[lostllama]

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



Although I'm not an astronomer on any level, I was always fond of Sir Patrick. I have a beginner's guide to astronomy that he wrote, that I kept on meaning to read and put to some use. Feeling kind of sad that I haven't got around to doing that yet in the light of this sad news.

[Jeff Vader]

http://weebls-stuff.com/songs/patrick+moore/

[karajorma]

I came on here to post this as soon as I read about it.



I used to love The Sky At Night when I was a kid. He definitely inspired me. I'm sure he'll hold his record for a long, long time.

The Sky at Night is a monthly documentary television programme on astronomy produced by the BBC. The show has had the same permanent presenter, Sir Patrick Moore, from its first airing on 24 April 1957, making it the longest-running programme with the same presenter in television history.

[headdie]

A sad day for all, as karajorma I enjoyed watching the Sky at Night when I caught it.  Its been a bit of a mixed year for our relationship with space with several legends of out understanding of the stars passing on and yet a number of exciting projects being announced or reaching significant mile stones.

[Mongoose]

I wish I'd been aware of him or his series over here before now; it sounds like the sort of thing I would have loved. 

[QuantumDelta]

Not only the (awesome) sky at night, but the (now admittedly somewhat retro) Games Master, one of the shows that encouraged a lot of early british gamers..
Sir Patrick Moore was in many ways one of my biggest inspirations as a child.
So sad to see such a great man go..

[watsisname]

I wish I'd been aware of him or his series over here before now; it sounds like the sort of thing I would have loved. 

Same here.

[NGTM-1R]

Well frak. I doubt I'd have half the interests I do without my PBS having shown Sky At Night.

[General Battuta]

I'll miss the contributions he made, though certainly not the vile man behind them.

[Scotty]

I'm fairly certain that demands more explanation beyond a really ****ty drive by post.

[NGTM-1R]

I'm fairly certain that demands more explanation beyond a really ****ty drive by post.

You could just look at the wikipedia entry on his activist positions (racist, homophobic, support for far-right British parties, and cat rescue.)

[General Battuta]

I'm fairly certain that demands more explanation beyond a really ****ty drive by post.

What's not common knowledge is one Google away. I don't demand spotless human credentials in order to recognize what he did, but I don't think anyone here will be in a rush to whitewash him either.

[Lorric]

Never knew some of that stuff. It's strange a man who's mind could reach out to the stars could be so closed minded in some ways.

[StarSlayer]

I'm fairly certain that demands more explanation beyond a really ****ty drive by post.

What's not common knowledge is one Google away. I don't demand spotless human credentials in order to recognize what he did, but I don't think anyone here will be in a rush to whitewash him either.

Just as a preface I actually went and looked it up on 'pedia after I saw your post, before Scotty made an issue of it.  Still, considering that this board makes a habit of chiding some members for this behavior, turning around and expecting people to "do their own research" when the poster is instead a member in good standing doesn't set a good standard.

[lostllama]

I was only vaguely aware of his cultural/political opinions. I guess I only ever thought of him in his astronomer/TV presenter stance, which is perhaps how I and many others will prefer to remember him by, and not for those views he held. Not that I'm ignoring that side of him though.

[redsniper]

Never knew some of that stuff. It's strange a man who's mind could reach out to the stars could be so closed minded in some ways.

People are weird like that.

[Flipside]

There is bad in good people and vice-versa.

I was aware of Moores political views, but since he never espoused them on the Sky at Night, I'm not sure I can hate him for them, only disagree with him. Had he been a political figure at some point beyond since I was around 5, then maybe, but a large percent over 80's in the UK tend to think along pretty much those lines, only not quite as vehemently, they're just a product of the times they were raised in.

As for Sir Patrick, a sad loss, but a damn good innings at 89, especially considering he was doing the Sky at Night almost till the last minute.

[Lorric]

There is bad in good people and vice-versa.

I was aware of Moores political views, but since he never espoused them on the Sky at Night, I'm not sure I can hate him for them, only disagree with him. Had he been a political figure at some point beyond since I was around 5, then maybe, but a large percent over 80's in the UK tend to think along pretty much those lines, only not quite as vehemently, they're just a product of the times they were raised in.

As for Sir Patrick, a sad loss, but a damn good innings at 89, especially considering he was doing the Sky at Night almost till the last minute.

Well said.

Yes, credit is deserved for resisting the temptation to use The Sky at Night as a vehicle to air any such views to a wide audience. And for keeping right on going like he did, he must have been loaded by that point, he didn't have to do it.