Patrick Moore 1923 – 2012 December 9, 2012
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Astronomy, Culture, Science.trackback
…as noted in comments here. A complex person, clearly a leading light in the field of astronomy (but as evidenced in interviews with the ability to make some particularly reactionary statements at times and to champion, and quite actively too, some very reactionary causes). Yet of huge significance, and value, as a key populariser of astronomy (and the author of a range of juvenile SF novels which I recall, at this distance as being not bad at all). And also to his credit a populariser who didn’t dumb down.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
Anyone here read Moore’s book “Can You Speak Venusian”?
It was an amusing debunking of UFOs, astrology and other
pseudo-science.
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Years ago I think. Did you read Arthur C. Clarkes Voice From the Sky? That has some good writing in that line too.
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Wonderful Story From Tommy McKearney :
In spite of holding reactionary views himself, the late Patrick Moore was once fined for attacking an Orange demo in Armagh
Old Pat was working on an important paper while attached to Armagh planetarium. Local LOL was making Lambeg music in vicinity. Pat couldn’t concentrate and asked several times for them to stop. Naturally brethren refused. Pat lost temper, raced out and put boot through a drum.
Peelers sent for – Pat lifted and eventually fined for same. About 50 years ago.
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A 2001 radio documentary on Moore
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/radio-documentary-patrick-moore-astronomy.html
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[…] there was Patrick Moore. And many others. But what of figures on the left of other areas. Eric Hobsbawm immediately springs […]
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