Editing Patrick Moore (section)

==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".<ref name="page 3"/> 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.<ref name="page 3"/> He was a teacher in [[Woking]] and at [[Holmewood House School]] in [[Langton Green]]<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=6}}</ref> in Kent from 1945 to 1953.<ref name=KSC270712>{{cite news|title=The teacher who studied the stars went on to have a stellar career|newspaper=Kent & Sussex Courier|edition=Tonbridge|page=44|issue=27 July 2012}}</ref> His second book was a translation of a work of French astronomer [[Gérard de Vaucouleurs]] (Moore spoke fluent French).<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=15}}</ref> After his second original science book, ''Guide to the Planets'', he wrote his first work of fiction, ''The Master of the Moon'',<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=16}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=18}}</ref> Moore also translated the book ''Quanta'' by J Lochak and Andrade E Silva, published in 1969, from the French.

While teaching at Holmewood, he set up a 12½ inch [[Reflecting telescope|reflector telescope]] at his home, which he kept into his old age.<ref name="page 12"/> 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.<ref name="page 12"/> Moore described the short-lived glowing areas on the lunar surface and gave them the name [[transient lunar phenomenon|transient lunar phenomena]] in 1968.<ref name="page 14">{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=14}}</ref>

His first television appearance was in a debate about the existence of [[flying saucer]]s following a spate of reported [[List of reported UFO sightings|sightings]] in the 1950s; Moore argued against [[Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding|Lord Dowding]] and other UFO proponents.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=21}}</ref> 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 (Sibelius)|Pelléas et Mélisande]]'' was chosen and used throughout the programme's existence.<ref name="page 23">{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=23}}</ref> The programme was originally named ''Star Map'' before ''[[The Sky at Night]]'' was chosen in the ''[[Radio Times]]''.<ref name="page 23"/> On 24 April 1957, at 10:30 pm, Moore presented the first episode about the [[Comet Arend–Roland]].<ref name="page 23"/> The programme was pitched to casual viewers up to professional astronomers, in a format which remained consistent from its inception.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=24}}</ref> Moore presented every monthly episode except for one in July 2004 when he suffered a near-fatal bout of [[Foodborne illness|food poisoning]] caused by eating a contaminated goose egg and was replaced for that episode by [[Chris Lintott]].<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=257}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=28}}</ref>

In 1959, 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=39}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=40}}</ref> He was invited to visit the [[Soviet Union]], where he met [[Yuri Gagarin]], the first man to journey into [[outer space]].<ref name="page 41">{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=41}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=42}}</ref>
[[File:Dr. Patrick Moore signing his book "The Astronomy of Birr Castle" at NIHE - 1985.jpg|thumb|Patrick Moore signing his book "The Astronomy of Birr Castle" at NIHE - 1985]]
In 1965, he was appointed director of the newly constructed [[Armagh Planetarium]] in Northern Ireland, a post he held until 1968.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=54}}</ref> His stay outside England was short partly because of the beginning of [[The Troubles]], a dispute Moore wanted no involvement in.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=56}}</ref> He was appointed [[County Armagh|Armagh County]] secretary of the [[Scouting|Scout]] movement but resigned after being informed that Catholics could not be admitted.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=57}}</ref> In developing the Planetarium, Moore travelled to Japan to secure a [[Planetarium projector|Goto Mars projector]].<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=58}}</ref> He helped with the redevelopment of the [[Birr, County Offaly#Birr Telescope - The 'Leviathan of Parsonstown'|Birr Telescope]] in the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=61}}</ref> He was a key figure in the development of the [[Herschel Museum of Astronomy]] in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]].<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=113}}</ref>

In June 1968, he returned to England, settling in Selsey after resigning from his post in Armagh.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=62}}</ref> During the NASA Apollo programme, presenting on the [[Apollo 8]] mission, he declared that "this is one of the great moments of human history", only to have his broadcast interrupted by the children's programme ''[[Jackanory]]''.<ref name="page 67">{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=67}}</ref> He was a presenter for the [[Apollo 9]] and [[Apollo 10]] missions, and a commenter, with [[Cliff Michelmore]] and [[James Burke (science historian)|James Burke]], for [[British television Apollo 11 coverage|BBC television's coverage of the Moon landing]] missions.<ref name="page 67"/> Moore could not remember his words at the "[[Apollo 11|Eagle has landed]]" moment, and the BBC lost the tapes of the broadcast.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=69}}</ref> 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 program|Apollo missions]] [[Apollo 12|12]] to [[Apollo 17|17]].<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=70}}</ref>
{{Quote box|quote="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."|source=— [[Brian May]], speaking shortly after Moore's death<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer and broadcaster, dies aged 89|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20657939|access-date=9 December 2012|date=9 December 2012|work=BBC News}}</ref>|width=35%|align=right}}

He was elected a member of the [[International Astronomical Union]] in 1966;<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=151}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iau.org/static/membership/ind_memb_nat_memb.pdf|title=Individual Membership|work=International Astronomical Union|date=2011|access-date=29 December 2011}}</ref> having twice edited the Union's General Assembly newsletters.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=166}}</ref> He attempted to establish an International Union of Amateur Astronomers, which failed due to lack of interest.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=154}}</ref> During the 1970s and 80s, he reported on the [[Voyager program|Voyager]] and [[Pioneer program]]s, often from [[NASA]] headquarters.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=140}}</ref> At this time he became increasingly annoyed by [[conspiracy theory|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."<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=145}}</ref> Another question that annoyed him was "what is the difference between [[astronomy]] and [[astrology]]?"<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=155}}</ref> 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 '[[Crank (person)|cranks]]'.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|pp=189–92}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|pp=194–98}}</ref>

He compiled the [[Caldwell catalogue]],{{efn|Moore used the first of his two surnames, ''Caldwell'',  to name the list, since the initial of ''Moore'' is already used for the [[Messier catalogue]].}} of 109 [[star cluster]]s, nebulae, and galaxies for observation by amateur astronomers.<ref>{{harvnb|O'Meara|2002}}</ref> In 1982, [[asteroid]] [[2602 Moore]] was named in his honour.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=101}}</ref> In February 1986, he presented a special episode of ''The Sky at Night'' on the approach of [[Halley's Comet]]. However, he later said the BBC's better-funded ''[[Horizon (BBC TV series)|Horizon]]'' team "made a complete hash of the programme."<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=119}}</ref> In January 1998, [[:Category:Tornadoes in the United Kingdom|a tornado]] destroyed part of Moore's garden observatory; it was subsequently rebuilt.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/45580.stm|title=Town picks up the pieces after tornado|access-date=3 April 2007|date=9 January 1998|work=BBC News}}</ref> Moore campaigned unsuccessfully against the closure of the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich]] in 1998.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|pp=175–86}}</ref> Among Moore's favourite episodes of ''The Sky at Night'' were those that dealt with [[eclipse]]s, and he said, "there is nothing in nature to match the glory of a [[Solar eclipse|total eclipse of the Sun]]."<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=121}}</ref>
[[File:Lintott, Moore, May.jpg|thumb|Moore with his co-presenter [[Chris Lintott]] and [[Brian May]], astrophysicist and [[Queen (band)|Queen]] guitarist, at [[Astronomy Now#AstroFest|AstroFest]] in 2007]]
Moore was a BBC presenter for the [[Solar eclipse of 11 August 1999|total eclipse in England in 1999]], though the view he and his team had from [[Cornwall]] was obscured by cloud.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=139}}</ref> Moore was the patron of the [[South Downs Planetarium and Science Centre]], and he attended its official opening in 2001.<ref>{{harvnb|Moore|2003|p=260}}</ref>

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]]. It 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 [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Professor Brian Cox]], Jon Culshaw and [[Martin Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow|Lord Rees]], the [[Astronomer Royal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sky at Night|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z9n1z|work=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9034627/Sir-Patrick-Moore-I-cant-operate-my-telescope-anymore.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9034627/Sir-Patrick-Moore-I-cant-operate-my-telescope-anymore.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sir Patrick Moore: 'I can't operate my telescope anymore'|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 January 2012|access-date=28 January 2012|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>