Heather Couper

[anonymous-user]

Just saw this on the BBC news site, definitely made her mark in astronomy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-5156...

I have used the night sky guides she produced.

[Eric Mc]

Compared to the usual expert guests who turned upon The Sky at Night back in 1979/80, she provided a touch of feminine glamour.

[Beati Dogu]

Damn that's a shame.

Together they published their books under Hencoup I recall. I'm sure I have some around somewhere.

[havoc]

I grew up watching her as much as Sir Patrick.

Definitely a shame...70 is no age nowadays...

[anonymous-user]

havoc said:

I grew up watching her as much as Sir Patrick.

You and me both!

Too young an age indeed.

[Nimby]

I knew her very well at Leicester University in the early 70s: we were both on the Astrosoc committee. We kept in touch for several years after too.
I'll try to find some photos.

[TUS373]

Glad there is a thread dedicated to her. She seemed like a lovely lady. I remember watching her on Blue Peter when it was rather more intellectual than it is in the modern era. She certainly brought a feminine presence and touch into science. She was very attractive too! Very sorry to learn of her passing. Way too young. Maybe there is can extra star in the sky now.

[Eric Mc]

I found this episode of The Sky at Night on You Tube which features Heather and Patrick discussing the life of stars. It was originally broadcast in 1984 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a81H2dAk2So

[zbc]

Very sad. I met her at an event at Herstmonceux probably about 35 years ago when I was considering studying astrophysics or astronomy and even entertaining the possibility of one day hoping to be an astronaut. She was really supportive and serious with me and gave me plenty of useful advice.

[Nimby]

Nimby said:

I knew her very well at Leicester University in the early 70s: we were both on the Astrosoc committee. We kept in touch for several years after too.
I'll try to find some photos.

Left is at the Leicester Uni observatory at Oadby. 1972-ish.

[Gary29]

Good memories from my childhood watching her.

Spider plant and a brown phone, that also hits the nostalgia button hard.

Getting older really sucks sometimes.

[JustALooseScrew]

Eric Mc said:

I found this episode of The Sky at Night on You Tube which features Heather and Patrick discussing the life of stars. It was originally broadcast in 1984 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a81H2dAk2So

Thanks for that link.

As a child I remember my dad letting me watch Dr Who, and then the Sky At Night. At teenage years I was watching the black and white Open University on BBC2 before I went to school.

I remember seeing Heather on the telly. We're all destined to die aren't we.

[Eric Mc]

Nobody gets out of life alive, that's for sure.