Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore, CBE, FRS, FRAS, the self-taught (i.e. amateur) astronomer who inspired millions to look upwards at the heavens, has died aged 89.
Sir Patrick Moore. Credit: The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/aug/31/small-ask-young-readers-questions
From the Telegraph obituary:
…Sir Patrick Moore, who has died aged 89, became better known than any of the academics in his field – and his enthusiasm fired the youthful imaginations of the generation who came to replace them.
His television programme, The Sky at Night, broadcast every month for 55 years, became the longest-running series with the same presenter, and he only missed one episode.
It goes on to say
Brian May, the Queen guitarist who holds a PhD in astrophysics, said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that Patrick, in his tireless and ebullient communication of the magic of astronomy, inspired every British astronomer, amateur and professional, for half a century.”
Further, it says of Moore, who succumbed to an infection, that
By the end, he had spent almost all his money on others, such as buying telescopes for budding astronomers, May said.
I’m not going to cover ground already covered by the many obituaries currently being published*. Instead, I’m going to share this awesome video, pointed out to me by my lovely friend Johnny Bravo over in good ol’ Blighty, of the Man Himself on the Subject of Space Snacks.
Enjoy. And thank you, Sir Moore. We are forever in your debt :)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXickS_Qbug#[/youtube]
And here’s one of Weebl**’s gleefully insane videos, with Moore playing a xylophone. Ft aliens.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO_Ckg5ott8[/youtube]
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* I’m somewhat sniffly about his sad romantic story, for example :(
** You know, Weebl. From the badger song. And the narwhal*** song. And all of the madness****.
*** They’re the unicorns of the ocean.
**** Which reminds me of Cyriak. See the cows & cows & cows video, and the baaaa (sheep) video and the teddy bear video, just for starters.
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Some of the obits:
BBC: Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer and broadcaster, dies aged 89
Universe Today: Sir Patrick Moore Dies at Age 89
The Guardian: Sir Patrick Moore: the eccentric amateur who became a TV star