The Big Picture: Space

[Dippers Donuts]

Has anybody been catching this show on the ABC on a Tuesday night?

Sam Neill's stentorian narration notwithstanding this has been a fantastic series so far.

This BBC production is absolutely magnificent and has all the characteristics of a quality beeb production: awe inspiring computer animation, superb attention to detail etc.

It has really whetted my appetite for astronomy this show.

[Grendel]

Its good to a point. A little to much spectacle and not enough science for me but theres no doubt it is very well done.

For mine the greatest space exploration show was 'Comos' from the late Dr. Carl Sagan. So impressed me I went out and (no, didnt become an astromer) bought the book!

Think thats where the current 'Space' series falls a little flat with me. It goes over the same ground but without quite the wonder I had when watching Cosmos. Still well worth watching.

Are you thinking of Black Holes in the sky after last tuesdays episode lol! ;)

[Asgardian]

Dead right Grendel, I too bought the book Cosmos.

I think what made that series so damn good was the man Sagen himself, it was the combination of almost 3 personalities.

A very slick TV presenter
An extremely intelligent scientist
A man who had passion for his subject, and was able to convey a sense of excitement, and wonderment, almost as if he was learning and discovering right along with his audience.

[London Dave]

Cosmos was great, really well presented and pretty easy to follw. I watched the Space series one night (its on my VOD service)whilst not as good as Cosmos, its still pretty good. My wife wants to go to space, and is all for going to Russia to get one of the flights that take you to the edge of space (where you can see the curvature of the earth, etc. She would definatley take a trip to the moon if offered!

[Docker_Brat]

Cosmos was a far superior series IMO, mainly because I prefer the scientific angle the show had and the fact it was presented by one of the greatest astrophysists in history gave the show credibility. Did anyone see the cut down rehashed version on Channel 9 a few years back? It wasn't a patch on the original shown on the ABC.

Space is aimed at the average person and suceeds well in that.

[Dippers Donuts]

Fair points on the mainstream approach of "Space". It was created for BBC1 as opposed to the more high brow BBC2, so this is perhaps understandable.

Black holes are an extraordinary concept (hmmm...that sounds kind of raunchy), something the size of a pea with the weight of the sun (or something like that)? Crazy, I'm not surprised that some scientists say they don't exist.

Never saw/read Cosmos, after reading the glowing reviews above I am going to hunt it down at my library and have a gander.

[Grendel]

Just dont expect to much 'whizz-bang' in the special effects dept DipD.

Watch it and watch it with Sagan as he takes us along on his voyage. Asgardian summed it up with how it was Sagan's wonder of it all that swept you up along the way with him on the discovery.

I felt like I lost an old friend when he passed on. Will always thank him for showing me the Universe.

[Docker_Brat]

http://www.carlsagan.com

The full series of Cosmos on video or DVD is available for purchase.