The Sky at Night - Season 9

Patrick Moore discusses the atmospheres of the other planets in the solar system, how much is known of them, what more is likely to be found out about them in the near future, and whether one day man will be able to survive them.

The advantages, drawbacks, and achievements of using balloons to take astronomical instruments above the earth's atmosphere are discussed by Patrick Moore and Kenneth Fea of the Space Research Group, University College, London.

Patrick Moore discusses what information the photographs taken by Ranger 8 may give on the controversial question of the nature of the moon's surface.

Patrick Moore examines the ancient mythology of the stars and some of the ways in which they have been said to influence man's destiny on earth.

Patrick Moore and Henry Brinton discuss how much useful observation can be done without using optical instruments.

Recent studies suggest that the day on Mercury may be two months long. Patrick Moore discusses how this affects our ideas of conditions on Mercury, and how its length of day compares with that of other planets.

Space was once thought to be empty, but recent planetary probes - such as Mariner IV now approaching Mars - have shown that it is anything but so. There is plenty of weather in space, though it is not the same as weather on earth. Kenneth Fea discusses these new findings with Patrick Moore.

In the 100th edition of Sky at Night, Patrick Moore considers one of the most intriguing problems of modern astronomy: could conditions for life as we know it exist outside the solar system, would it be possible to establish communication with other worlds, and if we did what would be the result?

Patrick Moore discusses the information sent back by Mariner IV and what new ideas it gives us about the planet Mars.

Patrick Moore reports on Quasars. These recently discovered objects, immensely distant sources of vast amounts of energy, are causing astronomers to reconsider their previous ideas of the nature of the Universe.

Patrick Moore looks at the new Isaac Newton telescope which will be the largest in Europe. What will it achieve?

In the past few months views about the nature and origin of the Universe have been changing considerably. Patrick Moore discusses some of the current thinking on this vast subject.

Recent Russian studies have suggested that there may be another major planet in the solar system. Patrick Moore discusses the evidence for the existence of a world even more distant than Pluto.