The Telescopes of Sir Patrick Moore (1923–2012)

Abstract

The late Sir Patrick Moore (1923–2012) needs no introduction to the astronomical community. A towering figure for over half a century, he was adored by a legion of fans the world over as the eccentric, silver-tongued English writer and presenter of the longest running television series in history, BBC Sky at Night; with an encyclopedic knowledge of astronomy. Inexplicable to Americans, gin guzzling, pipe smoking, xenophobic, insensitive, incomprehensible to some, inflexible, irksome, he was also warm, passionate, generous to a fault, loyal to his friends, an institution in his own right and a law unto himself! (Fig. 40.1)