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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: Simon on December 09, 2012, 13:23

Title: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 09, 2012, 13:23
British astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore has died, aged 89, his friends and colleagues have said.

He "passed away peacefully at 12:25 BST this afternoon" at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, they said in a statement.

Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20657939
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: sam on December 09, 2012, 20:49
a sad day indeed. still I'd be happy with 89 years.
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 09, 2012, 20:57
Wouldn't we all!
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Clive on December 10, 2012, 14:31
When you get to my age you start thinking beyond that.   :devil:
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 10, 2012, 14:40
:laugh:
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 24, 2012, 12:09
What a star: Queen guitarist Brian May bought Patrick Moore's house to give the astronomer a secure home in his old age.

May, also a stargazer, bought his friend and mentor's home so he could stay there until his death.  The two shared a love of the night sky and music.  But Queen guitarist is furious that Sunday Times exposes the home purchase.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2248952/Queen-guitarist-Brian-May-bought-Sir-Patrick-Moores-house-2008-ensure-astronomer-live-final-years.html
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: sam on December 24, 2012, 15:14
Some fair comment their from Brian. This is such a nonsense story from the press. Lovely as it is that he did that there is no need for the whole world to know.
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 24, 2012, 16:38
Indeed, he certainly didn't do it for the publicity.
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Clive on December 25, 2012, 00:28
All very odd.  Makes me wonder what he did with his money since he had over 100 books published and a well established public life. 
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 25, 2012, 10:52
Yes, it's hard to believe he didn't have the money to buy his own house.  Perhaps it wasn't for financial reasons?  :dunno:
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Clive on December 25, 2012, 11:32
Who knows?  He had lived there for more than 40 years so one presumes he had plenty of time to pay off his mortgage.  He always claimed he didn't make a great deal of money out of his books but I don't really believe that.  Brian Cox makes £15,000 for doing an after dinner speech.  Need I say more?   ;)
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 25, 2012, 11:46
At least, hopefully, Brian May will do something nice with the house, in his memory. 
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: sam on December 25, 2012, 18:54
The article also said he paid for the house in cash - back in the day
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 25, 2012, 20:05
Well, it wouldn't have put much of a dent in his piggybank!  I guess he might have written off a bit of tax from the purchase, and obviously the investment has grown in value, but I doubt he did it for financial gain, as he had no need to.
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: sam on December 25, 2012, 22:07
Indeed. I expect that the old man must have just not planned properly for retirement. I bet the upkeep of the house wouldn't have been cheap either.
Title: Re: Sir Patrick Moore has gone to the stars
Post by: Simon on December 25, 2012, 23:36
No, I expect there's a team of cleaners looking for work in Selsey now!  I don't know how much observatory equipment is in the house, but I wonder if Brian might just keep it for himself, given he's into all that anyway.  Presumably he would have to purchase the equipment from Moore's estate, unless it was all left to him as an inheritance.  Will be interesting to see what happens, if we get to find out, of course.