Patrick Moore

For other people named Patrick Moore, see Patrick Moore (disambiguation).
Sir Patrick Moore
CBE FRS FRAS
Born Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore
(1923-03-04)4 March 1923[1]
Pinner, Middlesex, England, UK
Died 9 December 2012(2012-12-09) (aged 89)
Selsey, West Sussex, England
Resting place Chichester, West Sussex, England
Institutions Royal Air Force
BBC
British Astronomical Association
Known for The Sky at Night
Gamesmaster
Influenced Brian May
Chris Lintott
Notable awards Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
Website
sirpatrickmoore.com
banguniverse.com/sirpatrickmoore

Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore CBE FRS FRAS (4 March 1923 – 9 December 2012)[1][2] was an English amateur astronomer who attained prominent status in that field as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter.[3][4][5]

Moore was president of the British Astronomical Association, co-founder and president of the Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA), author of over 70 books on astronomy, and presenter of the world's longest-running television series with the same original presenter, the BBC's The Sky at Night. As an amateur astronomer,[6] he became known as a specialist in Moon observation and for creating the Caldwell catalogue. Idiosyncrasies such as his rapid diction and monocle made him a popular and instantly recognisable figure on British television.

Moore was also a self-taught xylophonist, glockenspiel player and pianist, as well as an accomplished composer. He was a former amateur cricketer, golfer and chess player. In addition to many popular science books, he wrote numerous works of fiction. Moore was an opponent of fox hunting, an outspoken critic of the European Union, supporter of the UK Independence Party and served as chairman of the short-lived anti-immigration United Country Party. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He never married or had children.

Early life

Moore was born in Pinner, Middlesex on 4 March 1923[7] to Capt. Charles Trachsel Caldwell-Moore MC (died 1947)[8] and Gertrude (née White) (died 1981).[8] His family moved to Bognor Regis, and subsequently to East Grinstead where he spent his childhood. His youth was marked by heart problems, which left him in poor health and he was educated at home by private tutors.[7] He developed an interest in astronomy at the age of six[9] and joined the British Astronomical Association at the age of eleven.[10] He was invited to run a small observatory in East Grinstead at the age of 14, after his mentor – who ran the observatory – was killed in a road accident.[11] At the age of 16 he began wearing a monocle after an oculist told him his right eye was weaker than his left.[12] Three years later, he began wearing a full set of dentures.[13]

During World War II, Moore joined the Home Guard in East Grinstead where his father had been elected platoon commander.[14] Despite recounting in his autobiography that he had lied about his age to join the Royal Air Force in 1940 at age 16,[15] records show that he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in December 1941 at age 18 and was not called up for service until July 1942 as an Aircraftman, 2nd Class.[16] After basic training at various RAF bases in England, he went to Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and completed training at RAF Moncton in New Brunswick as a navigator and pilot.[17] During his time in Canada, he met Albert Einstein and Orville Wright while on leave in New York.[18] Returning to England in June 1944, he was commissioned as a Pilot officer[19] and was posted to RAF Millom in Cumbria, where he was a navigator in the crew of a Vickers Wellington bomber, engaged in maritime patrolling and bombing missions to mainland Europe.[20] After the end of hostilities, Moore became an adjutant and then an Area Meteorological Officer, finally demobilized in October 1945 with the rank of Flying officer.[21] The war had a significant influence on his life - he said his only romance ended when his fiancée Lorna, a nurse, was killed in London in 1943 by a bomb which struck her ambulance. Moore subsequently remarked that he never married because "there was no one else for me ... second best is no good for me ... I would have liked a wife and family, but it was not to be." In his autobiography he said that after sixty years he still thought about her, and because of her death "if I saw the entire German nation sinking into the sea, I could be relied upon to help push it down."[22] In May 2012 he said to the "Radio Times" magazine, "We must take care. There may be another war. The Germans will try again, given another chance. A Kraut is a Kraut is a Kraut. And the only good Kraut is a dead Kraut."[23] However biographer Martin Mobberley disputed the existence of Lorna, noting that none of Moore's wartime acquaintances that he had contacted had heard of her, and that Moore's earliest reference to an unnamed fiancée killed during the war came in the late 1970s, with the name Lorna first appearing in his 2003 autobiography.[24][25]

Moore said he was "exceptionally close" to his mother Gertrude,[8] a talented artist who shared his Selsey home, which was decorated with her paintings of "bogeys" – little friendly aliens – which she produced and sent out annually as the Moores' Christmas cards.[26] Moore wrote the foreword for his mother's 1974 book, Mrs Moore In Space.[27]

Career in astronomy

After the war, Moore rejected a grant to study at the University of Cambridge, citing a wish to "stand on my own two feet".[10] He wrote his first book, Guide to the Moon (later retitled Patrick Moore on the Moon) in 1952 and it was published a year later.[10] He wrote it on a 1908 Woodstock typewriter, which he used for every book he published.[22] He was a teacher in Woking and at Holmewood House School in Langton Green,[28] from 1945 to 1953.[29] His second book was a translation of a work of French astronomer Gérard de Vaucouleurs (Moore spoke fluent French).[30] After his second original science book, Guide to the Planets, he penned his first work of fiction, The Master of the Moon,[31] the first of numerous young adult fiction space adventure books (including the late 1970s series the Scott Saunders Space Adventure); he wrote a more adult novel and a farce titled Ancient Lights, though he did not wish either to be published.[32]

While teaching at Holmewood he set up a 12½ inch reflector telescope at his home, which he kept into his old age.[11] He developed a particular interest in the far side of the Moon, a small part of which is visible from Earth as a result of the Moon's libration; the Moon was his specialist subject throughout his life.[11] He claimed to have discovered and named the Mare Orientale (Eastern Sea) in 1946,[33] along with Hugh Percy Wilkins, though he later conceded that German astronomer Julius Heinrich Franz should be credited with the discovery.[34] The feature had been observed several times since telescopic observations began. Moore described the short-lived glowing areas on the lunar surface, and gave them the name transient lunar phenomena in 1968.[33]

His first television appearance was in a debate about the existence of flying saucers following a spate of reported sightings in the 1950s; Moore argued against Lord Dowding and other UFO proponents.[35] He was invited to present a live astronomy programme and said the greatest difficulty was finding an appropriate theme tune; the opening of Jean Sibelius's Pelléas et Mélisande was chosen and used throughout the programme's existence.[36] The programme was originally named Star Map before The Sky at Night was chosen in the Radio Times.[36] On 24 April 1957, at 10:30 pm, Moore presented the first episode about the Comet Arend–Roland.[36] The programme was pitched to casual viewers up to professional astronomers, in a format which remained consistent from its inception.[37] Moore presented every monthly episode except for one in July 2004 when he suffered a near-fatal bout of food poisoning caused by eating a contaminated goose egg and was replaced for that episode by Chris Lintott.[38] Moore appears in the Guinness World Records book as the world's longest-serving TV presenter having presented the programme since 1957. From 2004 to 2012, the programme was broadcast from Moore's home, when arthritis prevented him from travelling to the studios. Over the years he received many lucrative offers to take his programme onto other networks, but rejected them because he held a 'gentlemen's agreement' with the BBC.[39]

A highlight of the series in 1959 was when the Russians allowed Moore to be the first Westerner to see the photographic results of the Luna 3 probe, and to show them live on air.[40] Less successful was the transmission of the Luna 4 probe, which ran into technical difficulties and around this time Moore famously swallowed a large fly; both episodes were live and Moore had to continue regardless.[41] He was invited to visit the Soviet Union, where he met Yuri Gagarin, the first man to journey into outer space.[42] For the fiftieth episode of The Sky at Night, in September 1961, Moore's attempt to be the first to broadcast a live direct telescopic view of a planet resulted in another unintended 'comedy episode', as cloud obscured the sky.[43]

In 1965, he was appointed director of the newly constructed Armagh Planetarium in Northern Ireland, a post he held until 1968.[44] His stay outside England was short partly because of the beginning of The Troubles, a dispute Moore wanted no involvement in.[45] He was appointed Armagh County secretary of the Scout movement, but resigned after being informed that Catholics could not be admitted.[46] In developing the Planetarium, Moore travelled to Japan to secure a Goto Mars projector.[47] He helped with the redevelopment of the Birr Telescope in the Republic of Ireland.[48] He was a key figure in the development of the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath.[49]

In June 1968 he returned to England, settling in Selsey after resigning his post in Armagh.[50] During the NASA Apollo programme, presenting on the Apollo 8 mission, he said that "this is one of the great moments of human history", only to have his broadcast interrupted by the children's programme Jackanory.[51] He was a presenter for the Apollo 9 and Apollo 10 missions, and a commenter, with Cliff Michelmore and James Burke, for BBC television's coverage of the Moon landing missions.[51] Moore could not remember his words at the "Eagle has landed" moment, and the BBC has lost the tapes of the broadcast.[52] A homemade recording reveals that the studio team was very quiet during the landing sequence, leaving the NASA commentary clear of interruptions. Some 14 seconds after "contact" Burke says "They've touched". At 36 seconds he says "Eagle has landed". Between 53 and 62 seconds he explains the upcoming stay/no-stay decision and NASA announces the T1 stay at 90 seconds after contact. At 100 seconds the recorded sequence ends. Thus any real-time comment Moore made was not broadcast live and the recording ends before Burke polls the studio team for comment and reaction. Moore participated in TV coverage of Apollo missions 12 to 17.[53]

"Patrick was the last of a lost generation, a true gentleman, the most generous in nature that I ever knew, and an inspiration to thousands in his personal life, and to millions through his 50 years of unique broadcasting. 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. There will never be another Patrick Moore. But we were lucky enough to get one."

— Brian May, speaking shortly after Moore's death[54]

He was elected a member of the International Astronomical Union in 1966;[55][56] having twice edited the Union's General Assembly newsletters.[57] He attempted to establish an International Union of Amateur Astronomers, which failed due to lack of interest.[58] During the 1970s and 80s, he reported on the Voyager and Pioneer programs, often from NASA headquarters.[59] At this time he became increasingly annoyed by conspiracy theorists and reporters who asked him questions such as "Why waste money on space research when there is so much to be done here?". He said that when asked these type of questions "I know that I'm dealing with an idiot."[60] Another question that annoyed him was "what is the difference between astronomy and astrology?"[61] Despite this he made a point of responding to all letters delivered to his house, and sent a variety of standard replies to letters asking basic questions, as well as those from conspiracy theorists, proponents of hunting and 'cranks'.[62] Despite his fame, his telephone number was always listed in the telephone directory and he was happy to show members of the public his observatory.[63]

He compiled the Caldwell catalogue of astronomical objects and in 1982, asteroid 2602 Moore was named in his honour.[64] In February 1986 he presented a special episode of The Sky at Night on the approach of Halley's Comet, though he later said the BBC's better-funded Horizon team "made a complete hash of the programme."[65] In January 1998, a tornado destroyed part of Moore's garden observatory; it was subsequently rebuilt.[66] Moore campaigned unsuccessfully against the closure of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1998.[67] Among Moore's favourite episodes of The Sky at Night were those that dealt with eclipses, and he said "there is nothing in nature to match the glory of a total eclipse of the Sun."[68]

Moore was a BBC presenter for the total eclipse in England in 1999, though the view he and his team had from Cornwall was obscured by cloud.[69] Moore was the patron of the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre, which opened in 2001.[70]

Moore with his co-presenter Chris Lintott and Brian May, astrophysicist and Queen guitarist, at AstroFest in 2007

On 1 April 2007, a 50th anniversary semi-spoof edition of the programme was broadcast on BBC One, with Moore depicted as a Time Lord and featured special guests, amateur astronomers Jon Culshaw (impersonating Moore presenting the first The Sky at Night) and Brian May. On 6 May 2007, a special edition of The Sky at Night was broadcast on BBC One, to commemorate the programme's 50th anniversary, with a party in Moore's garden at Selsey, attended by amateur and professional astronomers. Moore celebrated the record-breaking 700th episode of The Sky at Night at his home in Sussex on 6 March 2011. He presented with the help of special guests Professor Brian Cox, Jon Culshaw and Lord Rees, the Astronomer Royal.

It was reported in January 2012 that because of arthritis and the effects of an old spinal injury he was no longer able to operate a telescope. However, he was still able to present The Sky at Night from his home.[71]

He died aged 89 at 12:25 p.m. on 9 December 2012 at his home in Selsey, West Sussex.[72]

On 9 December 2014 it was reported that the Science Museum, London had acquired a large collection of Patrick Moore's objects and manuscripts and memorabilia, including The Sky at Night scripts, and about 70 of his observation books, over more than 60 years, and manuscripts for astronomy and fiction books, and a 12.5 inch reflecting telescope.[73]

Activism and political beliefs

Moore was known for his conservative political views. In the 1970s, he was chairman of the anti-immigration United Country Party, a position he held until the party was absorbed by the New Britain Party in 1980. He campaigned for the politician Edmund Iremonger in the 1979 British general election, as they agreed the French and Germans were not to be trusted.[74] Iremonger and Moore gave up political campaigning after deciding they were Thatcherites.[74] Moore campaigned on behalf of Douglas Denny (UKIP) for the Chichester constituency in 2001.[75] A Tory voter for many years, he was a supporter and patron of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party until his death.[76] He briefly supported the Liberal Party in the 1950s, though condemned the Liberal Democrats, saying he believed they could alter their position radically and that they "would happily join up with the BNP or the Socialist Workers Party ... if [by doing so] they could win a few extra votes."[75] He admired the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and was briefly their financial advisor.[77] He wrote in his autobiography that Liechtenstein – a constitutional monarchy headed by a prince – had the best political system in the world.[78] Moore was a critic of the Iraq War,[79] and said "the world was a safer place when Ronald Reagan was in the White House".[80] He was a patron of the British Weights and Measures Association.

Proudly declaring himself to be English (rather than British) with "not the slightest wish to integrate with anybody",[77] he stated his admiration for controversial MP Enoch Powell.[81] Moore devoted an entire chapter ("The Weak Arm of the Law") of his autobiography to denouncing modern British society, particularly "motorist-hunting" policemen, sentencing policy, the Race Relations Act, Sex Discrimination Act and the "Thought Police/Politically Correct Brigade".[82] He wrote that "homosexuals are mainly responsible for the spreading of AIDS (the Garden of Eden is home of Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve)".[83]

In an interview with Radio Times, he asserted that the BBC was being "ruined by women", commenting that: "The trouble is that the BBC now is run by women and it shows: soap operas, cooking, quizzes, kitchen-sink plays. You wouldn't have had that in the golden days." In response, a BBC spokeswoman described Moore as being one of TV's best-loved figures and remarked that his "forthright" views were "what we all love about him".[84] In his June 2002 appearance on Room 101 he banished female news readers into Room 101.[85]

"I may be accused of being a dinosaur, but I would remind you that dinosaurs ruled the Earth for a very long time."
— Moore responds to those who criticise his Euro-sceptic and right-wing beliefs.[86]

Moore cited his opposition to fox hunting, blood sports and capital punishment to rebut claims that he had ultra right-wing views.[77][87] Though not a vegetarian, he held "a deep contempt for people who go out to kill merely to amuse themselves."[88] He was an animal lover, supporting many animal welfare charities (particularly Cats Protection). He had a particular affinity for cats and stated that "a catless house is a soulless house".[89]

Other interests and popular culture

Because of his long-running television career and eccentric demeanour, Moore was widely recognised and became a popular public figure. In 1976 it was used to good effect for an April Fools' Day spoof on BBC Radio 2, when Moore announced a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event that meant that if listeners could jump at that exact moment, 9.47 a.m. they would experience a temporary sensation of weightlessness.[90] The BBC received many telephone calls from listeners alleging they experienced the sensation.[90] He was a key figure in the establishment of the International Birdman event in Bognor Regis, which was initially held in Selsey.[91]

Moore appeared in other television and radio shows, including Just a Minute and, from 1992 until 1998, playing the role of GamesMaster in the television show of the same name: a character who professed to know everything there is to know about video gaming.[92] He would issue video game challenges and answered questions on cheats and tips. The show's host, Dominik Diamond, claimed that Moore did not understand anything that he said on the show, yet managed to record his contributions in single takes.[93]

Moore was a keen amateur actor, appearing in local plays.[94] He appeared in self-parodying roles, in several episodes of The Goodies and on the Morecambe and Wise show, and broadcast with Kenneth Horne only a few days before Horne's death.[95] He had a minor role in the fourth radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and a lead role in the Radio 1 sci-fi BBC/20th Century Fox radio play, Independence Day UK in which amongst other things, Moore fills in as a navigator. He appeared in It's a Celebrity Knockout, Blankety Blank and Face the Music. He appeared on television at least once in a film prop space suit.

He expressed appreciation for the science fiction television series Doctor Who and Star Trek, but stated that he had stopped watching when "they went PC - making women commanders, that kind of thing".[96] Despite this he subsequently made a cameo appearance in the Doctor Who episode "The Eleventh Hour" in 2010, which was Matt Smith's debut as the Eleventh Doctor.[97] In the 1960s, Moore had been approached by the Doctor Who story editor Gerry Davis to act as a scientific advisor on the series to help with the accuracy of stories, a position ultimately taken by Kit Pedler.[98]

A keen amateur chess player, Moore carried a pocket set and was vice president of Sussex Junior Chess Association.[99] In 2003, he presented Sussex Junior David Howell with the best young chess player award on Carlton Television's Britain's Brilliant Prodigies show. Moore had represented Sussex in his youth.[42]

Moore was an enthusiastic amateur cricketer, playing for the Selsey Cricket Club well into his seventies.[100] He played for the Lord's Taverners, a cricketing charity team, as a bowler with an unorthodox action. Though an accomplished leg spin bowler, he was a number 11 batsman and a poor fielder.[101] The jacket notes to his book "Suns, Myths and Men" (1968) said his hobbies included "chess, which he plays with a peculiar leg-spin, and cricket." He played golf, and won a Pro-Am competition in Southampton in 1975.[102]

Until forced to give up because of arthritis, Moore was a keen pianist and accomplished xylophone player, having first played the instrument at the age of 13.[103] He composed a substantial corpus of works, including two operettas.[104] Moore had a ballet, Lyra's Dream, written to his music. He performed at a Royal Command Performance, and performed a duet with Evelyn Glennie.[105]

In 1998, as a guest on Have I Got News for You, he accompanied the show's closing theme tune on the xylophone and as a pianist, he once accompanied Albert Einstein playing The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns on the violin (no recording was made).[106] In 1981 he performed a solo xylophone rendition of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K." in a Royal Variety Performance.[107] He did not enjoy most popular music: when played ten modern rock songs by such artists as Hawkwind, Muse and Pink Floyd, in a 2009 interview with journalist Joel McIver, he explained, "To my ear, all these songs are universally awful."[108]

Before encountering health problems he was an extensive traveller, and had visited all seven continents, including Antarctica; he said his favourite two countries were Iceland and Norway.[109] On 7 March 2006 he was hospitalised and fitted with a pacemaker because of a cardiac abnormality.[110] He spoke in favour of Esperanto on the hundredth anniversary of the help-language.

He was a friend of Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May, who was an occasional guest on The Sky at Night.[111] May bought Moore's Selsey home in 2008, leasing it back to him for a peppercorn rent the same day to provide financial security.[112] May, Moore and Chris Lintott co-wrote a book Bang! The Complete History of the Universe. In February 2011, Moore completed (with Robin Rees and Iain Nicolson) his comprehensive Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy for Cambridge University Press. In 1986 he was identified as the co-author of a book published in 1954 called Flying Saucer from Mars, attributed to Cedric Allingham, which was intended as a money-making venture and practical joke on UFO believers;[113] Moore never admitted his involvement. He once joined the Flat Earth Society as an ironic joke.[114]

Moore believed himself to be the only person to have met the first aviator, Orville Wright, the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong.[115]

In March 2015, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a 45-minute play based on the life of Moore, The Far Side of the Moore by Sean Grundy, starring Tom Hollander as Moore and Patricia Hodge as his mother.[116]

Honours and appointments

In 1945, Moore was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society; in 1977 he was awarded the society's Jackson-Gwilt Medal. In 1968, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and promoted to a Commander (CBE) of the order in 1988. In 1999 he became the honorary president of the East Sussex Astronomical Society, a position he held until his death. In 2001, he was knighted for "services to the popularisation of science and to broadcasting".[117]

In 2001, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society, the only amateur astronomer ever to achieve the distinction.[118] In June 2002, he was appointed as the honorary vice president of the Society for the History of Astronomy. Also in 2002, Buzz Aldrin presented him with a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for services to television.[119] He was patron of Torquay Boys' Grammar School in south Devon. Moore had a long association with the University of Leicester and its Department of Physics and Astronomy, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1996 and a Distinguished Honorary Fellowship in 2008, the highest award that the university can bestow.[120]

In 2009, after saving Airdrie Public Observatory from closure in 2002, Moore accepted the position of Honorary President of Airdrie Astronomical Association, a position which he held until his death.

Bibliography

Moore wrote many popular books. The website Astronomy Now Online estimates that he published over a thousand books on popular science, including all known editions and reprints.[121] From 1962 to 2011 he also edited the long running Yearbook of Astronomy, published annually; and was editor on many other science books in that period. He also wrote science fiction novels for children; and, under the pen name R T Fishall,[122] he wrote humorous works. Therefore, the list below is not exhaustive:

  • A Guide to the Moon, 1953, ISBN 978-0-393-06414-8
  • Mission to Mars, 1955
  • The Voices of Mars, 1957
  • A Guide to the Planets, 1960, ISBN 0-393-06319-4
  • Stars and Space, 1960
  • A Guide to the Stars, 1960, Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 60-7584
  • Oxford Children's Reference Library Book 2: Exploring the World, 1966
  • The Amateur Astronomer's Glossary, 1966 (reprinted as The A-Z of Astronomy)
  • Observer's Book of Astronomy, 1971, ISBN 0-7232-1524-3
  • Can You Speak Venusian?, 1972, ISBN 0-352-39776-4
  • Next Fifty Years in Space, 1976, ISBN 0-86002-033-9
  • Astronomy Quiz Book, 1978, ISBN 0-552-54132-X
  • The Scott Saunders series (six juvenile science fiction novels), late 1970s
  • Bureaucrats: How to Annoy Them (humour) (writing as R.T.Fishall), 1982, ISBN 0-09-929370-6
  • New Observer's Book of Astronomy, 1983, ISBN 0-7232-1646-0
  • Armchair Astronomy, 1984, ISBN 0-85059-718-8
  • Travellers in Space and Time, 1984, ISBN 0-385-19051-4
  • Stargazing: Astronomy Without A Telescope, 1985, ISBN 0-906053-92-7
  • Explorers of Space, 1986, ISBN 0-86134-092-2
  • The Astronomy Encyclopaedia, 1987, ISBN 0-85533-604-8
  • Astronomers' Stars, 1987, ISBN 0-393-02663-9
  • Television Astronomer: Thirty Years of the "Sky at Night", 1987, ISBN 0-245-54531-X
  • Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars, 1988, ISBN 0-521-36866-9
  • Space Travel for the Under Tens, 1988, ISBN 0-540-01179-7
  • Mission to the Planets, 1991, ISBN 0-304-34088-X
  • New Guide to the Planets, 1993, ISBN 0-283-06145-6
  • The Sun and the Moon (Starry Sky), 1996, ISBN 0-09-967911-6
  • The Guinness Book of Astronomy, 1995, ISBN 0-85112-643-X
  • The Stars (Starry Sky), 1996, ISBN 0-09-967881-0
  • The Sun and the Moon (Starry Sky), 1996, ISBN 0-09-967911-6
  • The Planets (Starry Sky), 1996, ISBN 0-09-967891-8
  • Eyes on the Universe: Story of the Telescope, 1997, ISBN 3-540-76164-0
  • Exploring the Earth and Moon, 1997, ISBN 1-85361-447-5
  • Philip's Guide to Stars and Planets, 1997, ISBN 0-540-07235-4
  • Brilliant Stars, 1997, ISBN 0-304-34972-0
  • Patrick Moore on Mars, 1998, ISBN 0-304-35069-9
  • Patrick Moore's Guide to the 1999 Total Eclipse , 1999, ISBN 0-7522-1814-X
  • Countdown!, or, How nigh is the end?, 1999, ISBN 0-7181-2291-7
  • The Star of Bethlehem, 2001, ISBN 0-9537868-2-X
  • 80 Not Out: The Autobiography, 2003, ISBN 978-0-7509-4014-6
  • 2004 The Yearbook of Astronomy, 2003, ISBN 0-333-98941-4 (editor)
  • Our Universe: Facts, Figures and Fun, 2007, ISBN 1-904332-41-2

Film and television appearances

Year Title Role Notes
1957–2013 The Sky at Night Himself - Presenter 721 editions, Programme 1 (24 April 1957) - Programme 721 (7 January 2013)
1959 Panorama Himself 2 editions, Broadcast 5 January 1959 & 20 April 1959
1966 The Master (TV short) Himself 1 edition
1968–69 Apollo (TV series) Presenter Various editions: Co-presenter (with James Burke) on series presenting BBC television's coverage of NASA's Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions to the Moon, broadcast between Dec 1968 and July 1969
1970 Score with the Scaffold Himself 2 editions, Episode #1.7 (1970) & Episode #1.2 (1970)
1972 Parkinson Himself 1 episode, Episode #2.5 (1972)
1973 Up Sunday Himself 1 edition, Kohoutek: A Space Odyssey of Our Time (1973); Science documentary feature about Comet Kohoutek
1973 This Is Your Life Himself 1 episode
1975 Goodies Rule - O.K.? Himself The Goodies Christmas Special 1975, one-off
1976 Just a Minute Himself - Panellist 1 episode of Radio panel game (1976)
1971–77 The Morecambe & Wise Show Chorus - Fred and Ginger sketch / Sky At Night Host / Himself 3 episodes, 1971 Christmas Show (1971), Episode #9.2 (1976), & 1977 Christmas Show (1977)
1978 Saturday Night at the Mill Himself - Interviewee 1 episode, Episode #3.8 (1978); Guest on TV talk show
1979 Lennie and Jerry Himself 1 episode, Episode #2.5 (1979)
1979 It's a Knockout Himself 1 edition, It's a Celebrity Knockout (1979)
1973–79 Face the Music Himself - Panellist 6 Episodes, Episode dated 14 October 1979, Episode dated 21 November 1976, Episode dated 3 December 1975, Episode dated 15 July 1974 & Episode dated 13 May 1974
1973–80 The Goodies Himself 5 episodes, Animals (1980), U-Friend or UFO (1980), Punky Business (1977), Lighthouse Keeping Loonies (1975) & Invasion of the Moon Creatures (1973)
1979–83 Blankety Blank Himself - Panellist 3 episodes, Episode #6.15 (1983), Episode #3.16 (1980) & Episode #2.17 (1979)
1979–83 Children in Need Himself 2 episodes, Episode dated 22 November (1985) & Episode dated 25 November (1983)
1986 Living Proof (TV series documentary) Himself 1 episode, Round Britain Whizz (1986)
1986 Television: The Magic Rectangle - An Anatomy of the TV Personality Himself 1 episode
1988 Aspel & Company Himself 1 episode, Episode #5.2 (1988)
1989 The Groovy Fellers Himself 1 episode, Episode #1.6 (1989)
1989 The Noel Edmonds Saturday Roadshow Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 16 September (1989)
1990 Sunday, Sunday Himself - Interviewee 1 episode, Episode dated 28 October (1990)
2001 MasterChef Himself 1 episode, Episode #3.2 (1992)
1994 Clive Anderson Talks Back Himself 1 episode, Episode #9.3 (1994)
1991–95 Celebrity Squares Himself - Panellist 2 episodes, Episode dated 7 July (1995) & Episode dated 1 January (1991)
1997 The Selection Box Himself 1 episode, Dad's Army (1997)
1996–97 It'll Never Work? Himself 2 episodes, Design Awards (1997) & Design Awards (1996)
1997 Ant & Dec Unzipped Himself 1 episode, The Dating Agency (1997)
1997 The End of the Year Show Himself 1 episode, Episode #1.3 (1997)
1998 GamesMaster The Gamesmaster 126 episodes, Episode 1 (7 January 1992) - Episode 126 (3 February 1998)
1998 Red Dwarf A-Z (TV movie) Himself 1 episode
1998 Have I Got News for You Himself 1 episode, Episode #15.4 (1998)
1998 Telly Addicts Himself 1 episode, Episode #13.14 (1998)
1998 McCoist and MacAulay Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 12 November (1998)
1999 Original Copies (short) Himself 1 episode
1999 Live & Kicking Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 13 February (1999)
1999 Total Eclipse Live (TV special) Himself 1 episode
1999 The 100 Greatest TV Moments Himself 1 episode
2000 I Love 1970's Himself 1 episode, I Love 1977 (2000)
2001 Alter Ego (TV short) Himself 1 episode
2001 Our House (TV series) Himself 1 episode, Episode #8.6 (2001)
1998–2002 Comedy Lab Himself 2 episodes, The Pooters (2002) & Trigger Happy TV (1998)
2002 Heroes of Comedy Himself 1 episode, Mike Yarwood (2002)
2002 Question Time Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 21 March (2002)
2002 Room 101 Himself 1 episode, Episode #7.5 (2002)
2002 The Annual BARFTA Awards (TV special) Himself 1 episode
2002 TV Burp Himself 1 episode, Episode #1.6 (2002)
2003 The Truth Behind the Moon Landings: Stranger Than Fiction (TV documentary) Himself 1 episode
2003 This Morning Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 6 March (2003)
2004 This Week Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 15 January (2004)
2004 The British UFO Files (TV Movie) Himself 1 episode
2004 Big Brother Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 25 July 2004
2005 Newsnight Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 14 January 2005 (2005)
2005 Richard & Judy Himself 1 episode, Episode dated 21 February (2005)
2005 Top 50 Greatest Celebrity Animals (TV documentary) Himself 1 episode
2006 The Astronomical Patrick Moore (DVD autobiography) Himself 1 episode
2007 We Love 'The Sky at Night' (TV documentary) Himself 1 episode
2007 Countdown Himself 1 episode, Episode #57.91 (2007)
2007 Time Shift (TV series documentary) Himself 1 episode, Star Men (2007)
2008 Those Were the Days (TV series documentary) Himself 1 episode, 1969 Moon Landing (2008) ... Himself
2008 Naming Pluto (documentary short) Himself 1 episode
2009 Starhyke The Oracle 1 episode, Kill Jill (2009)
2009 Chris Moyles' Quiz Night Himself 1 episode, John Barrowman, Keith Allen and Patsy Palmer (2009)
2010 Doctor Who Himself 1 episode, The Eleventh Hour (2010)
2010 Mad and Bad: 60 Years of Science on TV (TV documentary) Himself 1 episode
2011 Destination Titan (TV documentary) Himself 1 episode
2011 That Sunday Night Show Himself 1 episode, Episode #2.1 (2011)
2012 Stargazing Live: Back to Earth (TV series) Himself 3 episodes, Episode #1.3 (2012), Episode #1.2 (2012) & Episode #1.1 (2012)

See also

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 "MOORE, Sir Patrick (Alfred) Caldwell". Who's Who 2013. A & C Black. 2012.(subscription required)
  2. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore dies aged 89". Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "BBC iPlayer - Sir Patrick Moore: Astronomer, Broadcaster and Eccentric". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Patrick Moore at the Internet Movie Database
  5. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore obituary". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Melinda C. Shepherd. "Sir Patrick Moore (British amateur astronomer, author, and television personality) dies". Britannica.com. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 1
  8. 1 2 3 Moore 2003, p. 4
  9. ↑ Moore, Patrick (1997). Exploring the night sky with binoculars. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 1. ISBN 1-85361-447-5.
  10. 1 2 3 Moore 2003, p. 3
  11. 1 2 3 Moore 2003, p. 12
  12. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 35
  13. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 60
  14. ↑ Mobberley, Martin (2013), It Came From Outer Space Wearing an RAF Blazer!: A Fan's Biography of Sir Patrick Moore, Springer; ISBN 978-3319006086 (p. 21)
  15. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 2
  16. ↑ Mobberley, pp. 23-24
  17. ↑ Mobberley, pp. 30-33
  18. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 30
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36653. pp. 3758–3761. 11 August 1944. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  20. ↑ Mobberley, p. 33
  21. ↑ Mobberley, p. 39
  22. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 5
  23. ↑ Furness, Hannah. "'The only good Kraut is a dead Kraut,' Sir Patrick Moore says". Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  24. ↑ Mobberley pp. 27-29.
  25. ↑ Mobberley p. 74.
  26. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 242
  27. ↑ Moore, Gertrude L. (1974), Mrs Moore In Space, Cassell and Co Ltd; ISBN 0-304-29426-8
  28. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 6
  29. ↑ "The teacher who studied the stars went on to have a stellar career". Kent & Sussex Courier (27 July 2012) (Tonbridge ed.). p. 44.
  30. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 15
  31. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 16
  32. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 18
  33. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 14
  34. ↑ "Who Discovered Orientale?". Ipod.org. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  35. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 21
  36. 1 2 3 Moore 2003, p. 23
  37. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 24
  38. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 257
  39. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 28
  40. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 39
  41. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 40
  42. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 41
  43. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 42
  44. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 54
  45. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 56
  46. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 57
  47. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 58
  48. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 61
  49. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 113
  50. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 62
  51. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 67
  52. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 69
  53. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 70
  54. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer and broadcaster, dies aged 89". BBC News. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  55. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 151
  56. ↑ "Individual Membership" (PDF). International Astronomical Union. 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  57. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 166
  58. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 154
  59. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 140
  60. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 145
  61. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 155
  62. ↑ Moore 2003, pp. 189–92
  63. ↑ Moore 2003, pp. 194–98
  64. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 101
  65. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 119
  66. ↑ "Town picks up the pieces after tornado". BBC News. 9 January 1998. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  67. ↑ Moore 2003, pp. 175–86
  68. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 121
  69. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 139
  70. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 260
  71. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore: 'I can't operate my telescope anymore'". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  72. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer and broadcaster, dies aged 89". BBC News. 9 December 2012.
  73. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore archive acquired". BT.com.
  74. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 167
  75. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 168
  76. ↑ "UKIP Dorset Party Patrons Page". Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  77. 1 2 3 Moore 2003, p. 169
  78. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 171
  79. ↑ "Interviews: Patrick Moore". b3ta. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  80. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 172
  81. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 170
  82. ↑ Moore 2003, pp. 197–201
  83. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 223
  84. ↑ Adam Sherwin (8 May 2007). "The BBC is being ruined by women, says Patrick Moore". The Times. Retrieved 15 March 2015.(subscription required)
  85. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 253
  86. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 173
  87. ↑ "Patrick Moore attacks hunting law". BBC News. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  88. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 86
  89. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 244
  90. 1 2 Moore 2003, p. 252
  91. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 254
  92. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 188
  93. ↑ Gibson, Ellie. "GamesMaster: The Inside Story". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  94. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 246
  95. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 247
  96. ↑ "Moore blames women for 'banal' TV". BBC News. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  97. ↑ Martin, Daniel (3 April 2010). "Doctor Who: Matt Smith's debut in The Eleventh Hour - the verdict". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  98. ↑ Graeme Burk; Robert Smith (2013). Who's 50: 50 Doctor Who Stories To Watch Before You Die - An Unofficial Companion. ECW Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-1770411661.
  99. ↑ Herbert Scarry. "Sussex v. Ireland Junior Match 2002". The Irish Chess Union. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  100. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore: In tune with music of the spheres". The Independent. London. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  101. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 78
  102. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 81
  103. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 103
  104. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 108
  105. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 107
  106. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 31
  107. ↑ The Daily Telegraph – 21 August 1981, pg 21, "Xy-Moore-phone"
  108. ↑ McIver, Joel (29 June 2009). "Space Rock The Final Frontier: Sir Patrick Moore On Pop". The Quietus. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  109. ↑ Moore 2003, pp. 202–218
  110. ↑ "Pacemaker for Sir Patrick Moore". BBC News. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  111. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 249
  112. ↑ "Sir Patrick helped by music star". The Argus. Brighton. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  113. ↑ Allan, C. and Campbell, S. Flying Saucer from Moore's?, Magonia v. 23 (July 1986): pp 15–18
  114. ↑ "The Flat Earth and its Advocates: A List of References". Library of Congress Science Reference Guides. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  115. ↑ "Sir Patrick Moore dies aged 89". The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  116. ↑ "Far Side of the Moore". BBC. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  117. ↑ "Knights Batchelor etc". BBC News. 30 December 2000. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  118. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 258
  119. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 72
  120. ↑ "Patrick Moore". Leicester University. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  121. ↑ "Patrick Moore's Bibliography". astronomynow.com. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  122. ↑ "Moore, Patrick". Worldcat.org. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
Bibliography

External links

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