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The Sky at Night Season 28 Episodes
Season 28 Episode Guide
13 Episodes 1984 - 1984
Episode 1
The Winter Sky
Winter is perhaps the best time for star-gazing; the nights are long and dark. Also the winter constellations, are brilliant. Patrick talks about the winter sky and points out objects which can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope.
Episode 2
At the Castle Gate
British astronomy has always been in the forefront of research. In this programme Patrick Moore talks to Professor Alec Boksenberg, Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, and other scientists about important new developments.
Episode 3
Venus Unveiled
For the past few months Venus has been a brilliant object in the morning sky. Though we cannot see through its dense atmosphere, space probes have sent back remarkable pictures using infra-red techniques.
Episode 4
The Secret Lives of the Stars
Patrick Moore and the astronomer Heather Couper discuss the key points in the life of a star. They talk in detail about stars' births inside massive clouds of dust and gas.
Episode 5
New Life for Solar Max
In February 1980 the Americans launched an important satellite - Solar Max, designed to study the sun. After nine months it developed serious faults. Recently a daring rescue mission was mounted to capture and repair it.
Episode 6
Cooking the Elements
Most astronomers believe that the universe began with a big bang, perhaps 15 billion years ago, and that all the elements have since been built up out of the original hydrogen by being 'cooked' inside stars which have long since exploded.
Episode 7
A Night with the I.N.T.
The Isaac Newton Telescope at the observatory at La Palma, in the Canary Islands, is now ready for use. Patrick has been there taking part in one of the first sets of observations with Dr. Paul Murdin, who is in charge of the telescope.
Episode 8
Missions to Comets
Interest is growing as Halley's Comet continues to draw in toward the sun. There have been trial runs in observing the much fainter Crommelin's Comet, and several space-probes will be launched towards Halley, to rendezvous in March 1986.
Episode 9
The Orange World of Titan
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is one of the most remarkable bodies in the solar system. With its dense orange clouds and its nitrogen atmosphere. Patrick Moore talks about what is known about this extraordinary 'Earth in deep freeze'.
Episode 10
Shells Around Stars
Do other solar systems exist? Information from the infra-red astronomical satellite, IRAS, indicates that they may well do so. Many stars; some similar to our sun, have been found to be associated with what may be planet-forming material.
Episode 11
Once Upon a Time
Patrick takes an affectionate look at the stories behind the centenary of Greenwich Mean Time(GMT); asks why it incurred the wrath of the law and discovers why astronauts and space men - like mere earthlings - would be lost without GMT.
Episode 12
Reflection Nebulae
There is a tremendous amount of material spread thinly between the stars. If a star happens to pass into a cloud of denser gas and dust, it will illuminate it to produce a reflection nebula.
Episode 13
Forgotten Constellations
Patrick Moore looks back at the old star maps and tells the stories of some of the groups which have long since passed into history.