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TomC10
sage
Reged: 12/21/04
Posts: 279
Loc: Land of Enchantment
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This is a new "Universe" thread for constructive suggestions that we might ultimately benefit from.. if any Universe writers happen to peruse this forum...
I have a number of older DVD's and textbooks focused on the subject of the universe and noticed they all followed the same outline and progression of subjects. I was afraid "The Universe" would exhaust the same limited set of topics and then be cancelled. Since this is the one series about subjects I really like, I don't want to see it cancelled. At season 4 this is no longer just an experiment, the public is obviously interested.
So, if someone associated with the show was looking for ideas for next season, or even later this season.. what would you all suggest? Keeping in mind it is intended for a general (but inquisitive) audience. The shows (of course) start with a theme to draw the audience in, which is used as the motivation for delving into more detailed subjects (which are the interesting parts) - hoping the audience is intrigued enough to follow along.
I am interested in every subject they address from cosmology to astrobiology, but exoplanet discovery and the observational possibilities of new technologies, etc... are especially intriguing right now. I don't believe I've ever seen an interview with Mayor and Queloz! ('95), nor Campbell, Walker and Yang ('88), nor Wolszczan and Frail ('92). There is a recently proposed 15 year plan for coordinated observations of exoplanets, and new discoveries occurring almost every week that I'd like to see captured and summarized in an episode (or seasonal episodic updates). Greg Laughlin (a show favorite) has an interesting website (systemic) and some very interesting analysis software for exoplanet discovery. Sara Seager and co-authors have written some interesting, and I believe, fundamental papers on exoplanet composition, tectonic activity, atmospheric composition and classification. Debra Fischer and her associates have been competing with a heavyweight (Mayor) in observing Alpha Centauri B (a stable K star) for exoplanets. This story alone would be a great show. Imagine if someone finds an Earth analog in a habitable zone around our nearest neighbor! Homerun! Seed Magazine article Also check out the bottom of the page at Greg's "Systemic" site for comments and links on the Alpha Cen B(attle).
If you could propose the subject of an episode of The Universe, what would you like to see?
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Tom C
C10 NGT
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starbux
sage
Reged: 02/08/06
Posts: 292
Loc: Silicon Valley, CA
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After checking out their episode list I realize they haven't covered variable stars. There is enough material there for more than one episode.
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Montana_Nights
member
Reged: 04/19/09
Posts: 78
Loc: Ennis,Montana
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I have the first 3 seasons on DVD, I love them.
They didn't do a show on observing though...showcasing things like the different types of telescopes...from professional observatories to the amateur astronomers.
Another good one would be on amateur astronomy as a whole...its contributions to science and discoveries made by amateur astronomers. Could also include outlining projects that amateur astronomers take part in, like NEO/asteroid/comet hunting, astrophotography, and the Citizen Sky project.
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Southwest Montana Astronomical Society, Bozeman Montana
My Kit:
A "new to me" Celestron Celestar 8
25mm and 10mm widefield EP
2x barlow
Various filters and accessories
Many, many books
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Matthew Ota
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 1096
Loc: New England
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I do not believe they have covered amateur astronomy. If they did they could make quite a few episodes, starting with a guide on how to buy a telescope and avoid the junky ones.
But remember that television shows are driven by ratings, and a show about amateur astronomy may not be flashy enough for today's TV audience - who apparently are addicted to eye candy flash bang graphics.
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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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Jay_Bird
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/04/06
Posts: 959
Loc: Nevada 36N 115W
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Amateur astronomy could provide several episodes where amateur efforts get linked to more gee whiz TV presentation:
Star parties and outreach tie in to education and could have stunning time-lapse of skies over national parks and other famous SP venues like Stellafane. Add some brief comments from current researchers who got their interest sparked and tell what they do as a career with TV graphic 'spice' added. Throw in the White House party and the amateurs/educators just recognized there.
So many past discoveries were made with amateur sized-scopes that a show could follow Messier (with deep space eye candy), Herschel (with more deep space and Uranus space probe images), Barnard, O'Meara (Saturn's spokes, etc.) and other comet and nova hunters.
The Moonwatch program and the photo archives at White Sands Missile Range Museum (where Tombaugh designed scopes) are another amateur tie-in, this time to satellite tracking, with added space junk or high-res launch photo TV treatment.
The farm boy astronomy class of the USA early 20th century - Tombaugh, Slipher, there must be others... Russell Porter could tie in too, could weave into modern light pollution (and the harmful effects of endless cable TV on today's youth?), with a Modern Marvels like story of skilled and partly self-taught ATM-ers becoming leaders at the giant observatories of their day, and a view into the giant telescope optical shops, and mounts and controls...
While not an amatuer topic except for centuries ago - women astronomers - Caroline Herschel, Cepheid variables, teams like the Shoemakers, Margulis, and so on - would be more of an historical perspective given the diversity of modern researchers. The tie-ins to cosmology and exobiology offer the eye-grabbing backdrops to explanation of their achievements.
Some of these possible shows would flesh out stories that were covered too briefly in the shorter seeing in the dark time limits, and others would add amateur elements to eye candy topics.
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'these things stand like stone - kindness in another's troubles, courage in your own' Gordon
C-8, Nighthawk, C-90; Binoculars 6-11x21-80mm; Paragon p-mount
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