Where to Watch The Sky at Night • 1985
13 Episodes
- Colours of the StarsE2
Colours of the StarsThe Anglo-Australian Telescope in New South Wales is one of the largest and best telescopes in the world. With it David Malin has been taking colour pictures of remote stars and star-systems which are not only the most beautiful ever taken but are of great scientific value. David Malin talks to Patrick Moore, explaining his methods, and shows his latest photographs. - The Sky in Infra-RedE4
The Sky in Infra-RedThe Infra-Red Astronomical Satellite, IRAS, operated for most of 1983 and provided important information about subjects ranging from the dusty tails of comets to star formation in remote galaxies. Patrick Moore talks to Dr Jim Emerson of Queen Mary College about these new results and their significance. - Moon RillsE5
Moon RillsThe moon is a world of mountains, craters, valleys, peaks and huge waterless seas. Of special interest are the cracklike features known as rills, which are unlike anything we find on earth. Patrick Moore talks about them to Dr Lionel Wilson of the University of Lancaster, who has been making a careful study of these remarkable lunar features. - Little WorldsE6
Little WorldsDuring its voyage to Jupiter, the American Galileo probe will survey a small and interesting world, the asteroid Amphitrite - one of the swarm of minor planets moving round the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Patrick Moore talks about the Amphitrite encounter, and about the whole swarm of these little worlds which were once referred to by a German astronomer as 'vermin of the skies'. - Summer SkyE7
Summer SkyHow do you find your way around the sky? It is not difficult; the constellation patterns are easy enough to make out. Patrick Moore conducts what may be called a guided tour, explaining where to find the planets, the main stars, and the clusters and clouds of stars, as well as giving the latest news about astronomical events. - Infra-Red at Siding SpringE8
Infra-Red at Siding SpringInfra-red radiation, often termed 'heat', is an important part of the total range of wavelengths now being studied by astronomers. Striking results have been obtained at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. In this programme Patrick Moore talks to Dr David Allen from Siding Spring and shows some of the spectacular new pictures. - MizarE9
MizarMizar, the second star in the 'handle' of the Plough, has a faint companion, Alcor, easily visible with the naked eye. Use a telescope and Mizar is seen to be double; and the brighter member is again double. Patrick Moore talks about Mizar and speculates as to the view from a planet moving in this system. - The Computerised AmateurE10
The Computerised AmateurMany amateur astronomers have large telescopes but Ron Arbour 's observatory, near Winchester, is exceptional; his 16-inch reflector is computer controlled and is programmed to hunt automatically for stellar explosions far across the universe. Patrick Moore visits the observatory to talk to Ron Arbour about his telescope and about his plans for photographing Halley's Comet later this year; during the programme he attempts to get a photograph of the comet specially for The Sky at Night. - Red Shift - or Red Herring?E11
Red Shift - or Red Herring?How large is the universe? Astronomers measure the distances of very remote objects by using spectroscopes, but today there are some doubts as to whether the measurements are reliable. Two star-systems in the constellation of the Fishes appear to give very confusing results. Patrick Moore talks to Iain Nicolson about these new results and what they may mean. - The Comet ReturnsE12
The Comet ReturnsHalley's Comet is now back and can be seen with binoculars, and should be visible with the naked eye next month. Patrick Moore talks to Douglas Arnold (photographing the comet); Brian Harpur (Halley Comet Society), Lee Sproates (a young amateur astronomer), and Dr Rod Jenkins of British Aerospace, who built the probe that will go right into the comet next March. - How Wrong We WereE13
How Wrong We WereThe science of astronomy is thousands of years old. Yet only in the last few decades have astronomers made discoveries that have proved the old theories wrong. Venus has no water - Mars has no canals - Man did not sink without trace into the moon's dust. Patrick Moore tells the stories of these old theories, and explains how, because of one mistake, the size of the universe was doubled.