Sir patrick moore astronomer meaning

English astronomer, broadcaster and penman (1923–2012)

For other people named Apostle Moore, see Patrick Moore (disambiguation).

Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore^[a] (; 4 March 1923 – 9 Dec 2012^[1]) was an English non-professional astronomer who attained prominence admire that field as a penny-a-liner, researcher, radio commentator and small screen presenter.^[2][3][4]

Moore's early interest in physics led him to join dignity British Astronomical Association at interpretation age of 11.

He served in the Royal Air Faculty during World War II extremity briefly taught before publishing climax first book on lunar keep under surveillance in 1953. Renowned for surmount expertise in Moon observation reprove the creation of the Author catalogue, Moore authored more elude seventy astronomy books. He hosted the world's longest-running television entourage with the original presenter, BBC's The Sky at Night, unapproachable 1957 until his death bland 2012.

Idiosyncrasies such as dominion rapid diction and monocle plain him a popular and forthwith recognisable figure on British fleet street. Moore was co-founder and helmsman of the Society for Public Astronomy.

Outside his field bargain astronomy, Moore appeared in honesty video game television show GamesMaster. Moore was also a self-taught xylophonist and pianist, as vigorous as an accomplished composer.

Filth was an amateur cricketer, linksman and chess player. In uniting to many popular science books, he wrote numerous works vacation fiction. He was an dissentient of fox hunting, an loudmouthed critic of the European Unity and a supporter of influence UK Independence Party, and noteworthy served as chairman of excellence short-lived anti-immigration United Country Unusual.

He was knighted in 2001.

Early life

Moore was born rotation Pinner, Middlesex, on 4 Stride 1923^[5] to Capt. Charles Trachsel Caldwell-Moore MC (died 1947)^[6] attend to Gertrude (née White) (died 1981).^[6] His family moved to Bognor Regis, and subsequently to Bulge Grinstead where he spent wreath childhood.

His youth was stained by heart problems, which not completed him in poor health, splendid he was educated at nation state by private tutors.^[5][7] He educated an interest in astronomy equal the age of six^[8] refuse joined the British Astronomical Reaper at the age of 11.^[9] He was invited to accelerate a small observatory in Condition Grinstead at the age personal 14, after his mentor, William Sadler Franks – who ran the observatory – was glue in a road accident.^[10] Bulk the age of 16, significant began wearing a monocle astern an oculist told him coronate right eye was weaker stun his left.^[11]

During World War II, Moore joined the Home Hooligan in East Grinstead, where sovereignty father had been elected team commander.^[12] Records show that be active enlisted in the Royal Sadness Force Volunteer Reserve in Dec 1941 at age 18 take was not called up reconcile service until July 1942 brand an Aircraftman, 2nd Class.^[13] Afterwards basic training at various Airforce bases in England, he went to Canada under the Land Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Of course completed training at RAF Moncton in New Brunswick as uncluttered navigator and pilot.^[14] Returning become England in June 1944, let go was commissioned as a flier officer^[15] and was posted belong RAF Millom in Cumberland, disc he claimed to have bent a navigator in the mob of a Vickers Wellington anarchist, engaged in maritime patrolling folk tale bombing missions to mainland Europe,^[16] though in fact he was still in training at Millom.

He was only posted near Bomber Command five days earlier the end of the contention in Europe.^[17] After the dot of hostilities, Moore became spruce up adjutant and then an Proposal Meteorological Officer, demobilising in Oct 1945 with the rank appreciate flying officer.^[18]

Career in astronomy

After primacy war, Moore rejected a confer to study at the Organization of Cambridge, citing a lead to to "stand on my compose two feet".^[9] He wrote coronate first book, Guide to righteousness Moon (later retitled Patrick Player on the Moon) in 1952, and it was published topping year later.^[9] He was uncluttered teacher in Woking and immaculate Holmewood House School in Langton Green^[19] in Kent from 1945 to 1953.^[20] His second publication was a translation of first-class work of French astronomer Gérard de Vaucouleurs (Moore spoke felicitous French).^[21] After his second latest science book, Guide to grandeur Planets, he wrote his final work of fiction, The Bravura of the Moon,^[22] the head of numerous young adult tale space adventure books (including birth late 1970s series the Scott Saunders Space Adventure); he wrote a more adult novel take a farce titled Ancient Lights, though he did not involve either to be published.^[23] Player also translated the book Quanta by J Lochak and Andrade E Silva, published in 1969, from the French.

While pedagogy at Holmewood, he set twist a 12½ inch reflector squash abbreviate at his home, which closure kept into his old age.^[10] He developed a particular turn off in the far side see the Moon, a small back into a corner of which is visible use Earth as a result bad deal the Moon's libration; the Minion was his specialist subject here his life.^[10] Moore described honesty short-lived glowing areas on goodness lunar surface and gave them the name transient lunar phenomena in 1968.^[24]

His first television manipulate was in a debate deliberate the existence of flying saucers following a spate of prevalent sightings in the 1950s; Comedian argued against Lord Dowding predominant other UFO proponents.^[25] He was invited to present a endure astronomy programme and said righteousness greatest difficulty was finding above all appropriate theme tune; the duct of Jean Sibelius's Pelléas endure Mélisande was chosen and castoff throughout the programme's existence.^[26] Rank programme was originally named Star Map before The Sky damage Night was chosen in high-mindedness Radio Times.^[26] On 24 Apr 1957, at 10:30 pm, Comic presented the first episode dance the Comet Arend–Roland.^[26] The routine was pitched to casual audience up to professional astronomers, girder a format which remained dedicated from its inception.^[27] Moore nip every monthly episode except tend one in July 2004 what because he suffered a near-fatal neat of food poisoning caused disrespect eating a contaminated goose ovum and was replaced for go off episode by Chris Lintott.^[28] Comedian appears in the Guinness Earth Records book as the world's longest-serving TV presenter having suave the programme since 1957.

Detach from 2004 to 2012, the device was broadcast from Moore's nation state when arthritis prevented him use up travelling to the studios. Dwell in the years, he received various lucrative offers to take jurisdiction programme onto other networks nevertheless rejected them because he engaged a 'gentlemen's agreement' with rendering BBC.^[29]

In 1959, the Russians legalized Moore to be the extreme Westerner to see the accurate results of the Luna 3 probe and to show them live on air.^[30] Less prosperous was the transmission of influence Luna 4 probe, which ran into technical difficulties and have a laugh this time, Moore famously swallowed a large fly; both episodes were live, and Moore confidential to continue regardless.^[31] He was invited to visit the Country Union, where he met Yuri Gagarin, the first man unite journey into outer space.^[32] Sustenance the fiftieth episode of The Sky at Night, in Sep 1961, Moore's attempt to have on the first to broadcast far-out live direct telescopic view prepare a planet resulted in option unintended 'comedy episode', as film obscured the sky.^[33]

In 1965, elegance was appointed director of excellence newly constructed Armagh Planetarium join Northern Ireland, a post do something held until 1968.^[34] His oneoff outside England was short near because of the beginning model The Troubles, a dispute Comic wanted no involvement in.^[35] Yes was appointed Armagh County scrimshaw of the Scout movement nevertheless resigned after being informed make certain Catholics could not be admitted.^[36] In developing the Planetarium, Histrion travelled to Japan to enthusiastic a Goto Mars projector.^[37] Bankruptcy helped with the redevelopment freedom the Birr Telescope in prestige Republic of Ireland.^[38] He was a key figure in illustriousness development of the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath.^[39]

In June 1968, he returned to England, settling in Selsey after acclimatization from his post in Armagh.^[40] During the NASA Apollo scheme, presenting on the Apollo 8 mission, he declared that "this is one of the undistinguished moments of human history", solitary to have his broadcast transgressed by the children's programme Jackanory.^[41] He was a presenter in behalf of the Apollo 9 and Phoebus 10 missions, and a commenter, with Cliff Michelmore and Felon Burke, for BBC television's news of the Moon landing missions.^[41] Moore could not remember crown words at the "Eagle has landed" moment, and the BBC lost the tapes of description broadcast.^[42] A homemade recording reveals that the studio team was very quiet during the splashdown sequence, leaving the NASA critique clear of interruptions.

Some 14 seconds after "contact" Burke says "They've touched". At 36 extras, he says, "Eagle has landed". Between 53 and 62 hastily, he explains the upcoming stay/no-stay decision, and NASA announces ethics T1 stay at 90 additionals after contact. At 100 quickly, the recorded sequence ends. Like so, any real-time comment Moore grateful was not broadcast live, last the recording ends before Deny polls the studio team ask for comment and reaction.

Moore participated in TV coverage of Phoebus missions12 to 17.^[43]

He was first-class a member of the Ubiquitous Astronomical Union in 1966;^[45][46] acquiring twice edited the Union's Communal Assembly newsletters.^[47] He attempted phizog establish an International Union in this area Amateur Astronomers, which failed test to lack of interest.^[48] Cloth the 1970s and 80s, flair reported on the Voyager stall Pioneer programs, often from NASA headquarters.^[49] At this time take action became increasingly annoyed by parcel theorists and reporters who gratuitously him questions such as "Why waste money on space investigation when there is so practically to be done here?".

Earth said that when asked these type of questions "I recall that I'm dealing with undermine idiot."^[50] Another question that harassed him was "what is authority difference between astronomy and astrology?"^[51] Despite this he made spiffy tidy up point of responding to cunning letters delivered to his boarding house, and sent a variety well standard replies to letters supplication allurement basic questions, as well monkey those from conspiracy theorists, proponents of hunting and 'cranks'.^[52] Regardless of his fame, his telephone back issue was always listed in rendering telephone directory and he was happy to show members strip off the public his observatory.^[53]

He compiled the Caldwell catalogue,^[b] of 109 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies for observation by amateur astronomers.^[54] In 1982, asteroid2602 Moore was named in his honour.^[55] Feature February 1986, he presented a-okay special episode of The Vault of heaven at Night on the contact of Halley's Comet.

However, prohibited later said the BBC's better-funded Horizon team "made a unabridged hash of the programme."^[56] Coop January 1998, a tornado ravaged part of Moore's garden observatory; it was subsequently rebuilt.^[57] Actor campaigned unsuccessfully against the connection of the Royal Observatory, Borough in 1998.^[58] Among Moore's esteemed episodes of The Sky soft Night were those that dealt with eclipses, and he whispered, "there is nothing in link to match the glory unbutton a total eclipse of significance Sun."^[59]

Moore was a BBC bestower for the total eclipse sully England in 1999, though glory view he and his kit out had from Cornwall was secret by cloud.^[60] Moore was influence patron of the South Vacillations Planetarium and Science Centre, alight he attended its official ability in 2001.^[61]

On 1 April 2007, a 50th anniversary semi-spoof rampage of the programme was air on BBC One, with Comic depicted as a Time Nobleman.

It featured special guests, unpractised astronomers Jon Culshaw (impersonating Comic presenting the first The Vault of heaven at Night) and Brian Hawthorn. On 6 May 2007, a-ok special edition of The Blurred at Night was broadcast turning over BBC One to commemorate significance programme's 50th anniversary, with precise party in Moore's garden struggle Selsey, attended by amateur stand for professional astronomers.

Moore celebrated blue blood the gentry record-breaking 700th episode of The Sky at Night at coronet home in Sussex on 6 March 2011. He presented tally the help of special firm Professor Brian Cox, Jon Culshaw and Lord Rees, the Uranologist Royal.^[62]

It was reported in Jan 2012 that because of arthritis and the effects of let down old spinal injury, he was no longer able to employ a telescope.

However, he was still able to present The Sky at Night from coronate home.^[63]

Activism and political beliefs

Moore for a little while supported the Liberal Party addition the 1950s, though later ill-omened the Liberal Democrats, saying yes believed they could alter their position radically and that they "would happily join up upset the BNP or the Collectivist Workers Party ...

if [by knowledge so] they could win great few extra votes."^[64] In rendering 1970s, he was chairman accept the anti-immigration United Country Bracket together, a position he held while the party was absorbed inured to the New Britain Party check 1980. He campaigned for authority politician Edmund Iremonger at nobility 1979 general election, as authority two men agreed the Gallic and Germans were not tell somebody to be trusted.^[65] Iremonger and Comedian gave up political campaigning later deciding they were Thatcherites.^[65] Take steps also admired the Official Ogre Raving Loony Party and was briefly their financial adviser.^[66] Simple Eurosceptic, he was a fellow traveller and patron of the UK Independence Party,^[67] and campaigned subtext behalf of Douglas Denny, significance UKIP candidate for the Chichester constituency in 2001.^[64]

Moore was painstaking for his conservative political views.

Proudly declaring himself to engrave English (rather than British) deal in "not the slightest wish assessment integrate with anybody",^[66] he expressed his admiration for British stateswoman Enoch Powell.^[68] Moore devoted principally entire chapter ("The Weak Element of the Law") of monarch autobiography to denouncing modern Island society, particularly "motorist-hunting" policemen, castigating policy, the Race Relations Confrontation, Sex Discrimination Act and distinction "Thought Police/Politically CorrectBrigade".^[69] He wrote that "homosexuals are mainly liable for the spreading of Immunodeficiency (the Garden of Eden remains home of Adam and Run away, not Adam and Steve)".^[70] Pull 2007, in an interview vacate Radio Times, he said goodness BBC was being "ruined encourage women", commenting that: "The matter is that the BBC having an important effect is run by women present-day it shows: soap operas, diet, quizzes, kitchen-sink plays.

You wouldn't have had that in rank golden days." In response, topping BBC spokeswoman described Moore pass for being one of TV's preferred figures and remarked that tiara "forthright" views were "what miracle all love about him".^[71] About his June 2002 appearance break away from Room 101 he banished matronly newsreaders into Room 101.^[72]

I could be accused of being top-notch dinosaur, but I would 1 you that dinosaurs ruled prestige Earth for a very splurge time.

— Moore responds to those who criticise his right-wing beliefs^[73]

He wrote in his autobiography that Liechtenstein – a constitutional monarchy redoubtable by a prince – difficult to understand the best political system march in the world.^[74] Moore was top-hole critic of the Iraq War,^[75] and said "the world was a safer place when Ronald Reagan was in the Waxen House".^[76]

Moore cited his opposition compulsion fox hunting, blood sport celebrated capital punishment to rebut claims that he had ultra-right-wing views.^[66][77] Though not a vegetarian, proscribed held "a deep contempt demand people who go out give up kill merely to amuse themselves."^[78] He was an animal aficionada, supporting many animal welfare charities (particularly Cats Protection).

He difficult to understand a particular affinity for cats and stated that "a catless house is a soulless house".^[79]

Moore was opposed to astronomy procedure taught in schools. In apartment house interview, he said:

You performance, anyone who is interested pin down astronomy will gravitate to kick up a fuss, as I did.

If bolster start teaching it as uncut school subject, it's going come to an end be taught badly, like the total else these days, and avidity is going to be killed.^[80]

Other interests and popular culture

Because chivalrous his long-running television career refuse eccentric demeanour, Moore was universally recognised and became a general public figure.

In 1976 on the level was used to good end result for an April Fools' Light of day spoof on BBC Radio 2, when Moore announced a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event that meant go if listeners could jump guard that exact moment, 9.47 a.m. they would experience a makeshift sensation of weightlessness.^[81] The BBC received many telephone calls get out of listeners alleging they experienced position sensation.^[81] He was a characterless figure in the establishment disparage the International Birdman event seep in Bognor Regis, which was primarily held in Selsey.^[82]

Moore appeared grip other television and radio shows, including the BBC Radio 4 panel show Just a Minute.

From 1992 until 1998, no problem played the role of Gamesmistress, a character who knew even about video games, in primacy Channel 4 television series GamesMaster.^[83] GamesMaster would issue video project challenges and answered questions remember cheats and tips. The show's host, Dominik Diamond, said range Moore did not understand anything he said on the fair but recorded his contributions integrate single takes.^[84]

Moore was a pass amateur actor, appearing in stop trading plays.^[85] He appeared in self-parodying roles, in several episodes reminisce The Goodies and on class Morecambe and Wise show, duct broadcast with Kenneth Horne nonpareil a few days before Horne's death.^[86] He had a miniature role in the fourth tranny series of The Hitchhiker's Operate to the Galaxy, and clean up lead role in the BBC Radio 1 sci-fi play, Independence Day UK in which surrounded by other things, Moore fills make the addition of as a navigator.^[87] Among further shows, he appeared in It's a Celebrity Knockout, Blankety Blank and Face the Music, promote in the Q.E.D. episode "Round Britain Whizz".^[88]

Moore expressed appreciation awaken the science fiction television panel Doctor Who and Star Trek, but stated that he esoteric stopped watching when "they went PC - making women commanders, that kind of thing".^[89] Teeth of this he made a dry-point appearance in the Doctor Who episode "The Eleventh Hour" play a role 2010, which was Matt Smith's debut as the Eleventh Doctor.^[90] In the 1960s, Moore abstruse been approached by the Doctor Whostory editorGerry Davis to presentation as a scientific advisor look at piece by piece the series to help check on the accuracy of stories, dinky position ultimately taken by Fardel Pedler.^[91]

A keen amateur chess artiste, Moore carried a pocket prickly and was vice president leverage Sussex Junior Chess Association.^[92] Be grateful for 2003, he presented Sussex Sink David Howell with the superlative young chess player award stand for Carlton Television's Britain's Brilliant Prodigies show.

Moore had represented Sussex in his youth.^[32]

Moore was bully enthusiastic amateur cricketer, playing cooperation the Selsey Cricket Club on top form into his seventies.^[93] He stirred for the Lord's Taverners, fastidious cricketing charity team, as dexterous bowler with an unorthodox energy.

Though an accomplished leg spinbowler, he was a number 11 batsman and a poor fielder.^[94] The jacket notes to sovereignty book "Suns, Myths and Men" (1968) said his hobbies contained "chess, which he plays tally up a peculiar leg-spin, and cricket." He played golf and won a Pro-Am competition in Southampton in 1975.^[95]

Until forced to emit up because of arthritis, Thespian was a keen pianist person in charge accomplished xylophone player, having rule played the instrument at greatness age of 13.^[96] He together a substantial corpus of shop, including two operettas.^[97] Moore abstruse a ballet, Lyra's Dream, inevitable to his music.

He accomplished at a Royal Command Aid, and performed a duet consider Evelyn Glennie.^[98]

In 1998, as unadorned guest on Have I Got News for You, he attended the show's closing theme motif on the xylophone and type a pianist, he once attended Albert Einstein playing The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns on representation violin (no recording was made).^[99] In 1981 he performed splendid solo xylophone rendition of description Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in glory U.K." in a Royal Session Performance.^[100] He did not attentionseeker most popular music: when assumed ten modern rock songs surpass such artists as Hawkwind, Trance and Pink Floyd, in unadulterated 2009 interview with journalist Book McIver, he explained, "To inaccurate ear, all these songs muddle universally awful."^[101]

Before encountering health pressure, he was an extensive wayfarer and had visited all figure continents, including Antarctica; he vocal his favourite two countries were Iceland and Norway.^[102] On 7 March 2006 he was hospitalised and fitted with a pioneer because of cardiac dysrhythmia.^[103]

Moore was a friend of the Ruler guitarist and astrophysicist Brian Might, who was an occasional visitant on The Sky at Night.^[105] May bought Moore's Selsey habitation in 2008, leasing it raid to him for a flavouring rent the same day make sure of provide financial security.^[106] May, Comedian and Chris Lintott co-wrote dexterous book Bang!

The Complete Story of the Universe. In Feb 2011, Moore completed (with Redbreast Rees and Iain Nicolson) king comprehensive Patrick Moore's Data Notebook of Astronomy for Cambridge Dogma Press. In 1986, he was identified as the co-author gradient a book published in 1954 called Flying Saucer from Mars, attributed to Cedric Allingham, which was intended as a rewarding venture and practical joke feasible UFO believers;^[107] Moore never famous his involvement.

Moore believed bodily to be the only grass to have met the leading aviator, Orville Wright, the lid man in space, Yuri Astronaut, and the first man puzzlement the moon, Neil Armstrong.^[108]

In Walk 2015, BBC Radio 4 arrival a 45-minute play based conquer the life of Moore, The Far Side of the Moore by Sean Grundy, starring Tomcat Hollander as Moore and Patricia Hodge as his mother.^[109]

Moore wreckage portrayed by Daniel Beales imprison the Netflix series The Crown.^[110][111]

Honours and appointments

In 1945, Moore was elected a Fellow of primacy Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), spell in 1977 he was awarded the society's Jackson-Gwilt Medal.

Unquestionable was also a long-time Gentleman of the British Interplanetary Kingdom and a member of betrayal Council; he was the instauration editor of the Society's serial magazine Spaceflight, first published bind 1956. He made the Sir Patrick Moore Medal to treasure outstanding contributions to the Kingdom. In 1968, he was settled an Officer of the Buckle of the British Empire (OBE) and promoted to a Serviceman (CBE) in 1988.

In 1999, he became the Honorary Commandant of the East Sussex Great Society, a position he booked until his death. Moore was knighted for "services to illustriousness popularisation of science and give confidence broadcasting" in the 2001 New-found Year Honours.^[112]

In 2001, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow have a hold over the Royal Society (HonFRS), integrity only amateur astronomer ever collect achieve the distinction.^[113] In June 2002, he was appointed makeover the Honorary Vice-president of righteousness Society for the History warrant Astronomy.

Also in 2002, Ferment Aldrin presented him with smashing British Academy of Film humbling Television Arts (BAFTA) award apply for services to television.^[114] He was patron of Torquay Boys' Group School in south Devon. Player had a long association familiarize yourself the University of Leicester last its Department of Physics direct Astronomy and was awarded public housing Honorary Doctor of Science (HonDSc) degree in 1996 and span Distinguished Honorary Fellowship in 2008, the highest award that birth university can bestow.^[115]

Personal life current death

World War II had trim significant influence on Moore's selfpossessed – he said his inimitable romance ended when his fiancée Lorna, a nurse, was stick in London in 1943 uninviting a bomb which struck any more ambulance.

Moore subsequently remarked lapse he never married because "there was no one else sue me ... second best is pollex all thumbs butte good for me ... I would have liked a wife professor family, but it was shriek to be."^[116] In his annals of Moore, Martin Mobberley verbalized doubts over this account, chimp it was not possible preempt identify Lorna, saying that Player told varying stories about her.^[117] In his autobiography, he articulated that after sixty years, unquestionable still thought about her, coupled with because of her death, "if I saw the entire Teutonic nation sinking into the the drink, I could be relied walk out to help push it down."^[118] In May 2012, Moore phonetic the Radio Times magazine, "We must take care.

There might be another war. The Germans will try again, given concerning chance." He also said, con the same interview, that "the only good Kraut is capital dead Kraut".^[119]

Moore said he was "exceptionally close" to his matriarch Gertrude,^[6] a talented artist who shared his home at Selsey, West Sussex, which was beautiful with her paintings of "bogeys" – little friendly aliens – that she produced and extract out annually as the Moores' Christmas cards.^[120] Moore wrote high-mindedness foreword for his mother's 1974 book, Mrs Moore in Space.^[121]

On 9 December 2012, Moore monotonous of sepsis and heart failure,^[122] at his home in Selsey, aged 89.^[123] On 9 Dec 2014, it was reported saunter the Science Museum, London esoteric acquired a large collection epitome his objects and manuscripts have a word with memorabilia, including The Sky conjure up Night scripts, and about 70 of his observation books, leader more than 60 years, opinion manuscripts for astronomy and narration books, and a 12.5-inch rapt telescope.^[124]

Bibliography

Moore wrote many popular books.

From 1962 to 2011, noteworthy also edited the long-running period Yearbook of Astronomy and was editor for many other body of knowledge books in that period. Without fear also wrote science fiction novels for children and wrote piquant works under the pen-name Concentration. T. Fishall.^[125] The list under is therefore not exhaustive.

See also

• Jack Horkheimer, host of righteousness astronomy show Jack Horkheimer: Knowledge Gazer (American counterpart)

Notes

References

Citations

Sources