The Moon
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins, science and mythology of the moon. Humans have been fascinated by our only known satellite since prehistory. In some cultures the Moon has been worshipped as a deity; in recent centuries there has been lively debate about its origins and physical characteristics. Although other planets in our solar system have moons ours is, relatively speaking, the largest, and is perhaps more accurately described as a ‘twin planet’; the past, present and future of the Earth and the Moon are locked together. Only very recently has water been found on the Moon - a discovery which could prove to be invaluable if human colonisation of the Moon were ever to occur. Mankind first walked on the Moon in 1969, but it is debatable how important this huge political event was in developing our scientific knowledge. The advances of space science, including data from satellites and the moon landings, have given us some startling insights into the history of our own planet, but many intriguing questions remain unanswered.
Guests
- Paul Murdin
5 episodes
Visiting Professor of Astronomy at Liverpool John Moores University - Carolin Crawford
19 episodes
Gresham Professor of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge - Ian Crawford
2 episodes
Reader in Planetary Science and Astrobiology at Birkbeck College, London
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Programme ID: b016lh15
Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016lh15
Auto-category: 520 (Astronomy)
Hello (First sentence from this episode)
Hello. On November the 30th, 1609, Galileo Galilei appointed his telescope at the moon.