Mr.Frank Hyde (54) an electronics engineer and amateur astronomer, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, has received a grant from the National Aeronautics Space Administration organization whose headquarters are in Washington.

The grant has been made to enable Mr.Hyde to assist the Florida State University in the observation of Jupiter to establish the relationship that exists between radiation from the Sun and radiation from Jupiter.The project is due to begin next month (May) and the grant enables special equipment to be flown from America for Mr.Hyde's use.

Some of the equipment has already been installed alongside Mr.Hyde's own equipment.Mr.Hydes observatory is a "fortress" at St.Osyth, or Clacton, overlooking the marshes.He bought the old Martello Tower two years ago, and has mainly built all the aerials which stand outside.Tower was originally built as an anti-invasion fortress during the Napoleonic wars.Mr.Hyde was one of the pioneers of radio astronomy and started his hobby in 1935.

Mr.Hyde said today "The observations will begin in May and will continue several months.Then they will be resumed again next year.I have been asked to assist in the observations so that the maximum information can be discovered.Recording is only possible for about 4 hours a day at each observing station." Mr.Hyde added that the University of Grahamestown, South Africa, had also given notice of their intentions to join in the experiment.