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The Sky at Night

The Sky at Night Season 2019

Season 2019 Episodes

1. Beyond Pluto

January 13th, 2019

On 1 January 2019, Nasa's New Horizons probe notched up another historic first: the first ever Kuiper belt fly-by. Its target was 2014 MU69, a chunk of ice and rock about four billion miles (approximately 6.4 billion kilometres) from Earth, dubbed Ultima Thule, a Latin phrase meaning a distant, unknown region. It is the most distant fly-by in history, and it is believed the data New Horizons gathers will shed new light on the solar system's early days. Chris Lintott reports from the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland to bring the latest news and pictures from this extraordinary mission.

2. Is Cosmology in Crisis?

February 10th, 2019

Ever since we discovered that distant galaxies are racing away from us, there has been a heated debate over just how fast the Universe is expanding. At the beginning of the 21st century, we thought we knew the answer. But now, two very different viewpoints have emerged. And they are dividing the scientific community. The Sky at Night meets leading astronomers and cosmologists on both sides of the debate. Which team has the right answer? Or could both teams be right? If so, we may need to rethink everything we think we know about the Universe.

3. Marsquake!

April 14th, 2019

Marsquake! This month's episode follows Insight, NASA’s latest mission to the Red Planet, as it goes in search of the secrets buried deep below Mars’s surface. By listening for tremors caused by Marsquakes and meteor strikes, scientists hope to reveal how the planet was formed, why its fate was so different from the Earth and whether the planet is dead or alive. The programme also says a heartfelt goodbye to Opportunity, the rover that explored the surface of Mars for more than 14 years until it was engulfed by a dust storm last year.

4. Supermassive Black Hole

May 12th, 2019

The team reveals how the first picture of a supermassive black hole was captured. The photograph of the hole at the heart of the M87 galaxy was released in April.

5. Return to the Moon

June 9th, 2019

In the first of two programmes to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landings, the Sky at Night team take a look at the latest plans to return to the Moon. Recently, China, Israel and India have all sent major missions to the Moon. The Europeans and Americans are planning to build a space station in permanent orbit around the Moon. And NASA has just announced that they plan to land astronauts on the Moon’s surface within five years. It all suggests that we are on the verge of a new golden age in lunar exploration.

6. The Moon, the Mission and the BBC

July 14th, 2019

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo mission to put a man on the moon, The Sky at Night looks back through the archives to tell the story of how the BBC reported the moonshot, with some very special guests. Scientist John Zarneki discusses the huge scientific and engineering challenge. The first British astronaut, Helen Sharman, reveals just how accurate the predictions and preparations for life in space were. And writer and broadcaster James Burke - who reported the whole amazing story at the time - explains why Nasa loved the BBC and how he gained access to the command module for an episode of Tomorrow’s World.

7. Space Mission Special

August 11th, 2019

The programme goes behind the scenes as the European Space Agency selects its next mission, which will be launched in 2028, meeting British teams vying to have their ideas selected, including a revolutionary mission to a comet.

8. Alien Worlds

September 8th, 2019

Astronomers have found more than 4,000 planets circling stars other than our own. What do we know about these alien worlds and how have we managed to detect them?

9. Question Time

October 13th, 2019

A one-hour special in which The Sky at Night team face a live studio audience to answer their questions about the mysteries and wonders of the universe.

10. Rosetta: The Comet's Tale

November 10th, 2019

The Rosetta mission to comet 67P was the first time a spacecraft landed on a comet's surface. What has this icy body taught us about the dawn of the solar system and the origins of life on earth?

11. Review of the Year

December 8th, 2019

Looking back on the major stories of the year - from the New Horizons mission to the most distant world we have ever visited to the release of the first-ever picture of a black hole. The team relive the highlights and uncover the latest developments.

All Seasons

Season 2024

Season 2024

Apr 8, 2024
Season 2023

Season 2023

Apr 10, 2023
Season 2022

Season 2022

Jan 9, 2022
Season 2021

Season 2021

Jan 17, 2021
Season 2020

Season 2020

Jan 12, 2020
Season 2019

Season 2019

Jan 13, 2019
Season 2018

Season 2018

Jan 14, 2018
Season 2017

Season 2017

Jan 8, 2017
Season 2016

Season 2016

Feb 14, 2016
Season 2015

Season 2015

Jan 11, 2015
Season 2014

Season 2014

Feb 9, 2014
Season 2013

Season 2013

Jan 7, 2013
Season 2012

Season 2012

Jan 9, 2012
Season 2011

Season 2011

Jan 3, 2011
Season 2010

Season 2010

Jan 4, 2010
Season 2009

Season 2009

Jan 5, 2009
Season 2008

Season 2008

Jan 1, 2008
Season 2007

Season 2007

Jan 7, 2007
Season 2006

Season 2006

Jan 1, 2006
1958

1958

Jan 8, 1958
1957

1957

Apr 24, 1957
Specials

Specials

Nov 26, 2007