A Cardiff University astrophysicist has joined forces with legendary star gazer, Sir Patrick Moore to answer viewers of The Sky at Night’s astronomical questions.
To celebrate the programme’s 55th anniversary BBC Books have published The Sky at Night – Answers to Questions from Across the Universe, a collection of questions sent in by viewers and fans, with answers by Sir Patrick Moore and Sky at Night co-presenter and Dr Chris North from Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy.
The Sky at Night is the world’s longest running series with a single presenter.
With sections on the solar system, cosmology, the bizarre and unexplained, space missions, the Moon, and more, this is an exciting journey into space for the novice astronomer and the lifelong stargazer alike. Discover how scientists work out the gravity of planets, how we measure the distances to stars and how fast we’re moving through space. Find out what the ‘Great Attractor’ is, what makes up stardust, and the basic principles of space navigation.
Learn how to start observing the sky, what event inspired Patrick to take up astronomy, and just how many of his cats are named after celestial bodies.
From comets to black holes, Orion to eclipses, and Mercury to meteors, The Sky at Night is the ultimate introduction to the wonders and mysteries of the universe
Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, is a British amateur astronomer, researcher, radio commentator and author of over 70 books on astronomy. He is a former president of the British Astronomical Association, and co-founder and former president of the Society for Popular Astronomy.
He is a specialist on observing the Moon, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and is one of Britain’s best-loved and popular television personalities.
Dr Chris North is an academic researcher at Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy. His research primarily involves the design, build and operation of astronomical telescopes and instruments, though he also has a strong involvement in public outreach and education. He has worked on the Planck Satellite and the Herschel Space Observatory, and is one of the team behind Chromoscope, a popular online astronomy visualisation tool.
