Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 1:13 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Thanks for that, it's a superb bit of free software. I've just been having a look at the night sky view of Earth from the surface of Mercury

It's not a bad little site showing you just about everything up there in real time . And you can view form just about anywhere in the world.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 2:35 pm  

Just before anybody goes overboard on Patrick Moore, it's worth remembering that he was a bit of a bigot as well as famous "eccentric" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_M ... al_beliefs

Just before anybody goes overboard on Patrick Moore, it's worth remembering that he was a bit of a bigot as well as famous "eccentric" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_M ... al_beliefs

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:00 pm  

McClennan wrote: Just before anybody goes overboard on Patrick Moore, it's worth remembering that he was a bit of a bigot as well as famous "eccentric" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_M ... al_beliefs He didn't trust the French and Germans, that would sum up a large number of his generation then.

McClennan wrote: Just before anybody goes overboard on Patrick Moore, it's worth remembering that he was a bit of a bigot as well as famous "eccentric" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_M ... al_beliefs He didn't trust the French and Germans, that would sum up a large number of his generation then.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:31 pm  

The war had a significant influence on his life: his only romance ended when his fiancée, a nurse called Lorna, was killed by a bomb which struck her ambulance.
Dropped by the Germans ...he never forgave them.
Some might argue she had a lucky escape.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 5:00 pm  

Big Graeme wrote:

He didn't trust the French and Germans, that would sum up a large number of his generation then.

And women.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:57 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

Some might argue she had a lucky escape.

Some might argue, with greater reason, that you are sick.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:23 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

The war had a significant influence on his life: his only romance ended when his fiancée, a nurse called Lorna, was killed by a bomb which struck her ambulance.
Dropped by the Germans ...he never forgave them.
Some might argue she had a lucky escape.

Some might argue he might never have been so bitter had his fiancée not been killed by a German bomb.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:49 pm  

Cronus wrote:

Some might argue he might never have been so bitter had his fiancée not been killed by a German bomb.

That's no excuse for him turning into an extreme right-wing, xenophobic, racist, sexist and bigoted dinosaur.

Re: Night Sky : Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:59 pm  

Dally wrote:

Some might argue, with greater reason, that you are sick.

They would be right, I've a cold at the moment.
Thanks for your concern.

Re: Night Sky : Mon Dec 10, 2012 12:56 am  

Patrick Moore was noted for being an astronomer, broadcaster and great communicator on his chosen subject. As such, he single-handedly made astronomy a popular pastime and inspired countless people. self-included, to discover the night sky.

He wasn't famous for anything else. He was an old man from another era, and had some views which you don't share, but they in no way detract from his brilliance. He might have died, but his star will shine on brightly.