Ep 1. Alien Planets

In the first episode of season 2 of The Universe, titled "Alien Planets," viewers embark on a thrilling journey as they explore the possibility of life on other planets. Accompanied by a team of experts, the episode examines some of the most bizarre and fascinating exoplanets discovered by NASA's Kepler mission.

The episode begins by delving into the history of astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial life since the time of the ancient Greeks. From there, the focus shifts to the Kepler spacecraft and its groundbreaking discoveries. The spacecraft, launched in 2009, has identified thousands of exoplanets – planets that orbit stars other than our Sun – using the transit method, which measures the dip in starlight caused by a planet passing in front of its star.

As the episode progresses, viewers are introduced to some of the most intriguing exoplanets discovered by Kepler. These planets are as varied as they are fascinating. Some are gas giants with atmospheres filled with heavy metals, while others are rocky planets like Earth.

The team of experts on The Universe also explores the concept of "habitable zones" – the range of distance from a star where a planet is just the right temperature to support liquid water and, possibly, life. It's a concept that has far-reaching implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.

In order to illustrate the sheer scale of the universe and the possibility of life on other worlds, the episode takes viewers on a journey to Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to our own. This system contains a remarkable planet known as Proxima b, which orbits in the habitable zone of its star.

Throughout the episode, the team of experts on The Universe also discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the search for life on other planets. For example, detecting the signature of life in the atmosphere of an exoplanet is an incredibly difficult task. Even so, scientists are making remarkable progress in this area, and the episode explores some of the latest techniques and technologies being used to search for the signs of life beyond our own planet.

Ultimately, "Alien Planets" is a compelling and thought-provoking episode that explores one of the most pressing questions in modern science: are we alone in the universe? Through the lens of some of the most breathtaking exoplanets discovered by Kepler, viewers are taken on a journey that is both informative and awe-inspiring. With its combination of expert commentary, stunning visuals, and cutting-edge science, this episode of The Universe is not to be missed.