RIP Patrick Moore.

Saw him on TV doing the Moon landing coverage in the late 1960s when I was six or seven - that definitely awakened my interest in science and astronomy.

He came to our school in about '75 - I still have my copy of his book The Story of Astronomy that he signed for me.

RIP.

I think he was host to the longest running TV show in world history - that is a quite an achievement. A true great British eccentric. 

He did more than anyone else to popularise astronomy and brought joy to millions through his charismatic insights into what is often a complex subject.  He is irreplaceable and a great loss to science, thankfully he lived his life lived doing what he loved and excelled at.

RIP Patrick,

Jonathan

He has been on the radio and TV almost all of my life. I always found the sky at night fascinating coupled with Sir Patrick's enthusiasm, it got me into star gazing. I would get my telescope out tonight as a tribute, but as it's -24 at the moment I think I will have to pass. 

Tim

A true British eccentric and a passionate, enthusiastic presenter. Wouldn't it be great and fitting tribute if his ashes were sent up into space.

No More Mr Night Sky...

+1 to all the comments above, completely irreplaceable.

My memory of him was as a xylophone player.  My uncle was a violinist in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and many years ago he obtained some tickets for a concert where the guest virtuoso was Patrick Moore playing xylophone.  He was outstanding I don't know what he played but he brought the house down, he was so accomplished and very much at ease with a full orchestra. It was such a surprise.

Richard

I was inspired by Patrick Moore's books when I was at school and I was very privileged to have met him on a number of occasions in recent years, including having tea with him at his home in Selsey.

Better and more knowledgeable people than I will comment with great authority on his many achievements but he was a modest and generous person with no airs or graces and who had time for everyone he met. He had a great sense of humour and was not put off by the many send ups.

He will be missed, as a genuinely nice person, and not just as an outstanding presenter. In this age of instant celebrity and talentless ****s I doubt we will see his like again.

A genuine British gentleman eccentric who is largely responsible for the popularity of astronomy in this country. Think what he has done. He has kept a popular but quite hard science programme going for 55 years. And generally on the lowest of budgets, without expensive CGI, gadgets or gimmicks, relying almost entirely on the enthusiasm, knowledge and likeability of initially Sir Patrick on his own but more recently his assistants too. It speaks to its audience in an uncompromisingly scientific but still understandable manner. Most impressively it's still there in the MTV and XBox age and it's certainly one of my monthly TV highlights.

We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Maybe it's too early to be talking about the future of the Sky At Night but I think it's vital it continues in its low key format. I hope Chris Lintott continues as host. He was surely being groomed for that for the past few years since Sir Patrick started becoming increasingly frail.

RIP Patrick,

You were a great British institution.

Chris N