Sir Patrick Moore Dead

[Sylar]

World renowned astronomer Sir Patrick Moore has died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20657939

He's made some amazing contributions to the field of astronomy despite remaining an "amateur".

No details yet but he had been very ill of late and was suffering from acute arthritis.

[AFKA5814_Hibs]

Sky at Night's on my Sky + series link. Just watched the latest one last night. It was becoming quite hard to understand his speech in recent years, but always an informative programme. RIP.

[Pretty Boy]

Always watched the Sky at Night. Brilliant programme that was informative but accessible for people, like myself, with only a small interest in astronomy. Sir Patrick Moore made the programme what it was with his obvious enthusiasm for what he was doing and the enjoyment he got from it.

RIP

[cabbageandribs1875]

only saw two or three of his programmes(when there was nowt else on to be honest) but he certainly knew his stuff


shame :(

[heretoday]

A one-off British eccentric. I used to like the Sky At Night music - Sibelius I think.

Where are the Patrick Moores de nos jours? Not many.

[LancashireHibby]

I'll be the first one to get in a Gamesmaster reference.

As above, one of those uniquely British institutions.

[GhostofBolivar]

A one-off British eccentric. I used to like the Sky At Night music - Sibelius I think.

Where are the Patrick Moores de nos jours? Not many.

Given that - however great his contribution to science was - that he was a horribly bigoted old man, I suspect that they're in UKIP.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/people-news/46588/sir-patrick-moore-only-good-kraut-dead-kraut#

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1411100/Sir-Patrick-attacked-over-racist-comments.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2007/may/08/sirpatrickmooreistotallyn

[oldbutdim]

Given that - however great his contribution to science was - that he was a horribly bigoted old man, I suspect that they're in UKIP.



No More Mr Night Sky.

:confused:

[jodjam]

Emmerdale will never be the same

[--------]

A one-off British eccentric. I used to like the Sky At Night music - Sibelius I think.

Where are the Patrick Moores de nos jours? Not many.


Indeed.

And, I might add, where are the snows of yesteryear? :wink:

Patrick Moore was a very good example of the unwisdom of judging people by the image they project of themselves in the media.

He was perfectly pleasant on the subject of astronomy, and a very good xylophonist, but not the man I'd like living next door to me.

[LeighLoyal]

Sad day, he was a great broadcaster and a genuinely giving person as Dr Brian May testified today. I'd have been delighted to have him as a neighbour, we also share music and the same political concerns. A sad day. RIP Patrick.

[GhostofBolivar]

Indeed.

And, I might add, where are the snows of yesteryear? :wink:

Patrick Moore was a very good example of the unwisdom of judging people by the image they project of themselves in the media.

He was perfectly pleasant on the subject of astronomy, and a very good xylophonist, but not the man I'd like living next door to me.

I'd far rather know where the Snowdens of yesteryear are.

[Hibs Class]

Whilst not sharing or defending his somewhat xenophobic views it is only fair to put them in context. He served in the RAF during the war in Bomber Command so will undoubtedly have lost friends. His fiancee was killed by the Germans in one of their bombing raids on London. He never married or had children and effectively carried a light for her for the rest of his days and never forgave the Germans. Whilst some veterans were able to forgive/forget, it’s understandable that others held on to their bitterness.

[The_Exile]

Can see this thread descending into chaos, can't believe there's only 13 replies though, is Astronomy still such a minor hobby? He was an inspiration to me, the main reason I took up Astronomy and why I stand outside at minus 10 looking through a telescope.

He replied to a letter I wrote to him as a 12 year old, handwritten by him, 3 pages long, every paragraph a delight to read and gutted I lost it through various house moves a decade ago. Although I would probably never agree on his political views, I'd have loved to have had him live next door to me. His knowledge and enthusiasm was infectious.

RIP

[NAE NOOKIE]

R.I.P.

I have an endless fascination with the universe and folk like PM did try really hard to make a thicko like me understand its workings.

[cabbageandribs1875]

Emmerdale will never be the same


i think yer thinkin of patrick mower :greengrin but then again i suspect/hope you already know that :wink:

[jodjam]

I sure did ;)

[--------]

I'd far rather know where the Snowdens of yesteryear are.


"Ou sont les Neigedens d'antan?"

I suppose in some sense the answer to that question (or the lack of an answer) might have been the thing that moulded Moore's attitude to the Germans.

I have been uncharitable - I withdraw my comment about him as a neighbour. Anyone in his position who takes the trouble to respond to a 12-year-old boy's fan-letter at three pages' length, in longhand, taking him seriously, must have been a very good neighbour indeed.

I stand corrected.

[(((Fergus)))]

Given that - however great his contribution to science was - that he was a horribly bigoted old man, I suspect that they're in UKIP.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/people-news/46588/sir-patrick-moore-only-good-kraut-dead-kraut#



According to that article he was a liar too - lied about his age to join the RAF at 16, served as a navigator (appropriately) in Bomber Command to make craters in Germany...and protect us from those Nazi parasites.