Patrick Moore in the 1950s; Moore argued against Lord Dowding and other UFO proponents. He was invited to present a live astronomy programme and said the greatest difficulty was finding an appropriate theme tune; the opening of Jean Sibelius's "Pelléas et Mélisande" was chosen and used throughout the programme's existence. The programme was originally named "Star Map" before "The Sky at Night" was chosen in the "Radio Times". On 24 April 1957, at 10:30 pm, Moore presented the first episode about the Comet Arend–Roland. The programme was pitched to casual viewers up to professional astronomers, in a format which remained consistent from
Patrick T. Moore the people, Patrick T. Moore entered Virginia state militia service as colonel of the 1st Virginia Militia Regiment on April 21, 1861. He became colonel of the 1st Virginia Infantry of the Virginia Provisional Army on June 15, 1861. After the Virginia units were formally transferred to the Confederate States Army service he became colonel of the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment on July 1, 1861. Moore received a head wound at the Battle of Blackburn's Ford, Virginia on July 18, 1861, three days before the main Battle of First Bull Run (First Manassas), which incapacitated him for further field duty.