Dial folk,
The following press release was posted yesterday on Usenet's sci.astro
newsgroup. Note that the Millennium Award, to be presented to Sir
Patrick Moore, includes an engraved sundial, crafted by none other
than our own sundial mailing list's Tony Moss!
I suspect that all of this week's newly dubbed Nobel laureates are
insanely jealous, for they only get a lousy Nobel medallion, not a
genuine Moss Universal Equatorial Dial.... ;-)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mark Gingrich [EMAIL PROTECTED] San Leandro, California
[begin attached text]
Royal Astronomical Society Press Notice
~Date: 9 October 2000
For immediate release
Ref. PN 00/16
ISSUED BY:
Dr Jacqueline Mitton
RAS Press Officer
Office & home phone: Cambridge ((0)1223) 564914
Mobile: 07770 386133
FAX: Cambridge ((0)1223) 572892
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RAS web: www.ras.org.uk/press/press.htm
SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO PATRICK MOORE (WITH PHOTO OPPORTUNITY)
On Friday 13 October, the Royal Astronomical Society will make a special
Millennium Award to Patrick Moore in recognition of his outstanding
contribution to astronomy. The President of the Society, Professor Nigel
Weiss, will present Patrick Moore with an inscribed sundial in a brief
ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Scientific Societies' Lecture Theatre, at 23
Savile Row, London.
PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE WELCOME. Photographers intending to
cover this event are invited to contact the RAS Press Officer, Jacqueline
Mitton (contact details above) so appropriate arrangements can be made.
(Note that the entrance to the lecture theatre is in New Burlington Place
on the left side of the Fortress House building at 23 Savile Row.)
The citation with the sundial reads: "The Royal Astronomical Society
presents this Millennium Award of a Universal Equatorial Dial to PATRICK
ALFRED CALDWELL MOORE in recognition of his outstanding achievement
over half a century in the enthusiastic public presentation of the science
of astronomy, through his internationally celebrated Sky at Night Series
with BBC Television, his prolific astronomical writing, and for the
inspiration he has given to young people, which has encouraged
generations of keen astronomers, many of whom have gone on to make
distinguished contributions of their own."
The sundial Patrick Moore will receive has been made specially by Tony
Moss of Lindisfarne Sundials in Northumberland. He has also made a
unique wooden presentation casket for it. Mr Moss is one of very few
craftsmen in the world making precise, high-quality sundials. He can
be contacted by telephone on (0) 1670 823232. A photo of a dial similar
to the one made for Patrick Moore can be seen on the internet at
http://www.lindisun.demon.co.uk/smallest.htm
The Council of the Royal Astronomical Society announced its intention
to make this award at its meeting on 12 May. The retiring President,
Professor David Williams, said at that time, "Patrick Moore has been
the foremost popularizer of astronomy in the UK for more than 40 years,
and has served as an exemplary ambassador for our science to the British
public and around the world. He was responsible for first sparking the
interest in many of us who went on to become astronomers and he has
always encouraged young people, giving generously of his time and
expertise. The Society is keen to show its admiration of Patrick's
exceptional achievements in a personal and special way."
Patrick Moore has presented 'The Sky at Night' on BBC television every
month since 1957, and is the author of around 70 books. He was awarded
the Royal Astronomical Society's Jackson-Gwilt medal in 1977, and was
made a CBE in 1988.
