The Sky at Night Season 69, Episode 2: Secrets of the Red Planet

Asteroid Strike?

The team explore one of the biggest stories in space news, the ‘city killer’ asteroid 2024 YR4. How well did the planet respond to this potential natural disaster?

30 min

Greenwich: A Journey through Space and Time

The team celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Royal Observatory, recreating history at a special dinner party, where they are joined by a glittering line-up of science communicators.

29 min

Exoplanets - Strange New Worlds

The team explore one of the newest areas of modern astronomy, the search for exoplanets, the distant worlds that orbit stars beyond our own solar system.

Queen of Pulsars

The team delve into the enigmatic world of pulsars and hear the inspiring story of their discoverer, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, direct from the subject herself.

The Expanding Universe

The team explores one of the greatest discoveries of modern astronomy - that our universe is expanding - and the new questions it raises about how the cosmos works. In the 1920s, astronomers studying galaxies realised they were moving away from us, with the most distant ones receding the fastest. The conclusion was revolutionary: space itself was stretching, and the universe was expanding in every direction. But once this discovery was made, a new challenge emerged – how fast is the universe expanding, and what could that tell us about its age, size and ultimate fate?

29 min

Brits in Space

Three, two, one, lift off! This edition launches into the extraordinary - and extraterrestrial - world of astronaut training, discovering what it truly takes to become a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. As Europe looks to play a more prominent role in space exploration, we shine a spotlight on the candidates who are pushing boundaries and preparing to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland amongst the stars.

29 min

Space Mysteries: The Sky at Night Meets Curious Cases

Do aliens exist, and can we talk to them? What does a black hole sound like? Does the universe look like a doughnut? In a spectacular season finale, The Sky at Night teams up with hit podcast Curious Cases to answer your burning space mysteries, from the strange sounds of the cosmos to the furthest edges of the observable universe. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, presenters Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain bring their signature wit and curiosity as they quiz our stellar panel of experts - Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Chris Lintott and George Dransfield. Expect lively debate, surprising revelations, and moments of pure astronomical awe as they explore the weird and wonderful corners of space science.

29 min