About this season
Your monthly journey through the fascinating world of space and astronomy with the latest thinking on what's out there in space and what you can see in the night sky.
Episodes (13)
1. Life and Death of the Sun
Aired 12 January 1959
Patrick Moore describes the life-cycle of a star and compares the Sun's history with that of Betelgeuse, the vast red giant now visible in Orion.
2. Life and Death of the Sun
Aired 9 February 1959
Patrick Moore describes the life-cycle of a star and compares the Sun's history with that of Betelgeuse, the vast red giant now visible in Orion.
3. Mercury and the Moon
Aired 9 March 1959
Patrick Moore talks about the forthcoming partial eclipse of the Moon and about the planet Mercury, which is at its most visible period for some time.
4. Twin Stars
Aired 6 April 1959
Patrick Moore and Roger Griffin talk about these pairs of suns revolving round each other, and how they help astronomers to measure the masses of the stars.
5. The Shape of our Galaxy
Aired 4 May 1959
Patrick Moore discusses with Dr Harlow Shapley, former Director of Harvard College Observatory and one of the world's leading astronomers, our island of stars in the Universe, of which the solar system forms a minute and insignificant part.
6. Minor Planets
Aired 10 June 1959
Patrick Moore talks about some of the lesser known bodies of the Solar System.
7. Life on Venus
Aired 8 July 1959
Patrick Moore discusses with F. L. Jackson, F.R.A.S., the theory that the planet Venus is covered with a shallow ocean, which might possibly contain single-celled creatures of a primeval type.
8. Lights in the Sky
Aired 5 August 1959
Patrick Moore discusses with Colin Ronan the Northern Lights and other similar natural phenomena.
9. The Ringed Planet
Aired 31 August 1959
Patrick Moore talks about the planet Saturn, which may now be seen low in the south, looking like a fairly bright yellowish star. With its rings of satellites and its retinue of moons, it is one of the loveliest objects in the whole sky.
10. Topical Events
Aired 28 September 1959
Patrick Moore introduces George Alcock who recently discovered two new planets. He also speaks about the eclipse of the sun which is visible here next Friday.
11. The Front and the Back of the Moon
Aired 26 October 1959
Patrick Moore talks with Colin Ronan about what is known of the hidden side of the moon, and about the Russian satellite Lunik III, its path through space, its looping of the moon, and the possible information it has brought back with it.
12. Pairs of Suns
Aired 16 November 1959
Patrick Moore talks about double stars.
13. The Star in the East
Aired 14 December 1959
Patrick Moore gives an astronomer's view of the Star of Bethlehem which is described in Chapter 2 of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.