Patrick Moore tells you what to look for in the night sky during the coming month.

The first of a regular monthly series.

Arend-Roland Comet

Patrick Moore shows what to look for in the night sky during the coming month.

Episode 2

Patrick Moore shows what to look for in the sky during the coming month.

Episode 3

Episode 4

Patrick Moore shows what to look for in the night sky during the coming month and discusses telescopes with Henry Wildey.

Telescopes

Patrick Moore shows what to look for in the sky during the coming month and talks to Clive Hare, the boy who first saw the New Comet in England.

New Comet

Patrick Moore shows what to look for in the sky during the coming month and talks about the Sun to Colin Ronan, F.R.A.S.

The Sun

Patrick Moore shows what to look for in the sky during the coming month and gives, with Reginald Edds and A. H. Degenhardt, a preview of Britain's first Planetarium.

Britain's First Planetarium

Episode 9

Patrick Moore shows you the wonders of the winter sky during the coming month.

The Winter Sky

Patrick Moore discusses with Dr. Roger Jennison of Jodrell Bank how radio astronomy is increasing our knowledge of the Universe.

Radio Astronomy

Patrick Moore discusses the most famous of all the constellations.

The Plough

Patrick Moore talks about the forthcoming penumbral eclipse of the Moon, and Mercury the nearest planet to the Sun.

Penumbral Eclipse

Tonight Patrick Moore is at the Hampstead Observatory. If weather conditions are suitable television cameras will bring live pictures of the moon's surface.

The Moon

Patrick Moore talks about the largest planet, its family of moons, and its mysterious changing red spot.

Jupiter

Patrick Moore talks about the life history of a star.

Dwarf and Giant Stars

Patrick Moore explains what it would mean to astronomers if a successful attempt were made to reach the moon.

Moon Missions

Patrick Moore talks about old and new telescopes with A. H. Degenhardt, and shows some of the things which the new telescopes can reveal-for instance, about the Andromeda Galaxy, whose light takes nearly two million years to reach us.

Patrick Moore talks to America's foremost astronomer, Dr. Harlow Shapley, about his theories on the size and scale of the universe.

The Universe

Mars is better seen now than it will be for the next ten years.

Mars

Patrick Moore and Dr. Gilbert Fielder discuss the recent report by a Russian astronomer of an eruption on the moon, and what it reveals about the moon's origin and present state.

The Craters on the Moon

Patrick Moore describes the life-cycle of a star and compares the Sun's history with that of Betelgeuse, the vast red giant now visible in Orion.

Life and Death of the Sun

Patrick Moore talks about the forthcoming partial eclipse of the Moon and about the planet Mercury, which is at its most visible period for some time.

Mercury and the Moon

Patrick Moore and Roger Griffin talk about these pairs of suns revolving round each other, and how they help astronomers to measure the masses of the stars.

Twin Stars

Patrick Moore discusses with Dr Harlow Shapley, former Director of Harvard College Observatory and one of the world's leading astronomers, our island of stars in the Universe, of which the solar system forms a minute and insignificant part.

The Shape of our Galaxy

Patrick Moore talks about some of the lesser known bodies of the Solar System.

Minor Planets

Patrick Moore discusses with F. L. Jackson, F.R.A.S., the theory that the planet Venus is covered with a shallow ocean, which might possibly contain single-celled creatures of a primeval type.

Life on Venus

Patrick Moore discusses with Colin Ronan the Northern Lights and other similar natural phenomena.

Lights in the Sky

Patrick Moore talks about the planet Saturn, which may now be seen low in the south, looking like a fairly bright yellowish star. With its rings of satellites and its retinue of moons, it is one of the loveliest objects in the whole sky.

The Ringed Planet

Patrick Moore introduces George Alcock who recently discovered two new planets. He also speaks about the eclipse of the sun which is visible here next Friday.

Topical Events

Patrick Moore talks with Colin Ronan about what is known of the hidden side of the moon, and about the Russian satellite Lunik III, its path through space, its looping of the moon, and the possible information it has brought back with it.

The Front and the Back of the Moon

Pairs of Suns

Patrick Moore gives an astronomer's view of the Star of Bethlehem which is described in Chapter 2 of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.

The Star in the East

Patrick Moore talks about the Andromeda nebula, the most distant object in the heavens it is possible to see with the naked eye, and compares it with what is known of our own galaxy.

The Great Spiral

Patrick Moore talks about the remote and slow-moving planet which was discovered in 1781. Uranus is sixty-four times as large as the earth, and has 65,000 days in its year, which is eighty-four times as long as ours.

Uranus

Patrick Moore explains how the atmosphere interferes with the astronomer's work. He discusses with Dr. Hugh Butler of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, how a satellite could be an astronomical observatory.

Why Stars Twinkle

The new comet, Burnham's, is now moving steadily closer to the earth, and should be clearly seen in late April. It will then be in the Northern part of the sky not far from the Pole Star.  Patrick Moore talks about this and other comets-where they come from, what they are, and how they move.

Visitor from Space

Patrick Moore talks about the centre of our galaxy, which is so obscured by clouds of dust, gas, and interstellar haze that only radio waves come through with evidence of what lies beyond.

Star Clouds of Sagittarius

Patrick Moore talks about the moons of other planets in the solar system. Some planets have more than one moon and they range in size from tiny globes, twelve miles across, to giants twice as heavy as the Moon.

Other Moons

August is one of the best times of the year to observe shooting stars. Patrick Moore talks about meteors and meteorites, and what we know about these sudden arrivals from outside the Earth's atmosphere.

Celestial Fireworks

Patrick Moore talks to Sir Harold Spencer Jones F.R.S.  The former Astronomer Royal about measuring distances which are literally astronomical. The greatest distance ever measured is that of a recently discovered galaxy whose light takes five thousand million years to reach the earth.

Measuring the Universe

Soon the Russians and Americans should be able to land instruments on the surface of the moon.  Patrick Moore discusses with Gilbert Fielder, the Director of the Lunar Section of the British Astronomical Association, the conditions to be met with on the moon's surface and some of the problems that may be solved by a successful landing of instruments there.

[Editor's note: The original title of the episode Moonscape.  The current iPlayer listing has it as The Moon.]

Moonscape

Patrick Moore describes how the modern spectroscope has enabled astronomers to find out what different stars are made of and how bright they actually are.

Make-up of the Stars

Patrick Moore talks about his recent visit to Russia and some of the principal observatories there.

Astronomy in Russia

These are strange glassy objects of unknown origin which are found on the surface of certain parts of the world. Patrick Moore discusses with Dr. M. H. Hey, of the Department of Mineralogy, British Museum (Natural History), the theory, which has recently been in the news, that Tektites may have originated in the moon and travelled through space to the earth.

Tektites

Patrick Moore talks with W.M. Baxter, Secretary of the British Astronomical Association, about the mysterious dark areas, many thousands of miles across, on the sun's surface, known as sunspots.  Besides discussing whether these affect the weather, they also consider the effect of solar flares on future manned space-travel. Particles emitted from these may turn out to be one of the worst hazards of all.

Storms in the Sun

In this programme, postponed from February, Patrick Moore discusses with Dr. F. L. Jackson, of King's College Hospital Pathology Department, the results of certain experiments carried out specially on behalf of 'The Sky at Night'. In these experiments various living organisms have been subjected to the conditions of atmosphere and temperature which exist on Mars.

Life on Mars

Following last month's programme on the possibility of life existing on Mars, Patrick Moore discusses whether very low forms of life may be found on the Moon, our nearest neighbour in space and the one most likely to be first reached by man. He also shows viewers the newly published Russian Atlas of the back of the Moon, based on photographs taken by Lunik III.

Life on the Moon?

As the Russian space probe approaches Venus, Patrick Moore discusses the little we know about this planet and what sort of world further exploration might reveal it to be.

Venus

Frank Hyde has built and operated his own radio telescope at Clacton in Essex. Patrick Moore discusses with him the contributions an amateur can make in this latest field of astronomy.

Radio Astronomy and the Amateur

Patrick Moore discusses meteors and meteorites with Dr. M. H. Hey of the British Museum of Natural History, and the latest versions of the suggestion that some may contain organic compounds.

Cosmic Debris

To celebrate the fiftieth edition of "The Sky at Night", Patrick Moore looks around the night sky through George Hole's 24-inch telescope at Patcham and the 36-inch telescope at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh. Weather permitting, it is hoped to obtain the first-ever 'live' pictures of probably the most beautiful object in the heavens, Saturn and its rings.

Saturn Live?

Patrick Moore discusses with Dr. H. E. Butler how artificial satellites outside the earth's atmosphere can help astronomers, and what further discoveries they may lead to.

Astronomy in Space

From time to time it has been suggested that the Earth may have more than one natural moon. Any such satellite would be very small and faint; but searches for them have been carried out, and recently a Polish astronomer claimed to have photographed two of them.  Patrick Moore discusses the theory with Colin Ronan.

Has the Earth Three Moons?

Patrick Moore talks about star clusters and asks viewers to help find out how many stars in the Pleiades are visible without a telescope.

How Many Stars in the Pleiades?

Patrick Moore describes how to set up a small home telescope, powerful enough for real astronomical use, and discusses with L. Marsland Gander the best way to use it. He also gives the result of viewers' observations of how many stars can be seen in the Pleiades.

A Telescope for Christmas

Patrick Moore discusses with Gilbert Fielder the age-old problem of what caused the craters on the moon, and whether the next Russian lunik may solve the problem.

Volcanoes or Meteorites?

Patrick Moore discusses with Dr. Francis Jackson bacteriologist of King's College Hospital reports that signs of past life have been found in meteorites They also report on the latest progress of the 'life on Mars' experiments inaugurated last year.

Life in the Universe?

Pluto, on the boundary of the solar system, is the planet most remote from the earth. Patrick Moore discusses this strange small world whose mysteries have puzzled astronomers ever since its discovery in 1930.

The Farthest Planet

The recent United States attempt to put millions of fine copper wires into orbit round the earth for communication purposes has aroused fierce objections from some astronomers.  Patrick Moore discusses this controversial subject with Colin Ronan.

Space Needles

Is space empty? Astronomers used to think so, but nowadays it is believed there is matter spread out between the stars so that we look out through a sort of cosmic fog.  Patrick Moore talks about what astronomers have learned by studying this matter.

The Space Fog

Every year many people watch the midsummer sun rise over the avenue at Stonehenge. Patrick Moore discusses how much the ancient peoples knew of astronomy and how far the old Stone Circles of Britain were aligned astronomically.

Astronomy and the Ancients

From the control point of Frank Hyde's amateur radio astronomy station at St. Osyth in Essex, Patrick Moore discusses with Frank Hyde his work there, especially on the problem of whether the planet Jupiter generates its own radio signals.

Signals from Jupiter

With the help of a camera attached to the twenty-four-inch telescope in George Hole's back garden at Patcham, Patrick Moore brings viewers pictures directly from the sky and discusses with Dr. A. F. O'D Alexander, the most beautiful object to be seen there, the planet Saturn.

Saturn

The first interplanetary rockets could carry with them bacteria from earth which might contaminate other planets. Returning spacemen might bring back new and dangerous bacteria which could endanger our existence here. Patrick Moore, Sir Bernard Lovell, and Dr. Francis Jackson give their views on this vital aspect of space travel.

Keeping Space Clean

Algol, now visible in the evening sky, was called 'The Demon Star' in ancient times. Certainly it is a most unusual star; periodically it seems to 'wink'. Patrick Moore discusses Algol, and explains its importance.

The Demon Star

The American spacecraft Mariner II should be at its nearest to Venus on about December 14. Patrick Moore discusses with Howard Miles, Director of the Artificial Satellite Section of the British Astronomical Association, what it may reveal about the mysterious cloud-covered planet.

Journey to Venus

This year is the bicentenary of the death of James Bradley, third Astronomer Royal.

Patrick Moore and Colin Ronan discuss his work and observations, remarkable for his time, which first proved the earth was moving through space.

The Moving Earth

1963 promises to be an exciting year for astronomy and space exploration.  Patrick Moore forecasts some of the possible highlights.

Space '63

A Russian astronomer has suggested that the two moons of Mars might be artificial space stations.  Patrick Moore discusses the peculiarities of the Red Planet's satellites and considers whether they might be used as staging points for future manned exploration of Mars.

Space Stations for Mars

Patrick Moore and Howard Miles Director of the Artificial Satellite Section of the British Astronomical Association discuss the American space probe Mariner II and its remarkable new findings about the planet Venus.

Venus Revealed

Patrick Moore talks about the exploding star or nova in the constellation of Hercules which was recently discovered by an amateur astronomer in Sweden, and discusses the sequence of events which leads to these tremendous celestial catastrophes.

Exploding Stars

Patrick Moore discusses with Anthony Michaelis how over the years many writers' fantasies, like Bishop Godwin's voyage to the Moon of A.D. 1657, are now becoming reality, and whether other favourite theories of science fiction - anti-gravity, for instance - may in turn become fact.

Science Fiction and Science Fact

American astronomers have just reported the discovery of a planet moving round a near star. It is now believed that similar planet families must be common in space.  Patrick Moore discusses the latest theories about how planets come into being.

Birth of the Planets

It used to be thought that the moon had been a dead world for millions of years. Now Russian observers have reported traces of volcanic activity in two craters.  Patrick Moore discusses the evidence with Dr. T. M. Sugden, F.R.S. and considers how it affects theories of the moon's present state.

The Active Moon

Patrick Moore and Professor C. W. Allen of London University show and discuss a remarkable film of the sun.

Superflare

Patrick Moore discusses with Arthur C. Clarke, one of the pioneer thinkers of space exploration, how his ideas have developed as he has seen the reality happen, and in particular what will be the problems of organising a manned base on the moon.

Moon Base

Following the re-measurement of the distance to the nearest star system-the Andromeda Galaxy-as 2.2 million light years, Patrick Moore discusses with Henry Brinton how these enormous distances are calculated.

Patrick Moore discusses the recent unusual happenings observed in the surface markings of the giant planet Jupiter.

Jupiter Disturbed

The stars have always compelled men's attention. Patrick Moore and Colin Ronan discuss some of the extraordinary legends attached to them in the past.

Star Myths

Patrick Moore talks about some of the strange celestial objects, like the planet Vulcan, which have been reported at times but do not in fact seem to exist.

The Ghosts of the Universe

Frank Hyde discusses with Patrick Moore the progress of his radio-astronomy station's observations in collaboration with Florida State University to try to determine whether the radio emissions from Jupiter originate there or are reflected from the sun.

The recent flight of Ranger VI came near to solving the age-old problem of the nature of the Moon's surface.  Patrick Moore reports on the present situation and its significance to astronomers.

Rock or Dust?

For ages man has used the stars to navigate by Patrick Moore discusses with Henry Brinton some of the new problems of celestial navigation which the space traveller has to face.

Space Navigation

The Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland is the oldest observatory still in use in the Commonwealth. Yet the work being done there on the structure of galaxies is in the forefront of contemporary research. Dr. E. M. Lindsay, the director, describes the Observatory's activities to Patrick Moore, as well as showing him round the eighteenth-century building and its historic possessions.

Ancient and Modern

Patrick Moore reports on the New York International Symposium on the Structure of the Moon's Surface, at which he himself read one of the technical papers.

Moon Gathering

The accurate astronomical alignment of Stonehenge, notorious on Midsummer Day, contrasts with ancient Egyptian theories that the sun and planets revolved round the earth.  Patrick Moore and Henry Brinton discuss the historical theories, some odd, some prescient, which have tried to explain the universe.

Midsummer Sense

Quasi stellar objects, quasars for short, is the description given to a recently discovered and puzzling new kind of body in the universe.

Patrick Moore discusses with Colin Ronan these very remote and powerful sources of radio emissions.

Quasars

Commenting on reported changes in the yellow colouring of the planet Saturn, Patrick Moore discusses the colours a telescope reveals in the night sky.

Red Giant, Yellow Planet, Blue Sun

The minor planet Vesta is now visible in the evening sky. Patrick Moore talks about the swarm of dwarf worlds in the solar system which may be the remains of an old planet which met with disaster.

Explosion in Space

Patrick Moore and Henry Brinton discuss the current scientific evidence as to when the earth came into existence as a separate body in the solar system.

How Old is the Earth?

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.

Unwelcome Atmosphere

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.

Up in a Balloon

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.

Lava or Dust?

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.

Ancient Lore

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

Naked Eye Astronomy

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.

How Long is a Day?

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.

Space Weather

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?

Communicating with Other Worlds

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.

All Episodes of The Sky at Night

Season 1

Arend-Roland Comet

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/24/1957

Episode 2

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 5/22/1957

Episode 3

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 6/20/1957

Episode 4

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 7/25/1957

Telescopes

Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 8/19/1957

New Comet

Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 9/19/1957

The Sun

Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/19/1957

Britain's First Planetarium

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/1957

Episode 9

Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/14/1957