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Sky at Night: Who best to take over from Patrick Moore



 
 
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  #11  
Old May 3rd 12, 07:42 AM posted to uk.sci.astronomy
oriel36[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,478
Default Sky at Night: Who best to take over from Patrick Moore

On May 2, 9:38*pm, Dr J R Stockton
wrote:
In uk.sci.astronomy message 87e6a637-6fc4-4502-983d-f4ef783694f4@h9g200
0yqe.googlegroups.com, Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:08:28, James Harris
posted:

Patrick Moore is a bit of an institution but can't go on forever. I
wondered what other people think of who would be best to replace him
as lead presenter of The Sky at Night.


The job should become an /ex officio/ duty jointly of the Astronomer
Royal and the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, with power to delegate up
to half of the work to other British astronomers of high public status.

If it should please Her Majesty to appoint Astronomers Royal for Wales
and for Northern Ireland, then they too should join in on equitable
footings.

A slot should be reserved for the Royal Astronomer of Ireland, to be
ready should the post be revived.

And if elsewhere in the world there are other Astronomers Royal,
appertaining to the same or different Monarchs, then they should be
invited, if they will be in the UK at the time, to co-lead with a
British Astronomer Royal.


You are talking about more welfare queens Stockton ,theorists
masquerading as 'astronomers' with no concern for astronomy and
related terrestrial sciences.

The vicious strain of empiricism which these astronomer Royals
represent still has a stranglehold on science and it is so bad that
even the normally indifferent wider population are beginning to
complain.There is a huge imbalance between what people experience and
what the empirical modelers engaged in groupthink dictate to the
public to the point that national pride is beginning to override the
tendency to just let empirical modelers be.The Crown once came to the
aid of John Harrison against the empiricists as they were an authority
onto themselves and it may have to happen again as their models are
wrecking havoc not only with terrestrial sciences and astronomy but
with the ability of people to go about their normal business of
living .If there were genuine astronomers,none of the current mess
would have happened .

Met Office 3-month Outlook
Period: April – June 2012 Issue date: 23.03.12

SUMMARY – PRECIPITATION:
The forecast for average UK rainfall slightly favours drier than
average conditions for April-May-June as a whole, and also slightly
favours April being the driest of the 3 months. With this forecast,
the water resources situation in southern, eastern and central England
is likely to deteriorate further during the April-May-June period. The
probability that UK precipitation for April-May-June will fall into
the driest of our five categories is 20-25% whilst the probability
that it will fall into the wettest of our five categories is 10-15%
(the 197-2000 climatological probability for each of these categories
is 20%).

CONTEXT:
As a legacy of dry weather over many months water resources in much of
southern, eastern and central England remain at very low levels.Winter
rainfall in these areas has typically been about 70% of average,whilst
observations and current forecasts suggest that the final totals for
March will be below average here too. The Environment Agency advises
that, given the current state of soils and groundwater levels in
theseareas, drought impacts in the coming months are virtually
inevitable.







--
*(c) John Stockton, nr London, UK. *Turnpike v6.05 *MIME.
* Web *http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQqish topics, acronyms and links;
* Astro stuff via astron-1.htm, gravity0.htm ; quotings.htm, pascal.htm, etc.
*No Encoding. Quotes before replies. Snip well. Write clearly. Don't Mail News.


  #12  
Old May 3rd 12, 08:30 AM posted to uk.sci.astronomy,alt.astronomy
N_Cook
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Posts: 86
Default Sky at Night: Who best to take over from Patrick Moore

Al wrote in message ...
"James Harris" wrote:

Patrick Moore is a bit of an institution but can't go on forever. I
wondered what other people think of who would be best to replace him
as lead presenter of The Sky at Night.


The guy is irreplaceable; the S@N format of an old geezer in his study

does
not suit anyone else. The show will likely die with him, to be replaced

by a
completely new show with a more modern style of presentation.






Format probably like BBC Click, also lost in the nether regions of
scheduling. Just a regular in-camera link-person but moving around various
planetaria/observatories as backgrounds, rather than the nightclubs of
Click. And a cluster of reporter/interviewers for sub-topics.
Click is probably cheap programming but I rate the intro piece of video up
with the best programme idents.


  #13  
Old May 6th 12, 11:10 PM posted to uk.sci.astronomy
Newshound
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Posts: 38
Default Sky at Night: Who best to take over from Patrick Moore

Actually I think that proposal would rather re-invigorate the post of AR
  #14  
Old July 7th 12, 11:20 AM posted to uk.sci.astronomy,alt.astronomy
James Harris \(es\)
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3
Default Sky at Night: Who best to take over from Patrick Moore


"James Harris" wrote in message
...
Patrick Moore is a bit of an institution but can't go on forever. I
wondered what other people think of who would be best to replace him
as lead presenter of The Sky at Night.


....

Paul Abel


Paul is too excitable. For me, it seems that everything he says is too
hurried. I think although he and Pete Lawrence often present together Paul
usually cramps Pete's more measured style.

Brian Cox


Good at explaining things. Uses good analogies. But I cannot get to like him
as a presenter. Not sure why. Maybe he's overexposed but it's more than
that. Maybe it's the perpetual smile. I don't know. Anyway, I wouldn't want
to see him take over The Sky at Night too.

Michele Dougherty


When I've seen her Michelle has come across very well. I like her enthusiasm
and realism. She has a lot of detailed knowledge. As a woman I think she
shows greater humility than some of her male counterparts and, as such,
could be good at appearing to lead the audience along with her in new
discoveries rather than telling them things. I haven't seem her present
direct to the camera , though, so the jury is still out.

Pete Lawrence


Pete is a very good presenter. I like his pace and the way he explains
things. Of those in the regular crop I think he would be the best to follow
Patrick.

Chris Lintott


Chris is good technically and has the ability to present to the camera
confidently. He seems to be the one being groomed to take over from Patrick
and is a good age to do so. The problem I have with Chris is he seems a bit
arrogant. I find his manner a little more than self-assured and verging on
conceited. If he changed and started to show a lot more more humility and
appreciation I would see him differently but at the moment I wouldn't want
to see him take over.

Brian May


Surprisingly, Brian shows maybe too much humility. One has to respect
someone who has been successful as a singer and songwriter but also has the
technical knowledge of physics and astronomy to talk knowledgeably as a
guest on The Sky at Night. It's hard to explain why but I don't think he
would be right as main presenter. He it maybe too quiet which, for a rock
star, is unexpected! I'm not sure he would want the job.

Chris North


I have been quite impressed with Chris North. He knows his stuff and seems
much more user-friendly that Chris Lintott. Comparing the two I would much
rather get rid of Lintott.

John Zarnecki


John would make an excellent presenter. He knows his stuff and is very easy
to listen to. He seems to be getting on a bit and busy with other
committments. There's also a slight detachment there in his manner. Not sure
how well he would present direct to camera.

Are there any others I have missed who should be considered?


Here are some whom others have suggested:

Heather Couper


I don't know her.

Helen Czerski


I saw her presenting something on TV. First thoughts: nice to look at (at
least initially) but after a while I found her annoying for some reason. I
can't remember why now. Maybe she seemed too cocky.

Dara O'Briain


He's OK I suppose but I find myself turning off when I see him. I know
that's not very scientific! I don't think his enthusiasm is there for this
kind of work. I cannot in any way see him following Patrick. To put him in
the role would be like dumbing-down a remaining bastion of the old-fashioned
science programme.

Here are two others I've thought of since:

* Aubrey Manning

He would have made a great choice. His knowledge of science coupled with his
humility and his ability to show an almost childlike wonder at the
discoveries of others in his series Earth Story was a model for good
presentation skills. Just checked Wikipedia and he is probably getting too
old now, though.

* Adam Hart-Davis

I didn't think of Adam initially but now I have I think he would make an
excellent presenter of TSAN. I don't think he is an astronomer per se but is
a scientist and is able to present to the camera very clearly and
enthusiastically. He's also somewhat in the old-fashioned mould that Patrick
comes from. As such I can see him taking over from Patrick and making a
great job of it. My one reservation is I've never heard him talking about
astronomy so I don't know how much he knows of the subject. I think the role
needs someone who is a good presenter but also has enough knowledge of the
subject to personally lead the viewer into interesting areas rather than
going where a producer has decided to go.

James


  #15  
Old July 7th 12, 03:25 PM posted to uk.sci.astronomy,alt.astronomy
N_Cook
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 86
Default Sky at Night: Who best to take over from Patrick Moore

James Harris (es) wrote in message
...

"James Harris" wrote in message
...
Patrick Moore is a bit of an institution but can't go on forever. I
wondered what other people think of who would be best to replace him
as lead presenter of The Sky at Night.


...

Paul Abel


Paul is too excitable. For me, it seems that everything he says is too
hurried. I think although he and Pete Lawrence often present together Paul
usually cramps Pete's more measured style.

Brian Cox


Good at explaining things. Uses good analogies. But I cannot get to like

him
as a presenter. Not sure why. Maybe he's overexposed but it's more than
that. Maybe it's the perpetual smile. I don't know. Anyway, I wouldn't

want
to see him take over The Sky at Night too.

Michele Dougherty


When I've seen her Michelle has come across very well. I like her

enthusiasm
and realism. She has a lot of detailed knowledge. As a woman I think she
shows greater humility than some of her male counterparts and, as such,
could be good at appearing to lead the audience along with her in new
discoveries rather than telling them things. I haven't seem her present
direct to the camera , though, so the jury is still out.

Pete Lawrence


Pete is a very good presenter. I like his pace and the way he explains
things. Of those in the regular crop I think he would be the best to

follow
Patrick.

Chris Lintott


Chris is good technically and has the ability to present to the camera
confidently. He seems to be the one being groomed to take over from

Patrick
and is a good age to do so. The problem I have with Chris is he seems a

bit
arrogant. I find his manner a little more than self-assured and verging on
conceited. If he changed and started to show a lot more more humility and
appreciation I would see him differently but at the moment I wouldn't want
to see him take over.

Brian May


Surprisingly, Brian shows maybe too much humility. One has to respect
someone who has been successful as a singer and songwriter but also has

the
technical knowledge of physics and astronomy to talk knowledgeably as a
guest on The Sky at Night. It's hard to explain why but I don't think he
would be right as main presenter. He it maybe too quiet which, for a rock
star, is unexpected! I'm not sure he would want the job.

Chris North


I have been quite impressed with Chris North. He knows his stuff and seems
much more user-friendly that Chris Lintott. Comparing the two I would much
rather get rid of Lintott.

John Zarnecki


John would make an excellent presenter. He knows his stuff and is very

easy
to listen to. He seems to be getting on a bit and busy with other
committments. There's also a slight detachment there in his manner. Not

sure
how well he would present direct to camera.

Are there any others I have missed who should be considered?


Here are some whom others have suggested:

Heather Couper


I don't know her.

Helen Czerski


I saw her presenting something on TV. First thoughts: nice to look at (at
least initially) but after a while I found her annoying for some reason. I
can't remember why now. Maybe she seemed too cocky.

Dara O'Briain


He's OK I suppose but I find myself turning off when I see him. I know
that's not very scientific! I don't think his enthusiasm is there for this
kind of work. I cannot in any way see him following Patrick. To put him in
the role would be like dumbing-down a remaining bastion of the

old-fashioned
science programme.

Here are two others I've thought of since:

* Aubrey Manning

He would have made a great choice. His knowledge of science coupled with

his
humility and his ability to show an almost childlike wonder at the
discoveries of others in his series Earth Story was a model for good
presentation skills. Just checked Wikipedia and he is probably getting too
old now, though.

* Adam Hart-Davis

I didn't think of Adam initially but now I have I think he would make an
excellent presenter of TSAN. I don't think he is an astronomer per se but

is
a scientist and is able to present to the camera very clearly and
enthusiastically. He's also somewhat in the old-fashioned mould that

Patrick
comes from. As such I can see him taking over from Patrick and making a
great job of it. My one reservation is I've never heard him talking about
astronomy so I don't know how much he knows of the subject. I think the

role
needs someone who is a good presenter but also has enough knowledge of the
subject to personally lead the viewer into interesting areas rather than
going where a producer has decided to go.

James




Dr Lucie Green, solar observer expect, turned up with the Pete Lawrence in
the land of the midnight sun, most recent S@N ToV programme


 




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