I MUST reply to Robert Holmes letter and relieve him of his "terrible guilt" (May 13). Unless he is more than 500 years old or a regular time traveller, he could not have possibly started the blight of the Dark Ages, but neither am I an Astronomer Royal. My passion is merely the love of astronomy.

However we do have a common healthy suspicion of estate agents who are at present attempting to con the public out of their hard earned cash in buying lunar real estate, or offering the gullible punter with promises of having a star or asteroid named after them.

From such misconceptions may the Good Lord protect us!

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, May 22, 2002