Britain’s legendary Sir Patrick Moore dies at age 89

The astronomy popularizer was synonymous with the wonders of the cosmos.

By Karri Ferron — Published: December 10, 2012

Sir Patrick Moore

Photo by BBC Photo Archive

Sir Patrick Moore, longtime host of the BBC’s The Sky at Night, passed away at his home in Selsey, England, Sunday, December 9. According to a statement from friends and colleagues, “After a short spell in [the] hospital last week, it was determined that no further treatment would benefit him, and it was his wish to spend his last days in his own home, Farthings, where he … passed on, in the company of close friends and carers and his cat Ptolemy.”

Moore was a self-taught astronomy enthusiast who got his start writing about the Moon in 1953. He transitioned to TV in 1957 when the BBC decided to make an astronomy program and contacted Moore to be the presenter. The Sky at Night has since become the longest-running television program in the world, the latest episode appearing with Moore only a week ago. He was knighted in 2001 for “services to the popularisation [sic] of science and to broadcasting.”

“Over the past few years, Patrick, an inspiration to generations of astronomers, fought his way back from many serious spells of illness and continued to work and write at a great rate, but this time his body was too weak to overcome the infection which set in, a few weeks ago,” the statement continues. “He was able to perform on his world record-holding TV programme [sic] The Sky at Night right up until the most recent episode.”

Moore’s career consists of dozens of books on astronomy and more than 700 episodes on TV. He didn’t miss an episode of The Sky at Night until being hit by a bout of food poisoning in July 2004. And the program simply adjusted as Moore aged, shooting as his home after he was confined to a wheelchair. Moore is also known for his Caldwell Catalog, which he compiled in 1995 to fill in the missing bright deep-sky objects from Charles Messier’s famous list.

Moore had a humble opinion of his career and the number of people he influenced, as he told journalist Stuart Clark this past summer in a story for Astronomy magazine. “I don’t inspire them,” Moore said. “It’s the subject. I just happen to be there. I’m surprised at the way the audience has held up; more than a million people still watch us every month. I’ve made a lot of friends.” (Read the full story from that interview in PDF format below.)

A farewell event for Moore is being planned for March 2013, which would have been his 90th birthday.

Downloadable File(s)

Visiting the legendary Sir Patrick Moore by Stuart Clark (761 kB)

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TAB GOODE from UNITED KINGDOM said:

I would really like to know who is going to inherit Sir Patrick's collection of alien and UFO drawings and artwork, mostly created by his Mother. They were a great comfort and inspiration to him for decades. (And also why my screen name RosUNwell, website, Twitter feed, YouTube, has been replaced by my name. If you prefer TabGood.co.UK, you can also access it that way, TabithaGoode.co.UK also works). Did you know that the Polonnaaruwa Meteorite fell to Sri Lankan earth on Dec 29th 2012, and that it proves there is life beyond Earth?

Submitted: 1/15/2013 6:24:43 AM (CST)

LARS LINDSTROM from SWEDEN said:

I am devastated. Patrick Moore was the man that really got me started in amateur astronomy back in 1956, when I got his book "Guide to the Moon" as a Christmas gift. I was fourteen at the time, and I read and reread the book till it was all worn out. I lost it somewhere when I moved to Stockholm, Sweden, but I found a copy at an antique shop in Uppsala. It was almost in mint condition, it had been owned by Per Collinder (the man behind the Collinder star associations), and it now has a place of honor in my personal library.
Sir Patrick has been to amateur astronomy what John Dobson has been to amateur telescope making, and he has earned a place in the hall of honor along with Newton, the Herschels, Hubble and other great names.
Sleep well, great man and inspirer, and may God allow us to meet at resurrection day!

Submitted: 12/28/2012 4:52:08 PM (CST)

DELANO VAN OVER from NEVADA said:

I come very late in life to heavens stars and planets, and I never learned of Sir Patrick Moore until this day. But too be sure; Sir Patrick Moore now resides among his life's ambition. God bless Sir Patrick Moore.

Submitted: 12/21/2012 1:01:24 PM (CST)

BYRON GAIST from CYPRUS said:

I didn't meet him in person, but he was an inspiring presenter with a unique personality. From what I gather, also a very good man. Definitely a sad loss to the beautiful science of astronomy.

Submitted: 12/17/2012 4:41:35 AM (CST)

KEITH FOWLER from UNITED KINGDOM said:

I have been interested in astronomy all my life and this is largely down to watching The Sky At Night on TV as a child in the 60s. Patrick Moore gave a talk on the subject of Mars at my astronomy club in the 80s and his enthusiasm was even more infectious 'live' than on TV.

I am just about to embark on a degree with the UK's Open University which will major in Astronomy and Planetary Science, at the age of 56, all because of this man. A great loss but Patrick Moore has left a wonderful legacy.

Submitted: 12/14/2012 11:58:05 AM (CST)

NING ROWLEY from VIRGINIA said:

Thank you, Sir Patrick may you rest in peace.

Submitted: 12/14/2012 11:15:08 AM (CST)

SAM NAUMAN from TEXAS said:

Though everyone dies, the event is always a sad one. Sir Moore's death fills me with sadness and also nostaligia for the England of my youth. As a young person, I used to watch his BBC's TV shows and ever since then I have loved astronomy. Though he was an astronomist, he was very down to Earth. He will be missed.

Submitted: 12/14/2012 11:05:28 AM (CST)