The Sky at Night

Did You Know?

• The programme's opening and closing theme music is 'At the Castle Gate' from Pelléas et Mélisande by Jean Sibelius.
• In September 2013 the BBC announced the programme's future was under review, but it continued on BBC Four after a petition.
• Pete Lawrence has presented an observing section since 2004 and produces an online monthly star guide.

Content

The programme covers stellar life cycles, radio astronomy, artificial satellites, black holes, neutron stars, and other astronomical topics. It also reports on current night-sky events such as bright comets or meteor showers, and recent space developments like the Rosetta mission or the detection of phosphine in Venus's atmosphere. Moore attributed the show's enduring appeal to the subject itself.

Notable guests

Many leading astronomers have appeared, including Harlow Shapley, Fred Hoyle, Carl Sagan, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Samuel Tolansky, Harold Spencer Jones, Martin Ryle, Richard Ellis, Carlos Frenk, and Bart Bok. Guests have also included Arthur C. Clarke, Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees, Arnold Wolfendale, Allan Chapman, Sir Bernard Lovell, and Michael Bentine. Astronauts such as Piers Sellers, Eugene Cernan, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong have appeared. In July 2004, Moore missed a broadcast due to salmonellosis and was replaced by Chris Lintott; this was the only occasion in 55 years that Moore did not host. Brian May has occasionally been a guest. The 50th anniversary edition on 1 April 2007 featured Jon Culshaw as Moore's younger self, and the 700th edition on 6 March 2011 included Culshaw again and Brian May.

Commemorative honours

The International Astronomical Union named an asteroid 57424 Caelumnoctu for the show's 50th anniversary, the number referring to the first broadcast date and the name meaning 'The Sky at Night' in Latin. In February 2007, Royal Mail issued a set of six astronomy stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Sir Patrick Moore is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific TV presenter.