An astronomy professor from Loosley Row is set to become an astronaut after buying a ticket to space with Virgin Galactic.

Professor Nigel Henbest, who lives in Lower Road, is due to become one of the first 1000 people to take a trip with Virgin Galactic in a few years time.

He said: “I bought my ticket to space in 2009 and now I'm waiting to find out when I go.

“The accident they had before Christmas means it has been delayed quite a lot but I don’t mind too much because it means they are looking at safety issues.

“I've done my weightless training and after I’m done publicising my new book I plan to book my centrifuge course in America.”

Richard Branson is passenger number one and Professor Henbest is set to be passenger 249.

He said: “If they make one journey a week I should be going up to space a year after the first flight.”

The astronomer, who has been interested in everything to do with the night's sky from a young age, said going into space on a three hour experience is ‘a dream come true’.

“At the moment I’m feeling nine-tenths excitement and a little bit of nerves. I'm sure I will have butterflies in my tummy when I go up.

“Most of my fellow passengers are adventurers, not astronomers like me but I just can’t wait to see space.”

The Professor and author has also written a guide to the galaxy just in time for the solar eclipse today.

He wrote The Astronomy Bible with his friend and colleague Heather Couper.

The book is a comprehensive guide to navigating the night sky and demonstrates how to identify constellations, comets and planets.

As well as providing tips and hints to stargazing, the book also has a handy guide to safely viewing the solar eclipse, the next one occurring this morning.

Professor Henbest said: “The eclipse of the sun is due to be around 90% here and we cover that in the book. It’s going to be the biggest eclipse we will see in Britain in our lifetime.

“We were writing this book for most of last year. It’s intended to be a practical guide to going out and looking at the night’s sky and it even tells you what telescopes to buy.

“It has pictures that people have taken from telescopes in their own garden; it’s absolutely stunning what we can do these days.

“There is something for everyone in this book.”

The Astronomy Bible is priced at £14.99, available in all good book shops and online at amazon.co.uk in paperback and Kindle edition.