History Channel: The Universe

Summaries of Some Items Discussed

 

 

Part 1 (188 min)

 

ð Secrets of the Sun

       Guided tour of the surface of the Sun through computer-generated graphics that re-create the solar flares and storms that rage on its turbulent surface.   

       Witness the Sun's birth at the dawn of our solar system and its death billions of years in the future.

ð Mars: The Red Planet

       Using data collected from probes and robotic rovers, the video takes viewers to the planet's surface to show what life would be like for a human settlement,

       and speculates what kind of life forms could evolve in its unique atmosphere.

ð Deep Space Threats to Our Planet

       Scars on the planet's surface and in its fossil record illustrate the threat posed by meteorites, comets, and asteroids that routinely collide with Earth.

ð Jupiter: The Giant Planet

       Two and a half times the size of all the other planets in the solar system combined, and half a billion miles from Earth, Jupiter is a colossal riddle whose

       remote distance and cloudy covering have made it difficult to study. The video explores Jupiter and journeys into the immense storms that whirl around the

       planet's surface.

 

Part 2 (141 min)

 

ð The Moon

       Our closest celestial neighbor, the moon is the only cosmic body on which human beings have ever set foot. Incorporating the latest scientific research, this

       video tells the amazing story of how the Earth's closest natural satellite formed and how it continues to exert its influence on our planet.

ð Spaceship Earth

       Depicts how the place we call home formed in one of the most volatile regions of the Milky Way and explore how cosmic events combined to create the

       unique atmosphere and rich variety of life that exist today.

ð The Inner Planets: Mercury and Venus

       Circling around the Sun in speedy orbits, Mercury and Venus are rocky, dense, and intensely hot. This video tells the story of their formation during the birth

       of the solar system an takes viewers on a ride to the strange landscapes of Earth's forbidding neighbors.

 

Part 3 (188 min)

 

ð Saturn: Lord of the Rings

        Famous for its striking ring formations, Saturn is perhaps the most beautiful planet in the solar system. Explore the unusual system of moons and rings that

        surround this stunning celestial body.

ð Alien Galaxies                                                                          Later in course

       The Milky Way is only one of the over 100 billion galaxies thought to exist, and each of these is composed of as may as a trillion stars. Vivid CGI graphics

       detail the birth of these mysterious galaxies.

ð Life and Death of a Star                                                            Later in course

       The birth of a star is a spectacular event, as gravity brings together massive molecular clouds over millions of years  to create these enormous galactic

       furnaces.

ð The Outer Planets

       the gargantuan planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune circle the edge of the Solar System. The Outer Planets shows how these gas giants formed,

       and journeys to these mysterious orbiting bodies and small planets that lie beyond them, far from the sun.

 

Part 4 (188 min)

 

ð Black Holes: The Most Dangerous Place in the Universe         Later in course

       Gazing up from Earth, the universe looks like a peaceful place where placid stars pass across the night sky. But amidst this stately, celestial dance are

       awesome, sestructive threats. Utilizing cutting-edge computer-generated imagery, This video journeys to realm with exploding stars and mysterious black

       holes.

ð Search for ET                                                                           Later in course

       Could there b other intelligent life outside our solar system? The immensity of spae suggests that the conditions for life may not be unique to Erth. This video

       shows mankind's drdamatic quest to answer one of its oldest and most profound questions: Are we alone?

ð Beyond the Big Bang                                                                Later in course

       Over 13 billions years ago, from a point smaller than the size of a single atom the universe was born, and it continues to expand with every passing second.

       This video tells the story of how mathematicians and physicists postulated, refined, nd then tested this amazing model of the cosmos' origins. Interfviews

       with some of th top minds in science combined with stunning, computer generated recreations of the very first seconds of the universe come together in a

       beautiful exploration that dares to answer the question: How did the universe begin?