R.I.P. Sir Patrick Moore

• Guest 710

  • Registered: 28 Feb 2011
  • Posts: 6,950
  9 December 2012     13:45205196
  #1      
  Farewell Sir Patrick Moore
  a long time rapper on heaven's door
  no couch potato, an astro-nut in an arm chair
  the greatest back-garden astronomer
  
  http://uk.news.yahoo.com/british-astronomer-sir-patrick-moore-dies-125837317.html
  Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  9 December 2012     14:06205197
  #2      
  certainly got more people interested in astronomy through his eccentric charm.
• Brian Dixon

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 23,940
  9 December 2012     15:24205202
  #3      
  oh dear,another decent chap departed.rip.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  9 December 2012     15:40205204
  #4      
  What great character Sir Patrick was; certainly as Howard said, got many more interested in Astronomy than conventional astronomers.
  
  RIP Sir Patrick.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  9 December 2012     17:08205212
  #5      
  Very sad, may he RIP.
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter
• Terry Nunn

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,321
  9 December 2012     17:41205216
  #6      
  Great chap, in more ways than one. I've never worked out how you get trousers with the waistband tight under the armpits!
  
  Maybe not "at the castle gates" but certainly at the pearly variety.
  
  
  Terry
  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  9 December 2012     19:22205221
  #7      
  been reading his obituary and the similarities with the late roger marples struck home to me, even members of the same political party.
• Guest 710

  • Registered: 28 Feb 2011
  • Posts: 6,950
  9 December 2012     19:28205222
  #8      
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/dec/09/sir-patrick-moore
  Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
• Guest 644

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 1,214
  9 December 2012     21:35205233
  #9      
  When I was about ten years old I wrote to Patrick Moore after seeing a meteor and he sent me a lovely typed letter back explaining it was a Quadrantid and encouraging me in astronomy. It seems he wrote to back everyone who wrote to him - who can imagine how much time he must have spent a day doing this? How incredibly generous.
  
  I saw him lecture at the Leas Cliff Hall in March 2003 (photo below) and despite being in his early eighties still managed to keep on his feet for well over an hour. I asked him what his favourite moment of his career ha been, doubtless a question he had fielded hundreds of times, He replied it was back in 1959 when a Russian probe transmitted live on air the first image of the far side of the moon.
  
  At the book signing afterwards, remembering the Room 101 Paul Merton interview, I asked him if he was still tormented by cockchafers, insects he detests. He smiled at said "they'll get me in the end, you know."
  
  RIP Patrick, a hero to me.
  
  

  
• Guest 693

  • Registered: 12 Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1,266
  10 December 2012     12:50205297
  #10      
  I sold him a copy of The Times when I had a summer holiday job at Gatwick Airport in the 70s. He apologised for not having the correct change and having to give me a pound note!
  
  A decent, eccentric Englishman. RIP.
  True friends stab you in the front.