Sir Patrick Moore RIP

Sad news: the veteran astronomer, writer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore died this afternoon, aged 89 (CLICK). He presented the BBC TV programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever. Although he was only an amateur astronomer, he had more enthusiasm and knowledge than a college full of professors and he inspired generations of newcomers to the field. His eccentric delivery with monocle, permanently arched eyebrow and occasionally wild hair made him the UK's favourite astronomer. The Soviet Union's sputnik was launched only a handful of months after The Sky At Night began in 1957. Sir Patrick took viewers through the Space Race and the explosion of discoveries that followed.