The Sky at Night

1957

The Sky at Night

8.4 | NR | en | Documentary

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.

WATCH FREEFOR 30 DAYS

All Prime Video
Cancel anytime

Watch Now

Seasons & Episodes

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

1982

1975

1963

1957

EP6 The Very Large Telescope

Sep. 11,2023

The Very Large Telescope has been responsible for some of the greatest astronomical breakthroughs. For September 2023, the team travels to the heart of the Atacama to explore one of the most advanced observatories in the world, a site at the forefront of astronomy.

EP5 Black Holes: Searching for the Unknown

Aug. 14,2023

For August 2023, The Sky at Night team investigate the science of black holes and discover the incredible techniques being used to uncover their secrets, and even help us answer bigger questions about our universe. Chris meets Dr Becky Smethurst at the University of Oxford to learn how a black hole forms from the death of a star. He also investigates whether black holes deserve their menacing portrayal in popular culture. He describes what would happen if we got too close to the event horizon and how black holes might actually play a role in lighting up the universe. Maggie explores how scientists are trying to understand more about black holes by meeting Dr Tessa Baker, who works on LIGO. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory is one of the world’s largest physics experiments and is not your usual type of observatory; instead of looking - it listens. The next observation run has just started, and Maggie learns what they are hoping to find.

EP4 Is There Anybody Out There?

Jul. 10,2023

For July 2023, the team investigate the controversial world of alien communication. The search for life on other planets is one of the most fascinating subjects in science. But what is less reported is the work being done around the world to determine what happens next.

EP3 The UK Space Race

Jun. 12,2023

The Sky at Night team investigates the incredible science and engineering helping the UK to blast into space. We are now one of the biggest satellite building nations in the world, and the race is on to be the first company to successfully launch a rocket into orbit from British soil.

EP2 Will an Asteroid Destroy Earth?

May. 15,2023

The Sky at Night team explores the threat of an asteroid impact on earth and meets the space scientists who are developing methods of planetary defence that sound like the stuff of science fiction.

EP1 The Search for Alien Life

Apr. 10,2023

The Sky at Night team investigate the latest science used in the hunt for extraterrestrial life, including a major mission to Jupiter's icy moons.

8.4 | NR | en | Documentary , News | More Info

Released: 1957-04-24 | Released Producted By: , Country: United Kingdom Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mk7h

Synopsis

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.

Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Director

Producted By

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.

Watch Now

Trailers

Cast

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

as Self - Presenter

I Literally Just Told You

Reviews

MrMuffinMan You don't need to know anything about astronomy to enjoy The Sky at Night. Patrick Moore, his co-presenters and guests make sure that whatever topics they are discussing, whether meteoroids or supernovae, dark matter or Moonquakes, all are explained so that casual viewers can have some level of understanding. Educational and accessible, you would have thought the BBC would promote the programme and build on the way it is not afraid to discuss challenging theories and ideas about the stars, the nature of matter, the universe and lots more (pardon the pun). Sadly TSAN appears is being gradually pushed more and more to the margins of BBC output, shifted to BBC World or BBC4, almost no promotion, and with no crossover where it could be most valuable in an educational role, between TSAN and children's programmes. Just like the stars in the heavens, it takes a little bit of time and effort to find TSAN - but it is very much worth your while. Do it while you can!

screenman 'Ere, if this is the longest-running show in the galaxy, how come there's only 2 comments? That'll be the British again, taking their national treasures and heritage for granted.Paddy Moore is an institution. Like David Attenborough, Bruce Forsythe, and one or two others who defy the decades; we'll only miss 'em when they're gone. Then it'll be 'do you remember so-and-so?' They were good, weren't they?' And so on.Mr Moore has been presenting this programme from the time when I was too young to stay up and watch it. A few years passed and my parents relented. He was a handsome - if slightly quirky - fellow in those days, with a full head of thick, dark hair. The programme was - and is - fairly short, And PM compensated for this by talking very quickly. I believe he won an award for it. Once, when in full flow, he swallowed a big, juicy fly.Now my own hair is grey and falling out and he's still at it, like some sort of Timelord.I got into astronomy when most people didn't know what astronomy meant. It was generally perceived as a branch of the occult. The name was like 'astrology'. You spent a lot of time out at night. And you were familiar with the Zodiac. Astronomers were regarded as being a little bit peculiar. They tended to utter very strange words, that sounded like magical incantations.Happily, the Apollo mission changed all of that.If I have ever had a quibble with the programme, it was the lack of practical evaluation - looking at, and testing new gear, for example -in deference to concentrating upon theoretical astronomy and cosmology. Perhaps the brevity of the slot made that difficult.Nowadays, you can hardly see the sky for light-pollution. Generations are growing-up to be denied the greatest show on earth. It's something our ancestors have taken for granted ever since the human species arose.Patrick Moore and 'The Sky At Night' is very much a tenuous link with the past. When this programme finally succumbs to the inevitable contempt and disinterest of BBC management, the sky will become a closed book once more.Better watch the programme while there's still time. And write some comments too, you apathetic shower!

S Not just the longest running TV show in British history, but in fact The Longest Running TV Show in World.That this is still going out every 4th Sunday after all those years is testament to the huge popularity of Sir Patrick Moore, who has received many honors for his outstanding services to astronomy (which includes, among other things, introducing countless kids to science)Often broadcast live, the programme has sometimes been the victim of cloudy skies and other bad weather, but it has always been a show with great importance (and a source of great enjoyment) for both amateur and professional astronomers alike.Being an international expert in the subject, Patrick Moore provided some of NASAs maps for the 1969 moonlandings, but it is interesting that the BBC wiped all the footage of him commentating on it!