TELEVISION

Visual Guide to the Universe

Series: Visual Guide to the Universe
4.7
(12)
sign up
Episodes
18
Rating
TVPG
Year
2021
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

The spectacular sights of the cosmos are now as easy to see as the stars above, with these lavishly illustrated episodes produced in partnership with the Smithsonian. Orbit Saturn, search for water and life on Mars, and witness an armada of space telescopes uncovering the secrets of the cosmos. Embark on great voyages of discovery and enjoy a view that's truly out of this world!

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 18

1. Probing the Cosmos from Space

28m

sign up
Prepare for your cosmic journey by surveying NASA's space exploration strategy. Although human spaceflight gets the lion's share of publicity, the greatest scientific discoveries in space are the work of planetary probes and space observatories. Learn why this approach has paid off so spectacularly.

2. The Magnetic Beauty of the Active Sun

28m

sign up
Explore the sun in astonishing detail through the multispectral instruments of the Solar Dynamics Observatory. See debris from magnetic storms explode into space and then crash back into the sun. Learn how these mammoth outbursts affect Earth.

3. Mars - Water and the Search for Life

29m

sign up
Discover that Mars is a water world whose surface dried up long ago and may once have supported life. Four robotic rovers have landed on Mars, including the sophisticated Curiosity rover, now crawling across the planet searching for clues connected to microbial life forms.

4. Vesta and the Asteroid Belt

29m

sign up
Study fossil remains of the early solar system, preserved in the rocky debris of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Focus on one of the largest asteroids, Vesta, viewing it close up via the Dawn spacecraft. Learn how pieces of Vesta have fallen to Earth as meteorites.

5. Saturn - The Rings of Enchantment

29m

sign up
Examine Saturn through the eyes of the Cassini probe, which has been orbiting the ringed planet since 2004, taking spectacular pictures of Saturn's cloud tops, moons, and especially the enigmatic ring system. Examine competing theories for the origin of this complex circular band.

6. The Ice Moons Europa and Enceladus

27m

sign up
Focus on two enigmatic ice worlds: Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus. Both may harbor liquid water beneath their icy crusts. Weigh the chances that life exists in these underground oceans, despite the extreme cold in the outer solar system.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great Coursesdirector
The Great Coursesproducer
David M. Meyeractor