94bamf
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/08
Posts: 720
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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Is it just me, or does anybody else notice that these people are obsessed with "something" destroying the earth? It seems like almost every show is about exploding stars, gamma rays, comets hitting earth, the universe collapsing, etc..
Don't get me wrong, I like the show, but it is like they turned something educational into a doomsday reality show or something..
Ken
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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This appears to be a new and rather disturbing trend in science shows lately. It's not just "The Universe" either, I was watching shows on National Geographic, Science Channel, and the History Channels, and they all seem to take some macabre and perverse delight in putting together disaster scenarios. If it's not the earth being center-punched by an asteroid or comet, it's some distant star going all gamma ray burster on our collective behinds. It's really becoming tiresome.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
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cosmoskid
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/15/08
Posts: 685
Loc: Indiana USA
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The ones I watch are mainly about exploring for other life or other earth like planets in The Universe. If they talk about universe collapse etc., if you actually listen to the words they sometimes will say "scientists think/ believe". To me it sounds like some of it is theories and not certainty. If they talk about doomsday, it's usually 25 million years from now. This show isn't on everyday like the News is. I'd rather be surrounded by a bunch of smart, intelligent and caring people like them then I would some others. Anyway it's a good show. It may inspire kids to become interested in science and mysteries of our Universe. It's no worse than the evening news.
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"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." Thomas Jefferson.
"Who are they to judge the life I live? Before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean.”
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azskies
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/29/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: Prescott, AZ
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No worse than the news shows maybe, but more realistic and not full of bull. The Universe is a violent place can't stay away from that truth. We are finding out more and more of what's out there everday. Btw..for a change of pace NatGeo had on the Japanese spacecraft orbiting the Moon tonight with glorious pics of the Moon in HD. Awesome!
Jeff
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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There was a thread a few days ago (now bumped at this hour to page three of this forum) with some exchanges on this doomsday approach. I've been a little exasperated with the Götterdämmerung format for a while. Stop waving loaded asteroids, black holes and meteors at me, will ya? Stop crying Wolf-Rayet! The need for advertisers and good ratings likely drive the slant of the manipulated content, IMO. However, I watch the shows anyway. But some I don't bother with when re-broadcast.
Direct from the Moon on the NatGeo channel tonight with HD images from Japan's Kaguya spacecraft, the discoveries and theoretical/scientific conclusions or inferences about the Moon's formation and history were outstanding.
So, I stay tuned in and don't plan to drop out any time soon.
Best Regards,
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Todd
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Edited by Man in a Tub (08/24/09 03:06 AM)
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Relativist
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/11/03
Posts: 3081
Loc: OC, CA, USA
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Fear is the path to the dark side...
Greed can be a powerful ally...
Anyway, I agree, disaster shows bring in big ratings. The truth is, there are certain things we should fund more for the disasters we could at least try and prevent, but besides that, I look at it as entertainment/education.
My Physics Prof. during my Masters degree would show of one of those doom and gloom science video's right after midterms and before she gave us our grades. The message was, things could be worse...
Glad I read this thread to find out about the HD video of the moon.
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.......Curtis
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4075
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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I started watching season one the other night, starting with the episode on Jupiter. It took around 20 minutes worth of material and stretched it to an hour, using the same stock footage over and over again. I noticed one particular storm=cloud flyby (Jupiter is all clouds, right?) over six times. When they edit for commercial broadcasting, they spend a significant amount of time after the commercial break reminding you of what they were saying before the break. It's not a good series. - j
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shams42
sage
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 216
Loc: Pittsboro, NC
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I agree. They stretch about 300 words of content into an hour long show. Very low information density.
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sailor70623
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 944
Loc: Ok.
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Come on now, if it isn't a crisis we don't care anymore. If something from space isn't going to destroy the earth, congress wouldn't spend a dime on any astronomers. If the Sun wasn't going to blow up, they wouldn't care less about NASA. And lastly, if these scientists weren't working to "save the planet" they wouldn't get a dime of government money either. There's research money out there to "save the planet", there's hardly a dime for general reasearch. You can get a grnt easily (compaired to noromally getting a grant) to study "Man made Global Warming", or When will the sun go Super Nova, or is there life on another planet, and can/could we live there. But goverment will spend no money today on finding new oil researves, new ways to use coal, cheaper ways to refine oil, or better ways to build nuclear power plants. I think the show is the best out there now. I do not have cable, but do have year 1, 2 and 3 on DVD. I think maybe another reason there's so much "Doomsday" tone to it is to try and catch more of the young viewers. But season 3 had an awful lot about "sex" in space too.
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Corornado PST
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nobody special
sage
Reged: 12/30/08
Posts: 405
Loc: Connecticut
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Gloom and Doom sells, Just look at the daily news.
It's a shame, but its the reality of the situation.
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Tom
Orion XT8 Classic
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belgrade
super member
Reged: 10/05/07
Posts: 129
Loc: San Antonio, TX, USA
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My friends, it's a good show (emphasis on "show," ok?) - and only astronomical/space (popular) science series on TV. Now in a 4th season! C'mon, give them a break! We have "tons" Bridezillas, Bachelors, Bacherolettes, Idols, Survivors, etc etc cruddy shows on TV all the time - at least this show brings some science to TV audience. And yes, maybe our kids eventually learn enough or get a boost to study more so they can rank a little bit higher than 35th, 72nd,... place in the world when it comes to science education and knowledge. Heck, what am I saying, science?! Even reading! 
PS: Turn off the TV set or change the channel if the show irritate you that much. 
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Edited by werewolf6977 (08/24/09 11:49 AM)
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nobody special
sage
Reged: 12/30/08
Posts: 405
Loc: Connecticut
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It is a good show.
Bring back Cosmos, I used to love watching Carl Sagan, although I guess a few of his views might be outdated by now. Still that was an an awesome show.
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Tom
Orion XT8 Classic
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sailor70623
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 944
Loc: Ok.
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Cosmos is available on DVD too. I have the whole set.
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Paladine17
newbie
Reged: 08/19/09
Posts: 1
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I have to agree with belgrade, at least it is some science in the sea of garbage that is out there. Disasters draw an audience, hopefully they learn something in the process, become curious about the universe around them, and invest some time in learning instead of watching IQ reducing "reality" TV...
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calibos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/18/07
Posts: 1051
Loc: Ireland
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There was one episode talking about other dimensions and billions of other bubble Universes' and the possibility of us contacting advanced life in these billions of other universes.
Cause....like....you know....the odds of life in our own galaxy of 400 billion stars or in one of the 400 billion other galaxies with their own 400 billion stars in our own universe....like the odds are so slim that we need to go looking in the other few billion universes.
Popcorn Science! 
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Keith D.
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Enig
super member
Reged: 06/24/09
Posts: 160
Loc: NW GA, U.S.A.
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Quote:
Cosmos is available on DVD too. I have the whole set.
Also *freely* available online... *legally*!
http://www.hulu.com/cosmos
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Robert Cook
super member
Reged: 07/23/09
Posts: 101
Loc: San Diego County, California
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I've seen a few episodes, and I think it's heavy on sensationalism and light on facts and reasonable viewpoints. While I totally agree that the Universe is a dangerous place, and that we should do everything in our power to ensure that near-Earth asteroids, for example, will not devastate the planet, I don't like the show's childish presentation of this and just about every subject.
As for Carl Sagan, I've always found him inspirational on some level, although many of his views were quite "off" and sometimes even off-putting, like when he put down the very planet that is the only home that our species has ever known (then again, maybe he didn't believe that). The Earth is not in some "lost" corner of the galaxy--I know where I am, it's Sagan who was lost! 
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astrokido
space wanderer
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 666
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Anyone who appreciates quality scientific content will be left with questions about some of the content in the series. Sometimes they flat out give wrong info about something in order to maintain interest to a general audience so they watch the comercials that fund the show in the first place!
I watch it as a distraction from brainstorming rather than as a source of info. The graphics they do these days are pretty impressive, it's worth watching for the visuals alone. On the other hand, the Cosmos series is one I learned a great deal from. I doubt if I had watched The Universe at the same age, that I would have learned even a small fraction of that from watching Cosmos.
The Universe is a graphic presentation and I enjoy it as such, and that's about it.
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- Gill C. - Celestron Cometron CO-100, 10x25, 20x80, Binochair, Nikon D40
The Night Sky Atlas: www.nightskyatlas.com
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bdjeep
sage
Reged: 01/29/07
Posts: 440
Loc: Bolton, MA
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I liked the first season, but I find the recent episodes to be a bit boring and without any real substance. My wife also noticed increasing prevalence of the doomsday scenarios just from occasionally walking in the room when the show is on.
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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So, I just looked up what tonight's new episode is. It's the Earth without the Moon. The Earth without a moon from the get-go over 4 billion years ago? Or the Earth losing the Moon after some catacylsmic collision with perhaps an asteroid that knocks the Moon out of its orbit around the Earth?
Of course, I'll watch it...
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Todd
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PiperKev
super member
Reged: 12/19/06
Posts: 162
Loc: Grafton, OH
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It must be after the nuclear disposal area on the far side exploded and sent the Moon out of Earth's orbit on September 13, 1999... 
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
It's not a good series. - j
For someone with an interest in the science that goes beyond the casual, maybe not (I certainly enjoy the series). But it's not aimed at you, but at the general public. My only complaint doesn't have to do with "information density" (whatever the hail that is)--I think they do a good job there for the layman--but in fact-checking. They do occasionaly get things wrong. Again, I enjoy the show...and I've also been known to read the APJ on occasion, even. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
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Available now!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
Cause....like....you know....the odds of life in our own galaxy of 400 billion stars or in one of the 400 billion other galaxies with their own 400 billion stars in our own universe....like the odds are so slim that we need to go looking in the other few billion universes.
Popcorn Science!
So they can't talk about the possibility of other dimensions/universes?
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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belgrade
super member
Reged: 10/05/07
Posts: 129
Loc: San Antonio, TX, USA
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Thumbs up, Uncle Rod!
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 950
Loc: Utah
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What does everyone think of season 4? I'm sure I'm in the minority but I've watched the new episodes this season and I fear this may be a show that just may be going by the wayside for me except for an occasional episode. I'm tired of the doom and gloom (Death Stars, It Fell from the Sky etc.) that this series and the channel itself is taking. It would be nice if JPL took more of a back stage to this unless they really want to talk the science of astronomy, but doom and gloom sells and gets the public interested right now and funds projects. However, like I said, I don't have to waste my time with it.
Besides loving science, I love history and I just don't see how Ice Road Truckers, MonsterQuest, Expedition Africa relate to history. I know they are there to sell the channel, but the History Channel just seems to love to focus on doom and gloom. I have found my overall time on watching this channel has moved to other sites (I don't watch a ton of TV anyway).
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
Edited by JayinUT (09/08/09 12:06 AM)
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
What does everyone think of season 4? I'm sure I'm in the minority but I've watched the new episodes this season and I fear this may be a show that just may be going by the wayside for me except for an occasional episode. I'm tired of the doom and gloom (Death Stars, It Fell from the Sky etc.)
I think it's more a matter of sensational titles than content, mostly, anyhow. I found "The Day the Moon was Gone," for example, pretty well done.
My previous comments still apply; they need a WAY better fact checker to look at their final shooting scripts. I continue to watch, anyhow (though at this time my TV viewing consists mostly of watching all the _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ episodes starting with Season One) .
You don't like Monster Quest?! What the--! How else are you gonna learn about The Skunk Ape?
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Quote:
I think it's more a matter of sensational titles than content, mostly, anyhow. I found "The Day the Moon was Gone," for example, pretty well done.
I think so too. The interrelationship between evolution and lunar tides was quite good. I had wondered whether they would cover evolution before I watched the show.
Well, tonight's show is "Biggest Blasts." After all the meteors, asteroids and GRBs, looks like the Big Bang will be the finale. Let's rock! You think they might consider going 3D?
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Todd
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
Let's rock! You think they might consider going 3D?
WHOOOHOOOO! 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 950
Loc: Utah
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No, my kids(both teens) will tell you they don't need MonsterQuest; they live with the real "Skunk Monster" and know all about it. Sometimes when I go into their rooms to get their laundry I wonder if it isn't the other way around . . .
In all honesty the ones in MonsterQuest about the giant octopus was interesting or the squid in the Gulf of Mexico was also cool.
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
Edited by JayinUT (09/08/09 08:55 PM)
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Wmacky
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/24/07
Posts: 583
Loc: Middleburg Fl US
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I've waited 25 years, but I guess another "Cosmos" just insn't going to happen. :-(
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William
C-11 SCT
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CGE
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Scopebuggy
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2586
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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I've watched the show since season one and really enjoy the graphics, they look great in HD, but it seems they ran out of topics after the fist couple of seasons.
I still watch it and enjoy it but it seems once they did all the shows on the Milky Way, Big Bang and the planets they just started into less interesting subjects. By season three it got to the point it set on my tivo at least a week or two before I watched it. (but I still watch them)
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
I've watched the show since season one and really enjoy the graphics, they look great in HD, but it seems they ran out of topics after the fist couple of seasons.
Maybe not. The aforementioned show about "what if the Earth had no Moon" was from season four, and I found it one of the more interesting entries in the series.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 16254
Loc: Hoover, AL
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I have Season 1-3 on DVD and I enjoy them, but again a NOVA epsoide will have waaayyy more science. I thought the epsoide on Comets was pretty interesting. I am not through Season 3 yet, but I am kind of surprised at some of the topics that they have done. There is so much less sensational subjects that they could cover and still keep the "coolness" factor. Are they saying Season 4 is the last one?
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
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TomC10
sage
Reged: 12/21/04
Posts: 279
Loc: Land of Enchantment
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I like the show. I have seasons 1-3 on DVD also, and plan on buying season 4. The graphics are very good and its great to actually see and hear the scientists, astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists, etc... that do the serious work. There are always a few episodes that become favorites (e.g. season 2 "Alien Planets"). Even the lighter episodes usually have a couple of interesting points that are new to me.
Nova is great too. And there are always the online video casts of scientific presentations for those that want serious science, but I'm glad the Universe is being produced. It exposes kids and the general public to topics they might never otherwise hear about.
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Tom C
C10 NGT
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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 2159
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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Quote:
Maybe not. The aforementioned show about "what if the Earth had no Moon" was from season four, and I found it one of the more interesting entries in the series.
I just saw this program yesturday afternoon and agree it was one of the better ones.
Rich (RLTYS)
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Matthew Ota
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 1096
Loc: New England
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I hate to sound like a "know it all" but there is nothing I have seen on the Universe Show that I don't already know. I get my brain food now by listening to Cassini teleconferences and watching college-level astronomy lectures on the web.
When I do that I learn something new.
I know that the show is aimed at non-astronomers, and it must also be entertaining to the novices and newbies out here.
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Matthew Ota
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
I hate to sound like a "know it all" but there is nothing I have seen on the Universe Show that I already knew. I get my brain food now by listening to Cassini teleconferences and watching college-level astronomy lectures on the web.
When I do that I learn something new.
I know that the show is aimed at non-astronomers, and it must also be entertaining to the novices and newbies out here.
I presume, Matthew, you meant "That I DON'T already know."
I won't say I know everything they bring up on every single subject they bring up--I don't--and even if I did, I like the personalities and the graphics, anyhow. For one, thing, being an astronomy educator, I often get new ideas and approaches to subjects from the show. If you did mean "don't" you are one of the exceptions. Most of us can still learn a little, at least, from _Universe_.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Tonight's new show, "The Hunt for Ringed Planets," looks interesting. I'll refrain from any wisecracks about what kind of doomsday debris might plummet into the presentation.
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Todd
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
Tonight's new show, "The Hunt for Ringed Planets," looks interesting. I'll refrain from any wisecracks about what kind of doomsday debris might plummet into the presentation.
Didn't notice any plummeting. Good episode.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Rat
super member
Reged: 10/13/06
Posts: 154
Loc: USA
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Quote:
Tonight's new show, "The Hunt for Ringed Planets," looks interesting. I'll refrain from any wisecracks about what kind of doomsday debris might plummet into the presentation.
I've enjoyed all the past shows.....last night's episode on the ring planets was great!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Quote:
Quote:
Tonight's new show, "The Hunt for Ringed Planets," looks interesting. I'll refrain from any wisecracks about what kind of doomsday debris might plummet into the presentation.
Didn't notice any plummeting. Good episode.
Yes, it was. Episodes like this one are what keeps me tuned in.
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 950
Loc: Utah
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I agree, The Hunt for Ringed Planets was one of the better ones this year. I also agree that as an educator you can learn from watching the show. I'm just tired of the gloom and doom that this show seems to focus on (and other shows on the History Channel). Doom and gloom may sell for awhile but I don't think it will long term.
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
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rookie
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/14/06
Posts: 878
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Another doom and gloom episode is showing: 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth.
Poor kids that watched probably can't sleep tonight for worry that they will turn into spaghetti and get stretched in two directions by a binary black hole.
They did teach a principle of science with each scenerio. Theoretical fun.
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SV
Scope: Celestron CPC8
Binoculars: Garrett GT80~45, Fujinon 16x70, Regals 10x42, Ultima 9x63, Nikon AE 8x40
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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I was just posting the same, but my post  ! It's airing here in 15 minutes. At the moment I'm getting a "Biggest Blasts" remedial...
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
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Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Quote:
Another doom and gloom episode is showing: 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth.
Poor kids that watched probably can't sleep tonight for worry that they will turn into spaghetti and get stretched in two directions by a binary black hole.
They did teach a principle of science with each scenerio. Theoretical fun.
My favorite is number 5: "Devoured from Within." Somehow an Earth-mass black hole insinuating its way into the Earth's center reminds me of something creepy under the bed.
Well, very far under...
What's your fav?
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
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bdjeep
sage
Reged: 01/29/07
Posts: 440
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Quote:
Another doom and gloom episode is showing: 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth.
I saw that title and just couldn't bring myself to waste an hour of my life on it. I think I'm done with this series.
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rookie
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/14/06
Posts: 878
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Quote:
What's your fav?
Season 1 
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SV
Scope: Celestron CPC8
Binoculars: Garrett GT80~45, Fujinon 16x70, Regals 10x42, Ultima 9x63, Nikon AE 8x40
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Rat
super member
Reged: 10/13/06
Posts: 154
Loc: USA
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Tuesday is my only tv night...even my stargazing takes a back seat! "The Universe" show is better than anything on the major networks!
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astrokido
space wanderer
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 666
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
Tuesday is my only tv night...even my stargazing takes a back seat! "The Universe" show is better than anything on the major networks!
You must have channel-surfed past the PBS Nova programs, they even have the full space episodes online. It's great stuff, astro and much else.
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- Gill C. - Celestron Cometron CO-100, 10x25, 20x80, Binochair, Nikon D40
The Night Sky Atlas: www.nightskyatlas.com
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
You must have channel-surfed past the PBS Nova programs, they even have the full space episodes online. It's great stuff, astro and much else.
Mainly "else," however. I mean, many of their shows are interesting...even if the program ain't what it was 20 years ago...but many of 'em are not much different from what you can get anytime of the day or night on Sci, NatGeo, Discover, or any of the other cable channels: "Arctic Dinosaurs," "The Last Extinction," yadda-yadda-yadda.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Tonight's episode "The Search for Cosmic Clusters" was very educational. I learned about massive open clusters observed in the infrared. Lots of stuff for follow-up reading and study. It'll air again in 90 minutes. I think I'm going to watch it again.
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 950
Loc: Utah
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Todd,
I agree that tonight's two episodes, the repeat on Saturn and the rings around the outer planets and the one on "The Search for Cosmic Clusters" was one of the better ones I have seen. Very well done tonight I thought and I enjoyed it.
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
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PAW
sage
Reged: 10/12/06
Posts: 251
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Awesome episode tonight "The Search for Cosmic Clusters"
Consider writing to the History Channel and letting them know how much you enjoy and appreciate the Universe Series.
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Last week, I discovered there's a discussion group for The Universe at the History Channel site.
Best Regards,
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
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Matthew Ota
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 1096
Loc: New England
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I would consider an Astronomy 101 online telecourse to be more informative and less sensationalistic. Check your local PBS listings.
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Matthew Ota
Meade LX250GPS 10 inch SCT (Frankenscope)
Orion ED 80
ETX-90 OTA
Coronado Helios 1 H-alpha
TheSky 6 Pro
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
I would consider an Astronomy 101 online telecourse to be more informative and less sensationalistic. Check your local PBS listings.
Yeah, _that'll_ keep Mom and Pop and Bud and Sis entertained... "What will it be tonight, Hon, _Survivor_ or PH101?"
_The Universe_ is great because it is appealing to the general populace, while at least remaining interesting for us who work in Astronomy. It is for me anyway. Or maybe I am just uncommonly simpleminded or out for CHEAP THRILLS.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
Edited by rmollise (10/04/09 06:18 PM)
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turtle86
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 710
Loc: Red Sox Nation
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Sounds about right to me...
Quote:
Stop waving loaded asteroids, black holes and meteors at me, will ya? Stop crying Wolf-Rayet! The need for advertisers and good ratings likely drive the slant of the manipulated content, IMO.
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2586
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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"Space Wars?" I just started watching this episode on Tivo and I think it's the most ridiculous "science" show I've ever seen. This may be the first one I just dump without watching the whole thing.
I've always been a science fan but SciFi not so much and this definitely falls into the latter category.
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
"Space Wars?" I just started watching this episode on Tivo and I think it's the most ridiculous "science" show I've ever seen. This may be the first one I just dump without watching the whole thing.
I've always been a science fan but SciFi not so much and this definitely falls into the latter category.
I do know something about this subject, and what was there was actually accurate (if speculative at times...though we (U.S. Navy) are putting an INCREDIBLY impressive rail gun on the DDX Destroyers).
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Tonigt's new episode, "Liquid Universe," looks interesting.
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Todd
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
Tonigt's new episode, "Liquid Universe," looks interesting.
It was interesting, but the repeat episode they ran before it (which I'd missed previously) on star clusters was outstanding.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Quote:
Quote:
Tonight's new episode, "Liquid Universe," looks interesting.
It was interesting, but the repeat episode they ran before it (which I'd missed previously) on star clusters was outstanding.
You betcha! I watched "Search for Cosmic Clusters" again before "Liquid Universe."
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Tonight's new episode is "Pulsars and Quasars." It behooves me to check this out. It's on in less than an hour here.
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
Tonight's new episode is "Pulsars and Quasars." It behooves me to check this out. It's on in less than an hour here.
Another good one...and...unless it was just that I'd had a couple o' drinks and wasn't paying very close attention...didn't notice a single mistake this time.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2049
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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I would have watched it again at 1:00 AM but I was tired. Hopefully it'll rerun next week.
However, they didn't have a rerun before this show last night. 
If you found the segment about the Vela Pulsar and Mickey Hart fascinating, here's a link to a Jodrell Bank Observatory webpage so you can listen to the Vela Pulsar again or whenever:
The Sounds of Pulsars
Clear Ears!
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod
Edited by Man in a Tub (10/28/09 12:14 PM)
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astrokido
space wanderer
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 666
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I have to agree with you guys this time, the Pulsars show was one episode I found most interesting. Maybe they're getting more serious about real astronomy and doing less of that funky for-show guesswork lately. Too bad I only saw the second half of the episode.
--------------------
- Gill C. - Celestron Cometron CO-100, 10x25, 20x80, Binochair, Nikon D40
The Night Sky Atlas: www.nightskyatlas.com
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