Author
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Topic: Patrick Moore, astronomer, broadcaster (1923-2012)
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Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 12-09-2012 07:14 AM
Sad news just announced on the BBC is that Sir Patrick Moore has died. RIP. He "passed away peacefully at 12:25 this afternoon" at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, they said in a statement.Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever. He wrote dozens of books on astronomy and his research was used by the US and the Russians in their space programmes. A statement by his friends and staff said: After a short spell in hospital last week, it was determined that no further treatment would benefit him, and it was his wish to spend his last days in his own home, Farthings, where he today passed on, in the company of close friends and carers and his cat Ptolemy.Over the past few years, Patrick, an inspiration to generations of astronomers, fought his way back from many serious spells of illness and continued to work and write at a great rate, but this time his body was too weak to overcome the infection which set in, a few weeks ago. He was able to perform on his world record-holding TV programme The Sky at Night right up until the most recent episode. His executors and close friends plan to fulfil his wishes for a quiet ceremony of interment, but a farewell event is planned for what would have been Patrick's 90th birthday in March 2013. |
Steve Procter Member Posts: 1031 From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 12-09-2012 07:27 AM
Sorry to report the passing of the great astronomer and TV presenter at the age of 89. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-09-2012 07:31 AM
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DChudwin Member Posts: 1096 From: Lincolnshire IL USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-09-2012 07:37 AM
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Rusty B Member Posts: 239 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 12-09-2012 07:41 AM
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moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 12-09-2012 08:05 AM
Sad news indeed. Patrick and I used to converse quite regularly when I was doing my booklets for the USIS. It was an enjoyable task trying to decipher his scrawl and spot the typos on notes written on his ancient typewriter. I'll never forget the huge encouragement he was in my endeavours. He'll be greatly missed, not just for his achievements in astronomy but also as one of the UK's great eccentrics. |
uk spacefan Member Posts: 168 From: London Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 12-09-2012 08:07 AM
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WAWalsh Member Posts: 809 From: Cortlandt Manor, NY Registered: May 2000
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posted 12-09-2012 08:08 AM
Sir Patrick reckoned that he was the only person to have met the first man to fly, Orville Wright, the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong. He outlived them all. |
Lunar_module_5 unregistered
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posted 12-09-2012 08:08 AM
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OLDIE Member Posts: 268 From: Portsmouth, England Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 12-09-2012 08:15 AM
I first met Sir Patrick on holiday with a company called Transolar Travel. We were going to witness the launch of Apollo 17.One of my last meetings was aboard H.M.S. Warrior, in Portsmouth, when there was a Gala Dinner for the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis. He was a great guy, very, very talented, but also very humble. He'll be sorely missed. |
jasonelam Member Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 12-09-2012 08:18 AM
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john ffoulkes Member Posts: 146 From: United Kingdom Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 12-09-2012 08:45 AM
I met Patrick several times and he was a most interesting person to talk to, and somebody who will be sorely missed. RIP Patrick. |
Apollo14LMP Member Posts: 291 From: UK Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 12-09-2012 08:58 AM
R.I.P. Patrick Moore.Only had contact with this great man once he signed some autographs for me and sent me a typed note from his old typewriter. Very sad news... |
Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-09-2012 09:02 AM
Me and my 10-year old son had the privilege to meet him at his home "FarThings" in Selsey - UK. Sir Patrick Moore inspired thousands of people to look up at the night sky... He'll be missed.R.I.P. |
Dave Shayler Member Posts: 127 From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 12-09-2012 09:05 AM
Very sad news on the passing of Sir Patrick Moore, a gentleman, and inspiration to thousands around the world. I fondly recall watching Patrick on BBC TV during the Apollo missions, along with James Burke of course, and not forgetting Peter Fairley on the ITV. The coverage of each mission was wonderful and the enthusiasm from Patrick certainly helped me, as a young teenager become hooked on 'space'. Though I have a keen interest in the planets, human spaceflight is my passion, and I was over joyed with typed letters from Patrick in response to my questions regarding the Apollo landings. Years later he was kind enough to referee more than one of my book proposals for Springer/Praxis, and we had the chance to meet and chat at a couple of the Autographica events. Indeed one of the highlights was to introduce Patrick for one of the lectures we organised, and later to arrange for him to meet with several astronauts who were equally pleased to meet him. A great photo opportunity followed and it remains one of the favoured memories from the early Autographica shows. Without out doubt, whilst still that young teenager a Christmas present of a book by Sir Patrick was part of the inspiration for me to attempt the challenge of authoring my own articles and books. In fact his early 1969/1970 book 'Moon Flight Atlas' was one of the works which sparked my interest in future Apollo missions, but which in the event did not fly. Over 30 years later my book on the Lost and Forgotten Apollo missions was published, inspired from that early suggestion of what might have been. Thanks to Patrick for providing enough written material to expand to my own space library, and from his regular TV programmes, I felt confident enough to follow his example and write 'about space'. I will be forever thankful for that inspiration and his genuine encouragement in pursuing that goal. This came full circle about a decade ago when watching an episode of The Sky at Night, broadcast from Patrick's home. As he spoke to the camera, my eye ventured to the shelves behind him, crammed with dozens of books... and just over the great man's shoulder were the recognised spines of more than one of my books - WOW! When I mentioned this to him a short time later at Autographica, along with my appreciation of his space library, he smiled and informed me that indeed he did have "just a few books" on the subject! I doubt whether I will ever reach the impressive list of titles authored by Patrick but his inspiration from almost 50 years ago means I will keep on trying... Rest in peace Patrick... you are now amongst the stars you loved for so long... and if you get the chance say hi to Neil from us all... |
rjb1elec Member Posts: 212 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 12-09-2012 09:07 AM
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East-Frisian Member Posts: 586 From: Germany Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-09-2012 09:15 AM
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413 is in Member Posts: 628 From: Alexandria, VA USA Registered: May 2006
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posted 12-09-2012 09:33 AM
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Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 12-09-2012 09:37 AM
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Scott Member Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
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posted 12-09-2012 10:01 AM
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Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 12-09-2012 10:32 AM
Very sad news indeed. As perhaps with many of us im the UK, he and James Burke were the two faces of the BBC that helped ignite my interest in astronomy and spaceflight.I wrote to him several times when in my teens and always got a very kind reply typed on his trusty old Woodstock typewriter and signed in person. God bless Sir Patrick.
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onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 12-09-2012 10:34 AM
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robsouth Member Posts: 769 From: West Midlands, UK Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 12-09-2012 11:23 AM
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issman1 Member Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-09-2012 11:25 AM
End of an era, here in UK. |
dom Member Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-09-2012 11:42 AM
I had the pleasure of meeting him three times when I was younger, and it really is difficult to overestimate his influence on turning several generations onto Astronomy. Before the information overload of the Internet his monthly Sky at Night programme was vital viewing for anyone interested in the subject. RIP Patrick.
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gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-09-2012 11:45 AM
An inspiration to me, aged 9 years, 1970 in Chester ...and to thousands of others. An icon of the space age and star of the world's longest running TV series.Thank you and RIP. |
Headshot Member Posts: 864 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 12-09-2012 12:11 PM
My deepest condolences from this side of the Pond.The passing of Sir Patrick Moore is a loss to laymen, amateur astronomers and professional astronomers everywhere. His passing leaves a void that will not be filled in my lifetime. |
DChudwin Member Posts: 1096 From: Lincolnshire IL USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-09-2012 12:46 PM
An interview with Sir Patrick Moore on July 20 this year about his telescopes and astronomy.
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OWL Member Posts: 175 From: United Kingdom Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 12-09-2012 01:25 PM
Such sad news on Sir Patrick Moore's passing. A truly great man that brought astronomy to the masses. I had the privilege of meeting Sir Patrick at his garden party this summer. He will surely be missed.RIP Sir Patrick. |
mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-09-2012 01:50 PM
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Blackarrow Member Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-09-2012 02:17 PM
Inspirational, irrepressible, irreplaceable. This is a sad day for anyone with an interest in astronomy and/or spaceflight. Sir Patrick, thank you so much for opening so many eyes to the wonders above us. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 12-09-2012 02:37 PM
Sir Patrick Moore was an inspiration, an institution and a national treasure who will be so greatly missed.But above all... he was a true gentleman. RIP Sir Patrick. |
star61 Member Posts: 294 From: Bristol UK Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 12-09-2012 02:55 PM
I was lucky enough to have regular letters from Patrick as a kid with a passion for Astronomy. On the occasions of meeting him , it was just an absolute pleasure to talk to such a legend. It made one feel part of the whole amazing story of astronomy and spaceflight as it developed in the 60s and 70s. Considering the enormity of the questions, the Sky At Night had such a homely cosy feel to it. Happy memories.We have lost some iconic people this year and sad as it is, we must count ourselves lucky to have lived in these times. Patrick, Neil, Sir Bernard... unique and truly great human beings. |
jut2y Member Posts: 260 From: worthing west sussex united kingdom Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-09-2012 03:06 PM
Very sad day indeed, my wife wrote to Patrick a few years ago as a surprise to me. I received an invite back typed on that old typewriter of his inviting me to call up and arrange a visit to Farthing's, much to my regret i never pursued it.RIP Patrick you'll be dearly missed. |
dom Member Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-09-2012 03:35 PM
One thing that we shouldn't forget was his great sense of humour and his habit of speaking his mind. The following anecdote from one of his obituaries made me laugh out loud. Then there was the occasion that he visited Utah with a television crew. "Welcome to the Mormon state," said a humourless citizen. "We are quite different from the rest of America. You will find no swearing or drinking or wild women here." "It's hardly worth coming, is it?" replied Moore. |
lordolsen Member Posts: 112 From: Denmark Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 12-09-2012 03:40 PM
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Madon_space Member Posts: 667 From: uk Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 12-09-2012 04:28 PM
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Jay Chladek Member Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 12-09-2012 08:17 PM
Pity I never met the man, but I know so many personally who have and he sounds like a great guy. On this side of the pond, we never really saw any broadcasts of "The Sky At Night". But, I do remember a snippet he did a few years back for a program about the BBC comedy "Red Dwarf" and he explained what a Red Dwarf was. It was informative and hilarious at the same time.I most certainly cherish the British way of looking at things in the night sky and manned spaceflight. So many of you "get it" while a lot of my own countrymen do not even though we put men on the moon. It sounds to me like Sir Moore had a lot to do with that. Because of that, I can be thankful of his contributions. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-09-2012 08:35 PM
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dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 12-09-2012 09:04 PM
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