Ep 13. Ride the Comet

Ride the Comet is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of the popular space documentary series, The Universe. In this episode, the focus is on comets - those mysterious and captivating celestial bodies that have fascinated humans for centuries.

The episode begins by exploring how comets were once feared and seen as omens of doom and destruction. But as scientific understanding of comets grew, so did our fascination with them. The episode introduces viewers to the various parts of a comet, including the nucleus, coma, and tails.

The episode then delves into the history of cometary observation and study. Viewers learn about famous comets throughout history, including Comet Halley, which famously visits Earth's skies once every 76 years, and Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which famously collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994.

The episode also discusses the challenges of studying comets. Because they are so far away and relatively small, it's difficult to get close to them and observe them directly. However, scientists have found creative ways to study comets through space missions such as Rosetta and Deep Impact. The episode discusses the groundbreaking discoveries that have been made through these missions, including learning about the composition of comets and their potential role in the origins of life on Earth.

But perhaps the most exciting part of the episode is the discussion of future missions to study comets. The episode previews two upcoming missions, Lucy and Comet Interceptor, both of which will provide new insights into these fascinating celestial bodies.

Overall, Ride the Comet is a fascinating and informative episode that sheds light on one of the most intriguing objects in our solar system. Viewers will come away from the episode with a newfound appreciation for comets and the ongoing scientific efforts to understand them.