Stargazing Live

Episode
Episode 1
Broadcast Info
2013 (60 mins)
Description
Dara O Briain and Professor Brian Cox return for a new series celebrating the wonder of our amazing night sky. Live from Jodrell Bank observatory, the team kick off with a look at the mysteries of the moon and meet Captain Eugene Cernan, the last man ever to walk on its surface. Liz Bonnin reports direct from South Africa on the differences between the constellations of the northern and southern hemispheres whilst Mark Thompson offers help on buying all the kit you need to get started in astronomy. The first episode of the series concentrates on the Moon. The most familiar sight in the night sky, its near constant presence makes it the perfect object for entry-level astronomers. From their headquarters in Jodrell Bank, Dara and Brian use the latest images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to bring the topography of the lunar surface to life and to discuss the ongoing research into its chemical make-up. Live from a studio in Houston, Texas, they interview Capt Eugene Cernan, the last man ever to walk on the Moon, who shares his experiences of his lunar missions and speculates about the future of space exploration. Also, Brian explains the relationship between the Moon and the tides and compares our Moon with those orbiting the other planets in our Solar System. The One Show’s Astronomer Mark Thompson presents a guide to getting started in stargazing, offering tips on what basic equipment you should consider buying and what level of detail it will allow you to see. Meanwhile, in South Africa Liz Bonnin introduces us to the celestial objects that are unique to the Southern Hemisphere and takes us on a tour of the vast array of optical telescopes that are based at the Southern African Astronomical Observatory in the Karoo Desert.
Genre
Astronomy; Space Exploration

How to cite this record

The Open University, "Stargazing Live". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ou/search/index.php/prog/82344 (Accessed 10 Jan 2025)