This is very sad news indeed.
I remember when I was about 8 years old living in England, staying up a bit later after Dr Who and watching this very excited fellow presenting a programme on Astronomy, for me the rest is history, it was because of Patrick Moore and his infectious enthusiasm that Astronomy became a major part of my life. The programme was of course The Sky At Night - the longest running TV series with the same presenter, Sir Patrick Moore CBE.
Not long after I somehow got a book called The Observers Guide To Astronomy, still no idea how as we were very poor though I suspect the other influence on my hobby my father probably had something to do with this.
In 1988 I had read Sir Patrick was coming to Brisbane to give a talk with Sir Edmund Hilary and Apollo 15 Astronaut James Irwin. I took a punt and rang Patrick's home in the UK. I found his number (which I still have) after calling the local post office and getting it from a lady there. I rang his home and got an answering machine. I left a message inviting him to the Southern Astronomical Societies annual dinner. A few days later his tour promoter reluctantly called me saying Patrick insisted he attend the dinner. The dinner was changed to a Sunday to fit his schedule and we had Patrick Moore's first ever talk in Brisbane presented at our dinner.
I have a much cherished video of that night, Terry Lovejoy and Greg Bock will no doubt remember it well.
After the dinner we took Patrick back to Gregg Thompson's music room - the precursor to to the Infinity attraction Gregg would later build on the Gold Coast (those who have been there will know what I mean). Needless to say Patrick had an absolute wow of a time bouncing on the huge waterbed floor, with spacemusic, lights. smoke machine, mirrors etc etc - he was then 65 years young! Yes we got in the pooh big time with his promoter by getting Patrick to his hotel after midnight - he was giving his "first" official talk the following night, but wow what an experience.
Years later when Greg Bock and I observed the G impact and fireball plume of Shoemaker Levy into Jupiter I remember ringing Patrick at his home at about 2am his time, he was so very excited to hear this he did not mind one bit taking the call, repeatedly asking if we had a photo for The Sky At Night, which of course we didn't.
Patrick Moore inspired my love of this hobby. It was indeed an honour to meet him. My 5 supernova discoveries are the end result of his infectious enthusiasm on a young boy. I will discover more supernova and I will fondly remember Sir Patrick and my father at the time I discover them. Sir Patrick kindly autographed my book The Observers Guide to Astronomy which I will never part with.
Patrick inspired countless amateur and professional astronomers. His loss is heavy on our community.
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/p...s-tribute.html
Thank you so very, very much Sir Patrick Moore.
Photo Myself, Sir Patrick and Gregg Thompson 1988.
