Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Season 1 Episode 4

Ep 4. A Sky Full of Ghosts

  • TV-PG
  • March 30, 2014
  • 42 min
  • 9.0  (2,319)

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey is a documentary television series that explores the mysteries of the universe and the science behind it. The show is a follow-up to the original Cosmos series hosted by Carl Sagan in 1980 and is narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Season 1 episode 4, "A Sky Full of Ghosts," takes viewers on a journey through time to uncover the secrets of the universe.

The episode begins with a brief history of astronomy, dating back to the ancient Greeks who believed that the stars were fixed and unchanging. However, as humans began to observe the sky more closely over time, they began to discover that the universe was far more complex than they had ever imagined.

We then travel to the 17th century to meet a young astronomer named Johannes Kepler, who defied conventional wisdom by proposing that the planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun, rather than in perfect circles. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the laws of planetary motion that we still use today.

Moving forward in time, we learn about the work of William Herschel, who discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 and was the first to start using telescopes to explore deep space. He was also a talented musician and wrote many symphonies in addition to his astronomical work.

Next, we meet Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who made a groundbreaking discovery while working at the Harvard College Observatory in the early 1900s. She noticed that certain types of stars, known as Cepheid variables, had a specific relationship between their brightness and their period of pulsation. Using this new knowledge, astronomers were able to accurately measure the distances to far-off galaxies for the first time.

The episode then explores the work of Edwin Hubble, who used the latest technology of his time to observe the night sky and discovered that the universe was not static, but in fact, expanding. He also identified many new galaxies and created a classification system that is still used today.

Finally, we end with a look at the legacy of all these astronomers and their telescopes: a beautiful image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, which is a composite image made up of thousands of individual photographs taken over several years. The image shows an incredible array of galaxies, each one containing hundreds of billions of stars.

Overall, "A Sky Full of Ghosts" is a fascinating exploration of the history of astronomy and the incredible advancements made by scientists over the centuries. The episode is both educational and visually stunning, with breathtaking animations and graphics that help to bring the science to life. Whether you're a seasoned space enthusiast or just a curious viewer, this episode is sure to pique your interest and leave you marveling at the wonders of the universe.

Description
Watch Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - A Sky Full of Ghosts (s1 e4) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Season 1 Episode 4, is available to watch and stream on Fox. You can also buy, rent Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey on demand at Amazon, Vudu online.
  • First Aired
    March 30, 2014
  • Content Rating
    TV-PG
  • Runtime
    42 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    9.0  (2,319)