R.I.P. Sir Patrick Moore

Mike H · Post by **Mike H** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:04 pm

Dammit

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

Another era closes

Cressy Snr · Post by **Cressy Snr** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:54 pm

Yes...it was he who got me interested in the stars and planets when I was a kid. I well remember watching the Moon landings on TV as an eleven year old.
The combination of Sir Patrick's infectious enthusiasm and James Burke's more sober analytical commentary was a match made in heaven.

Where are such characters now?

Mike H · Post by **Mike H** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 6:36 pm

Ah yes James Burke.

Mind you did well to make 89.

His last Sky At Night programme available here for 6 days

IslandPink · Post by **IslandPink** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:57 pm

Sad to see him go, what a massive contribution he made to astronomy .
I read a couple of his books early on - and astronomy and telescope making is what got me into optics.
The programme was great - stubbornly old-fashioned, no dumbing-down at all, and packed with content every month . Hopefully the other guys will keep it going in the same tradition.

It struck me today as especially sad that he would have known, as he was dying, about the great comet that is coming next year , that will be one the most impressive in 500 years. It must have been tough for him to know that he wouldn't see it .

david C · Post by **david C** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:18 pm

haven't heard it since but Sky news said he had a covert role in WW2 having been dropped behind Enemy lines at one stage

he must have been a very interesting man, many faceted with interests in music and astronomy

I can remember him coming to my School in the mid 50s to talk about astronomy, it was before Sky at night so he must have quite well known even then

Mike H · Post by **Mike H** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:07 pm

Was a navigator in bomber command, 1940 - 1945, if you can call that 'covert'.

david C · Post by **david C** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:21 pm

Mike H wrote:Was a navigator in bomber command, 1940 - 1945, if you can call that 'covert'.

the impression was that this was in addition to his navigator's duties and had been seconded

whatever he was a very brave man

Mike H · Post by **Mike H** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:46 pm

Can't find any info about this on Internet even if I include 'sky news'

A particular bomber mission might have been 'covert', but then, weren't they all? lol ...

david C · Post by **david C** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:53 pm

it was in his first obit on there so I spose who knows, he was too intelligent just to be a navigator

I've heard nothing since

pre65 · Post by **pre65** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:56 pm

david C wrote: he was too intelligent just to be a navigator

Mike H · Post by **Mike H** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:57 pm

Well it's a bit of a 'blanket term', he could have been doing anything

audio-talk

R.I.P. Sir Patrick Moore

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