Astronomy

With the International Space Station a reality, a return to the Moon by 2020, and a manned Mars shot a decade or so later, a career in space science has never been a more realistic option for students. Inspire them to reach for the stars as you introduce them to astronomy, astrophysics, aerospace engineering, the history of space exploration, and the process of scientific inquiry with this eight-part series. Highlights include incredible footage from orbiting observatories and space probes, commentary by leading scientists and researchers, and animated diagrams that make complex concepts easier to understand.
2006, Cambridge Educational . 8-part series, 23-29 minutes each.

This program surveys some of the 88 official constellations, from Orion, to the North Star, to the little-known 13th zodiac sign.
2008, History Education . 45 minutes.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its launch, this film tells the remarkable story of how Hubble revealed the awe and wonder of our universe and how a team of daring astronauts risked their lives to keep it working.
2020, BBC Worldwide, 51 minutes.

Just the Facts: Astronomy Essentials examines the complexity and power of our vast universe. How do we know how old the universe is? How large is our galaxy, and how does the Sun provide energy to planet Earth? This series will answer these questions and more!
2013, Cerebellum Corporation. 5 videos, about 14 minutes each.

This is the epic story of the stars, and how discovering their tale has transformed our own understanding of the universe. This first episode shows how modern astronomy has revealed that stars experience a life cycle that begins with birth. We visit the Joint European Torus, a major physics project based in Oxfordshire, to learn more about the process of hydrogen fusion that brings stars to life. Then it’s time to examine our most well known star, the Sun.
2012, BBC Worldwide Learning. 2 videos, 45 minutes each.

Using dramatic CGI imagery as well as breathtaking photographs from space probes and state-of-the-art telescopes, this five-part series journeys to the planets and moons in our celestial neighborhood. It reveals the bizarre, the majestic, and the unexpected among our solar system’s diverse phenomena—amounting to a guided tour of the interplanetary arena that is both our home and our frontier. In addition, each episode uses examples from Earth’s geology and climate to help illustrate astronomical concepts. Take the tour! A BBC/Science Channel Co-production.
2010, BBC Worldwide Learning. 5-part series, 50 minutes each.

Open a window to the real universe in Sky Candy, a unique 18 part series that explores topics ranging from globular clusters to dark energy, Andromeda to Mars, and star birth to star death. Thought-provoking and engaging, the series features stunning visuals with staggering facts, bound to change the viewer’s perspective on the space around us.
2020, Trader Multimedia Inc. 18 videos, about 9 minutes each.

This epic 38-part series takes viewers to the leading edge of humankind’s ever-expanding knowledge of the cosmos. A virtual collision of astronomy and history, each enlightening program use strikingly realistic computer re-creations and stunning graphics to shed light on a diverse array of celestial topics of interest.
2010, History Education. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. 38-part series, 45 minutes each.

This program shows how we came to understand that our planet is not the center of everything but just one of billions of bodies in a vast and expanding cosmos.
2010, BBC Worldwide Learning. 50 minutes.