The Giant Planet

E1

At present the most brilliant object in the evening sky is Jupiter, giant planet of the Solar System - an immense world with cloud belts, the fascinating Great Red Spot. and four bright moons. Even a small telescope will show details upon its yellowish gaseous surface. Patrick Moore talks about Jupiter, and the many problems that it presents to modern astronomers.

Observing Earth Satellites

E2

Well over a thousand artificial satellites are now in orbit round the earth, and some can be seen as bright lights crossing the stars. Patrick Moore talks to Desmond King-Hele, F.R.S. about the way amateur observers can sight and track satellites, and about the value of these observations to space research.

Gas-Clouds in Space

E3

Patrick Moore and Dr. V. Barocas talk about the nebulae - clouds of gas of many kinds far out in space. In some of these, new stars are coming into existence.

The Craters on the Moon

E4

Close-up photographs of prospective lunar landing-sites are rapidly increasing our knowledge of the moon's surface. But how strong is the evidence that the lunar craters were formed by the same kind of volcanic activity as Earth calderas? Patrick Moore puts this question to a geologist, Dr. G.J.H. McCall.

Ten Years of Astronomy

E5

On the programme's tenth anniversary, Patrick Moore describes the enormous advances made in astronomical studies during the space-decade since April 1957. He shows highlights from past programmes, including the first photographs of the far side of the moon in 1959 and the solar eclipse tracked across Europe in 1961.

A new look at Mars

E6

Since the American rocket Mariner IV went close to Mars to send back information, our ideas about the Red Planet have changed very much. Patrick Moore discusses these new ideas with Harold Ridley and in particular considers whether there can be any life on Mars.

Vega

E7

Vega, one of the brightest stars in the sky, is now almost overhead during the evening. It is a magnificent blue star, much hotter than the sun. Patrick Moore and Dr. V. Barocas talk about Vega, and discuss the view of the universe that could be obtained from there.

Lord Rosse's Great Telescope

E8

From 1845 until 1917 the biggest telescope in the world was the 72-inch reflector built and operated by Lord Rosse at his Irish home. Patrick Moore visits Birr Castle in County Offaly, Eire, to discuss with the present Lord Rosse his great - grandfather's remarkable achievement in constructing the huge telescope, and his use of it to establish the spiral nature of galaxies.

Exploding Stars

E9

Patrick Moore talks about Novae, which appear to be new stars but are in fact existing ones brightened by explosions, and discusses the new Nova near the Constellation of Delphinus with George Alcock, a Huntingdonshire schoolmaster, who was the first person to see it.

Invisible Astronomy

E10

Patrick Moore and Colin Ronan discuss the increasing study of non-visible radiations from space which is dramatically widening our knowledge of the universe.

Cameras round the Moon

E11

In the just-completed NASA Lunar Orbiter programme, five photo-laboratories have orbited the moon at 4,500 m.p.h. Patrick Moore talks to H. J. P. Arnold about the sophisticated techniques involved in spacecraft photography.

Venus Observed

E12

The Russian probe Venus 4 has landed on its target. Patrick Moore talks about the mysterious earth's twin' planet, and puts questions about the new information from Venus to Colonel Valery Bykovsky, the Russian astronaut. Close Down

Lumps from Outer Space

E13

Meteorites are the only solid objects from outer space which land on earth. Two thousand have been found, the biggest weighing sixty tons. What are they, and where do they come from? Patrick Moore discusses their significance and possible origin with a geologist, Dr. G. J. H. McCall.