Patrick Moore - Career in Astronomy

Career in Astronomy

After the war, Moore rejected a government grant to study at Cambridge University, citing a wish to "stand on my own two feet". He wrote his first book in 1952, Guide to the Moon (later retitled Patrick Moore on the Moon), which was published a year later. He wrote it on a 1908 Woodstock typewriter, which he continued to use in writing every book of his career. He also began teaching, first in Woking and then at Holmewood House School in Langton Green, where he taught from 1945–53. His second book was a translation of a work of French astronomer Gérard de Vaucouleurs (Moore speaks fluent French). After writing his second original science book, Guide to the Planets, he penned his first work of fiction, entitled The Master of the Moon. This was the first of numerous young-adult fiction books based on space adventures (including the late 1970s series the Scott Saunders Space Adventure); he did write a more adult novel as well as a farce novel titled Ancient Lights, though he did not wish to find a publisher for either work.

During his time as a teacher at Holmewood he set up at his home a 12 ½ inch reflector telescope, which he kept with him into his old age. He developed a particular interest in the Moon, particularly the far side, a small part of which is visible from Earth as a result of the Moon's libration; the Moon has remained his specialist subject all through his life. He named the Mare Orientale (Eastern Sea) in 1946, along with H P Wilkins, though German astronomer Julius Heinrich Franz has also been credited with the discovery. Moore was also credited with the discovery of the transient lunar phenomenon, describing the short-lived glowing areas on the lunar surface in 1968.

He made his first television appearance in a debate over the existence of flying saucers following a spate of sightings in the 1950s; Moore argued against Lord Dowding and a few other UFO proponents. Following this, he was invited to present a live astronomy programme; he later noted that the greatest difficulty was in settling on an appropriate theme tune, Jean Sibelius' Pelléas et Mélisande was eventually chosen, and remained a key part of the show throughout its existence. The name of the show was originally planned to be Star Map, before The Sky at Night was thought of as a better enticement in the Radio Times. On 26 April 1957, at 10:30 pm, Moore presented the first episode of The Sky at Night, which was about the Comet Arend–Roland. The show was pitched to casual viewers up to professional astronomers, in a format which has remained consistent since its inception. Moore has presented every episode each month, except July 2004, when he was replaced by Chris Lintott because Moore suffered a near-fatal bout of food poisoning caused by eating a contaminated goose egg. Moore appears in the Guinness World Records book as the world's longest-serving TV presenter, by virtue of having presented the show since 1957. Since 2004, the programme has been presented from Moore's home, as he is no longer able to travel to the studios, owing to arthritis. Over the years he received many more financially lucrative offers to take his programme onto other networks, but has rejected them because he holds a 'gentlemen's agreement' with the BBC.

One of the highlights of the series came in 1959, when as a reward for his assistance in mapping the Lunar surface 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. Less successful was the transmission of the Luna 4 probe, which ran into technical difficulties – it was also around this time that Moore famously swallowed a large fly that flew into his mouth; both episodes were live and so Moore had to continue on regardless. He was later invited to visit the Soviet Union, where he met Yuri Gagarin, the first man to journey into outer space. For the fiftieth episode of Sky at Night, broadcast September 1961, Moore became the first person ever to show a live broadcast of a direct telescope view of a planet; the result was another unintended 'comedy episode', as cloud obscured all view of outer space.

In 1965, he was appointed Director of the newly constructed Armagh Planetarium in Northern Ireland, a post he held until 1968. His stay outside England would be short partly because of the beginning of the The Troubles, a dispute Moore wanted no part of. He was appointed Armagh County secretary for the Scout movement, but resigned after he was told not to allow Catholics. In developing the Planetarium, Moore travelled to Japan to secure a Goto Mars projector. He also helped with the redevelopment of the Birr Telescope south of the border. Later on he was also a key figure in the development of the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath.

In June 1968 he returned to England, settling in his current home in Selsey after resigning his post in Armagh. During the Apollo programme, Moore was a presenter of the Apollo 8 mission, stating that "this is one of the great moments of human history", only to have his broadcast interrupted by a showing of Jackanory. He was also a presenter of the Apollo 9 and Apollo 10 missions, and was co-presenter along with James Burke, of the BBC's television's coverage of the Moon landing missions. Moore does not remember his words at "The Eagle Has Landed" moment, and the BBC lost all the tapes of the broadcast. He continued to present Apollo missions 12 through 17.

He was elected as a member of the International Astronomical Union in 1966; having twice edited the Union's General Assembly newsletters he remains the only amateur astronomer to be a member of the IAU. He attempted to establish an International Union of Amateur Astronomers, though this venture failed due to lack of interest. During the 1970s and 80s, he reported on the Voyager and Pioneer programes, often from NASA headquarters. During this time he became increasingly annoyed by conspiracy theorists asking ludicrous questions, as well as by reporters who often asked him questions such as "Why waste money on space research when there is so much to be done here?"; he later said then when asked these type of questions "I know that I'm dealing with an idiot." Another question that annoys him is "what is the difference between astronomy and astrology?" Despite this he always made a point of responding to all letters delivered to his house, and he sent a variety of standard replies to all letters asking basic questions, as well as those from conspiracy theorists, proponents of hunting and 'cranks'. Despite his fame, as of 2003 his phone number was listed in the telephone directory and he was happy to show members of the public round his observatory.

He compiled the Caldwell catalogue of astronomical objects and in 1982, asteroid 2602 Moore was named in his honour. In February 1986 he presented a special Sky at Night episode on the approach of Halley's Comet, though he later stated that the BBC's better-funded Horizon team "made a complete hash of the programme." In January 1998, part of Moore's observatory in his garden was destroyed by a tornado, which passed through the area; the observatory was subsequently rebuilt. Moore campaigned unsuccessfully against the closure of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1998. One of Moore's favourite type of The Sky at Night episodes have been those that focus on an eclipse, and he has stated that "there is nothing in nature to match the glory of a total eclipse of the Sun." Moore was the BBC's presenter for the total eclipse in England in 1999 (the next such event will occur in 2090), though the view he and his team had from Cornwall was completely obscured by cloud. Moore was the patron for the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre, which was opened in 2001.

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 featuring, as special guests, amateur astronomers Jon Culshaw (impersonating Moore presenting the very 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.