The Sky at Night S32E02 · The Brilliant Planets

Overview

During March, Venus and Jupiter are splendidly placed for observation in the evening sky. Patrick Moore talks about them, and explains what observers using small telescopes may expect to see on their surfaces.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. The Winter Sky1988-01-17At the start of 1987 The Sky at Night asked for amateur astronomical photographers to send in their pictures - either of objects in the sky, or of observatories and telescopes. In
2. 2 2. The Brilliant Planets1988-02-21During March, Venus and Jupiter are splendidly placed for observation in the evening sky. Patrick Moore talks about them, and explains what observers using small telescopes may ex
3. 3 3. Yerkes Observatory1988-03-30Yerkes Observatory, at Williams Bay near Chicago, is a most unusual place. Its main telescope is not a reflector, but a refractor - the world's largest Old-fashioned though it may
4. 4 4. The Awakening Sun1988-04-10The sun is the nearest star; but how much is known about it? Less may be known than was thought a few decades ago; there are problems of the sunspots, the strange particles called
5. 5 5. Quasars, Redshifts and Controversy1988-05-08Are quasars remote and super-luminous, or are they comparatively close to our galaxy? Dr Halton C. Arp , formerly of Mount Wilson Observatory, believes that they are not so remote
6. 6 6. Planets Revisited1988-06-05The first successful spacecraft to the planet Venus was sent up more than a quarter of a century ago. Since then most of the planets in the Solar System have been contacted. In thi
7. 7 7. The Summer Sky1988-07-10Can you identify the main star groups? It is by no means difficult - and once you have found your way around, there are many fascinating objects to be seen. Patrick Moore invites y
8. 8 8. Cosmic Fireworks1988-07-31Would you like to see a shooting star? August is the best month of the year for meteors; go outdoors on a dark, clear night between now and 17 August and you should see several mem
9. 9 9. Watch This Space1988-08-21How 'empty' is space? Astronomers used to think that there was no material between the stars, or between the galaxies; they now know that there is a great deal. Patrick Moore talk
10. 10 10. Mars in Close-Up1988-09-11Two Russian space probes are on their way to Mars. Patrick Moore discusses the fascinating red world with Dr Peter Cattermole of the University of Sheffield.
11. 11 11. Observing the Autumn Sky1988-10-16How do you record an astronomical observation? What details should be noted? And what are the important 'dos' and 'don'ts'! Patrick Moore talks to Paul Doherty about these points a
12. 12 12. Radio Stars1988-11-14Some stars send out radio waves, though generally they are less powerful than other kinds of radio sources in the sky. These genuine radio stars are discussed by Patrick Moore and
13. 13 13. Close Encounters1988-12-11There are some asteroids which pass close to the Earth! Patrick Moore talks about these 'close-approach' asteroids to the American astronomer Eleanor Helin , who has discovered man