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The Sky at Night

BBC Four Documentary Not rated yet

What it is

Our team of astronomers tell us what's on view in the night sky. From comets to quasars, there is always something fascinating to discuss in the Universe.

Episode highlights

Last episode

Big Black Holes and Little Red Dots

s2026e05 · 2026-08-10

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Episode guide

13 this season · 838 total
s2005e01 Lord of the Rings 2005-01-02 22:00

Lord of the Rings

s2005e01 · 2005-01-02 · 22:00

The American and European spacecraft Cassini has been at Saturn now for six months. It has sent back fabulous images of the planet, its complex rings and many moons including the mysterious Titan. Patrick Moore discusses this and Cassini's probe Huygens, which will be sent to Titan on Christmas Day.

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s2005e02 Unveiling Titan 2005-02-06 22:00

Unveiling Titan

s2005e02 · 2005-02-06 · 22:00

We have seen the surface of Titan, Saturn's moon and one of the most mysterious solar system bodies. Patrick Moore talks to the lead scientist of the Huygens surface science package (SSP), Professor John Zarnecki, about the first results from the probe. (2005)

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s2005e03 Strangers in the Night 2005-03-06 22:00

Strangers in the Night

s2005e03 · 2005-03-06 · 22:00

Comets are thought to come from the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto and the Oort Cloud at the very edge of our solar system. Little is known about this dark, far away home for comets. Patrick Moore debates the mysterious belts and the wandering strangers which escape from them. Also, the latest news from Mars, Saturn and the farthest regions of our Universe. 

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s2005e04 Star Party 2005-04-03 21:00

Star Party

s2005e04 · 2005-04-03 · 21:00

For the first time ever, Sir Patrick Moore has hosted a star party at his house in Selsey. Over two nights, amateur astronomers played lottery with the weather. Clouds, rain and fog played havoc with the viewing, but at last the night sky was revealed in all its glory.

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s2005e05 Eye on the Universe 2005-05-01 21:00

Eye on the Universe

s2005e05 · 2005-05-01 · 21:00

In its 15 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionised astronomy with it's amazing insight into our Universe. Patrick Moore talks to Professor Gerry Gilmore about its highs and lows.Chris Lintott reports from the National Astronomy Meeting about the lastest finding on our Universe.

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s2005e06 The Shocking Sun 2005-06-05 21:00

The Shocking Sun

s2005e06 · 2005-06-05 · 21:00

Sun spots and solar flares release high energy particles and radiation that can damage satellites and telecommunications, as well as creating the beautiful aurora in the atmosphere. Patrick Moore talks to Scottish astronomer Professor John Brown about the lastest solar mission, Rhessi, which is observing these incredibly violent outbursts from our nearest star, the Sun. 

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s2005e07 Deep Impact 2005-07-03 21:00

Deep Impact

s2005e07 · 2005-07-03 · 21:00

NASA are sending a probe into the comet 9P/ Tempel-1, early on the morning of 4 July 2005. This is a unique event, from which they hope to find out how comets are made. Are they balls of ice and mud, the harbourers of life's components, or just solid rocks of sterile cosmic debris? The Deep Impact programme hopes to provide the answers, but this destructive act is not without its critics. The Sky at Night explores the pros and cons of hitting a comet.

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s2005e08 Fallout From Deep Impact 2005-07-10 21:00

Fallout From Deep Impact

s2005e08 · 2005-07-10 · 21:00

On 4 July NASA hopes to send an impactor into the comet 9P/Tempel-1. Patrick Moore talks to the world's leading comet experts about the fallout from this destructive act. Chris Lintott reports from Palomar Observatory in California, where astronomers will be eagerly watching the comet to see what happens when Deep Impact hits its mark.

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s2005e09 The Search for Life 2005-08-07 21:00

The Search for Life

s2005e09 · 2005-08-07 · 21:00

The search for life elsewhere in our Universe has long been the Holy Grail for astronomers. Planets around distant stars have recently been discovered and we now realise that solar systems like our own could be widespread. So is life on Earth unique? With missions to Mars, Saturn's moon Titan and Jupiter's moon Europa, we could be nearing an answer. No definitive traces of life have been found elsewhere, but astronomers are probing ever deeper on our nearest planetary neighbours and across our Universe for the signitures of life. Patrick Moore discusses the issue with Professor Monica Gardy and Professor Simon Conway Morris.Chris Lintott spends a night meteor-watching with Dr John Mason, Martin Mobberly and Martin Andrews. Every year the Earth passes through dusty tail remnants of the comet Swift-Tuttle. These enter Earth's atmosphere-forming meteor showers called the perseids, this year they are at their maximum in mid-August. 

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s2005e10 Mapping The Sky (Sky Survey) 2005-09-04 21:00

Mapping The Sky (Sky Survey)

s2005e10 · 2005-09-04 · 21:00

Man is scanning the night sky and counting stars, galaxies and other solar bodies. Patrick Moore discusses two of the most comprehensive surveys - 2dF and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - and asks what they tells us about our Universe. Chris Lintott visits the Palomar Observatory in Southern California. Patrck also ventgures into his gardne to look at the Perseids.

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s2005e11 The Planets (Converge On Cambridge) 2005-10-02 21:00

The Planets (Converge On Cambridge)

s2005e11 · 2005-10-02 · 21:00

Its been an incredible year for the planets, with amazing discoveries and startling new insights into our Solar System. Earlier this month, astronomers from around the World converged on Cambridge to discuss the latest planetary research. Chris Lintott reports.

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s2005e12 Mars and the Ring of Fire 2005-11-06 22:00

Mars and the Ring of Fire

s2005e12 · 2005-11-06 · 22:00

Mars is almost as close as it can get to Earth and better placed than it will be for many years. Patrick Moore throws a Mars party in his back garden to enjoy the exceptional views of the red planet. Chris Lintott reports from Madrid, where he witnessed the dramatic annular eclipse, also called 'the ring of fire'.

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s2005e13 Celestial Zoo 2005-12-04 22:00

Celestial Zoo

s2005e13 · 2005-12-04 · 22:00

Our Sun is an ordinary star, but the celestial zoo contains stars as small as the Earth and others which are tens of thousands of times brighter. Patrick Moore takes a census and celebrates the tenth anniversary of the solar satellite Soho, which has produced spectacular images of flares, comets and sunspots the size of planets. 

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