Sir Patrick Moore auction

Hmmmm... that is a shame. Sounds like the collection is being broken up.

I wonder if this means that Farthings will be sold?

Had a feeling that this would happen after the Science Museum took over his archive. Obviously, they've gone through everything and there is lots that is "surplus" to their requirements. Can't help thinking that this is a missed opportunity, though.

I've had a trawl through the auction site and there is very little there to excite any astronomers, sadly. There's lots of silverware, some paintings, then things like inkwells, quite a few watches, some Hawaiian shirts (which would make it much easier to pick you out in the crowd at a Blackheath observing night, Mike, though it might bugger-up everyone's night vision), one xylophone, etc etc.

The only lots that would be of any interest, I think, are three or four lots of books, apparently inscribed by their respective authors to Patrick Moore. There's a couple of orreries, though the best looking of them has a Perspex cover - so I'm guessing it's not Victorian.

I’ve had a trawl through the auction site and there is very little there to excite any astronomers, sadly

Yes, it does look like all the interesting stuff has gone elsewhere... hopefully to the Science Museum, which is a good thing. I hope they do something with it, rather than let it lie in a store for decades.

Hawaiian shirts really aren't my thing 😉

I'll certainly take a look at the books, though.

That is definitely a relief. I was actually hoping, Patrick Moore's home to become a museum. I for one would love to visit.

The items I loved seeing the most in his home studio during Sky at Night were his wonderful globes! I hope they weren't included under the hammer and I would genuinely like to see them, if his home was a museum 🙂

I seem to recall Brian May bought his home? Or did I completely misread that news at the time? I had hopes this May would make it into a museum.

I don't think it's going to be a museum, Tej. Brian May does still own Farthings, but I haven't heard of any plans for the place.

I believe that the focus has been on ensuring that Patrick's observation books were preserved, and I read earlier this year that the Science Museum had secured these. These won't be on public display though, but will be available for "research" purposes.

I think it's a shame that something more visible to the public hasn't been done... but maybe something could still happen.

Any idea of the fate of his telescope/observatory, presumably in his back garden?

Any idea of the fate of his telescope/observatory, presumably in his back garden?

Good question... there were lots of telescopes!

I know that his 12.5 inch reflector (nicknamed "Oscar") has been acquired by the Science Museum, as this was the main scope he used to map the Moon.

I've no idea about the rest.

There were two observatories in his back garden, as far as I know. One housing a 5-inch Cooke refractor, and the other a 15-inch Fullerscopes Newtonian reflector (a marvellous scope, with a rotating front end to give a comfortable eyepiece position) This 15-inch scope was Patrick's primary scope.

There were lots of other scopes dotted around the house, from what people have told me.

I'd love to know what has become of these scopes - or what is planned for them.

Was Brian May a beneficiary in PM's will or did he just wade in with his chequebook to buy Farthings? (Didn't mean that to sound cynical - it's apparent they were friends and Dr May's interest in astronomy is legendary.)

Was Brian May a beneficiary in PM’s will or did he just wade in with his chequebook to buy Farthings?

It was all done a few years before Patrick died. Patrick was having some financial problems, and feared that he'd have to sell Farthings to see him through. Brian May stepped in and purchased Farthings, allowing Patrick to stay in the house for a peppercorn rent.

I knew the guide price for those orreries was wrong. The good one went for £1,800.

An update to everything we always wanted know of Patrick Moore's continueing legacy and his wishes for his estate, all clarified by a wonderfully devoted Brian May:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11922719/Brian-May-the-truth-about-Sir-Patrick-Moores-estate.html

Well spotted, Tej. Great article.