ROGATE Primary school pupils and village children were able to get up close and personal with pieces of rock from Mars and the moon, at a Dark Skies evening.

And it ended with a final surprise – a good luck video message to the from British astronaut Major Tim Peake, who grew up and went to school in Chichester.

There was also an introduction to astronomy from Clanfield Observatory experts and the chance to win a book signed by American astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

The activities were organised by the Rogate School Family and Friends association (RSFF) on the first night of the South Downs National Park Dark Skies Festival, on Saturday, February 11.

RSFF spokesman Neil Ryder said: “The children and their parents were able to handle a 1.2 billion-year-old piece of Mars, a 4.3 billion-year-old nickel meteorite, as well as lunar samples collected in the early 1970s during NASA’s missions 15,16 and 17 – all lent out free by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Volunteers from the Hampshire Astronomical Group at Clanfield brought their telescope for the children to observe stars and planets and there was also a book signed by Buzz Aldrin as the first prize in a raffle.

Rogate head teacher Amy O’Toole said: “It’s one thing taking children to a museum – and we do that too.

“But there’s nothing like being able to handle the oldest object they’ll ever hold, and bits of Mars and the Moon, to fire children’s imaginations. It can lead into all sorts of discussion on science, history, maths, you name it – but this sort of experience is also invaluable for inspiring imaginative writing, which is a particular focus for the school.

“We are very lucky to have the support of parents and friends that can put together this sort of special event for us.”

And William Briggs, a six-year-old in Year Two, was just one child delighted with the evening.

He said: “I saw Venus and stars through the awesome telescopes and I held a meteorite.”