To British television viewers the name 'Patrick Moore' has been synonymous with Astronomy and
Space Travel since he first appeared on The Sky at Night in 1957. To amateur astronomers he has
been a source of inspiration joy humour and even an eccentric role model since that time.
Most people know that his 55 years of presenting The Sky at Night is a world record but what
was he really like in person? What did he do away from the TV cameras in his observatory and
within the British Astronomical Association the organisation that inspired him as a youngster?
Also precisely what did he do during the War Years a subject that has always been shrouded in
mystery? Martin Mobberley a friend of Patrick Moore's for 30 years and a former President of
the British Astronomical Association has spent ten years exhaustively researching Patrick's
real life away from the TV cameras. His childhood RAF service tireless voluntary work for
astronomy and charity and his endless book writing are all examined in detail. His astronomical
observations are also examined in unprecedented detail along with the battles he fought along
the way and his hatred of bureaucracy and political correctness. No fan of Sir Patrick Moore
can possibly live without this work on their bookshelf!
