer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Heather hosted popular TV shows like The Planets and The Stars. She also presented award-winning radio programs such as Britain’s Space Race. Heather was the president of the British Astronomical Association and a professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London. An asteroid was even named after her: 3922 Heather.

Early Life and Discovering Space

Heather Couper was born on June 2, 1949, in Wallasey, England. When she was about seven or eight years old, something amazing happened. Her father was an airline pilot, and she was watching planes in the night sky. Suddenly, she saw a bright green meteor flash across the sky!

Her parents didn't believe her at first. But the next day, a newspaper headline talked about a "green shooting star." This made Heather realize that space was full of incredible things. From that moment on, she decided she wanted to become an astronomer.

When she was 16, Heather wrote to the famous British TV astronomer Patrick Moore. She asked him if a girl could have a career in astronomy. He wrote back saying, "being a girl is no problem at all!" This encouraged her greatly.

Heather's Amazing Career

Becoming an Astronomer

In 1969, Heather joined the Cambridge Observatory as a research assistant. She became a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1970. She earned her degree in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Leicester in 1973. There, she met another astronomy student, Nigel Henbest. They teamed up to form Hencoup Enterprises, a company focused on making astronomy popular for everyone.

From 1977 to 1983, Heather was a senior lecturer at the Caird Planetarium in Greenwich. She then became a freelance writer and broadcaster. In 1984, she made history by becoming the first woman and the second-youngest person to be elected President of the British Astronomical Association. She also led the Junior Astronomical Society from 1987 to 1989. In 1993, Heather was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College. She was the first female professor in the college's 400-year history!

Writing About Space

Starting in 1978, Heather wrote over 40 popular books about astronomy and space. Many of these books were written with Nigel Henbest. Reviewers often said that Heather and Nigel were "great storytellers."

Her articles appeared in top science magazines like BBC Sky at Night and New Scientist. She also wrote a column for The Independent online newspaper.

Chasing Eclipses

Heather loved solar eclipses. In 1999, she gave important talks about the total solar eclipse that was visible from the British Isles. She also led trips to see total solar eclipses in many different parts of the world. These included places like Sumatra (1988), Hawaii (1991), Egypt (2006), and China (2009).

Public Speaking and Travel

Heather traveled all over the world giving lectures and talks. She spoke in countries from the US to China, and from Colombia to New Zealand. She was a special guest speaker on cruise ships like the Arcadia and the Queen Mary 2.

In 1986, Heather flew on the Concorde supersonic jet from London to New Zealand. While flying high above the Indian Ocean, she helped passengers see Halley's Comet. She also appeared at many festivals, sharing her love for science with large audiences.

Radio and TV Star

Heather presented many shows on BBC Radio 4, including Starwatch and Cosmic Quest. She won the 2008 Sir Arthur Clarke Award for her radio program Britain's Space Race. She also appeared on other BBC radio stations, sharing her knowledge of space.

On television, Heather was a regular guest on The Sky at Night with Patrick Moore. She presented children's series like Heavens Above and major series like The Planets and The Stars for Channel 4. She also narrated many factual TV programs, explaining complex science topics in an easy-to-understand way.

Behind the Scenes: TV Production

In 1988, Heather, along with Nigel Henbest and Stuart Carter, started Pioneer Productions. This company creates factual TV programs. Heather presented their first documentary, The Neptune Encounter, which covered the Voyager 2 spacecraft's flyby of Neptune. As a producer, she helped create award-winning shows like Black Holes and Electric Skies. She left Pioneer Productions in 1999 to focus more on her radio and TV appearances.

The Millennium Commission

In 1993, Heather was asked to join the Millennium Commission. This group was in charge of giving out money from the National Lottery. The money was used for projects that would celebrate the new millennium. Heather was one of only two commissioners who stayed with the group from the very beginning until it finished its work in 2009.

For her important work on the Millennium Commission and for helping the public learn about science, Heather was given a special honor. She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2007.

Death

Heather Couper passed away on February 19, 2020, at the age of 70, after a short illness.

Awards and Recognition

Heather Couper received many awards for her work:

• Times Educational Supplement Senior Information Book Award 1987
• Honorary Doctor of Letters, Loughborough University 1991
• Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Hertfordshire 1994
• Honorary Doctor of Science, Leicester University 1994
• Gold Medal, New York Festivals 1993, 1995, 1998
• Banff Rockie Award 1995
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 2007

Radio Shows Presented

• With Great Pleasure, 1987, BBC Radio 4
• Down Your Way, 1989, BBC Radio 4
• Seeing Stars (monthly series), 1990–2001, BBC World Service
• The Modern Magi, 1995, BBC Radio 4
• Starwatch (6-part series), 1996, BBC Radio 4
• Naming the Universe (5-part series), 1999, BBC Radio 4
• The Essential Guide to the 21st Century (5-part series), 2000, BBC World Service
• Red Planet (3-part series), 2003, BBC Radio 4
• Worlds Beyond (3-part series), 2004/5, BBC Radio 4
• Arthur C. Clarke: the Science and the Fiction, 2005, BBC Radio 4/BBC World Service
• A Brief History of Infinity (2-part series), 2006, BBC World Service
• Britain’s Space Race, 2006, BBC Radio 4, winner of the 2008 Sir Arthur Clarke Award
• Cosmic Quest (30-part series), 2008, BBC Radio 4

TV Shows and Documentaries