DVD’s and Movies: Astronomy and Telescopes

Cosmos: Carl Sagan

When Cosmos was first broadcast in 1980, our world–and the context of Carl Sagan’s eloquent “personal journey”–was a different place. The late Dr. Sagan would be pleased to witness the cooling of the Cold War, the continued exploration of space, and ongoing efforts to curb our destructive dependence on fossil fuels. For Sagan’s series is far more than a guided tour through “billions and billions” of stars and galaxies. It remains a profound plea for the unity of humankind, for the recognition that “we are a way for the universe to know itself,” with an obligation to know our origin, our place in the universe, and our future potential.

In the course of 13 fascinating hours, Cosmos spans its own galaxy of topics to serve Sagan’s theme, each segment deepening our understanding of how we got from there (simple microbes in the primordial mud) to here (space-faring civilization in the 21st century). In his “ship of the imagination,” Sagan guides us to the farthest reaches of space and takes us back into the history of scientific inquiry, from the ancient library of Alexandria to the NASA probes of our neighboring planets. Upon this vast canvas Sagan presents the “cosmic calendar,” placing the 15-billion-year history of the universe into an accessible one-year framework, then filling it with a stunning chronology of events, both interstellar and earthbound.

From the lives of the stars to creation theories, functions of the human brain, and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Cosmos asks big questions. When appropriate, Sagan offers big answers, or asks still bigger–and yes, even spiritual–questions at the boundaries of science and religion. What’s most remarkable about Cosmos is that it remains almost entirely fresh, with few updates needed to the science that Sagan so passionately celebrates. It is no exaggeration to say that Cosmos –for all the debate it may continue to provoke–is a vital document for humanity at a pivotal crossroads of our history. –Jeff Shannon

400 Years of the Telescope

The film chronicles the history of the telescope from the time of Galileo and features interviews with leading astrophysicists and cosmologists from around the world, who explain concepts ranging from Galileo’s first use of the telescope to view the moons of Jupiter, to the latest discoveries in space, including new ideas about life on other planets and dark energy , a mysterious vacuum energy that is accelerating the expansion of the universe .

Into the Universe With Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking’s Universe is an epic new kind of cosmology series, a Planet Earth of the heavens. Over eight, spell-binding hours, an animated Stephen In Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking, the world’s most famous living scientist explores the greatest mysteries of the cosmos. In three landmark instalments
he reveals the wonders of the universe as never seen before. Definitive, provocative, surprising, and beautiful, Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking is a
fascinating look through the mind’s eye of one of the finest brains on the planet.

3 Episodes/ 45 min each – 1- Aliens: “Are We Alone?” An eye-popping journey from the moons of Jupiter to a galaxy perhaps not so far, far away in search of alien life. We’ll see what aliens might look like, question what it means to be alive, and calculate the odds of making ‘contact’. 2- Time Travel: “Is Time Travel Possible?” Hawking explores the world’s favorite scientific ‘what if?’ warping the very fabric of time and space as he goes. From killing your grandfather to riding a black hole, see how time travel may actually come true. 3- The Story of Everything: The world’s most famous living scientist presents the wonders of the universe, revealing the splendor and majesty of the cosmos as never seen before. See how the universe began, how it creates stars, black holes and life — and how everything will end.

NOVA – The Elegant Universe

One of the most ambitious and exciting scientific theories ever posed-one that may be the long-sought “Theory of Everything”-gets a masterful and lavishly animated explanation that will excite scientists and non-scientists alike. Beginning with simple and clear explanations of major concepts of physics, including gravity, electromagnetism, and relativity, The Elegant Universe illuminates one of the most revolutionary theories in physics today.

Known as string theory or superstring theory, this startling idea proposes that the fundamental ingredients of nature are inconceivably tiny strands of energy, whose different modes of vibration underlie everything that happens in the universe. The theory attempts to unite the laws of the large-general relativity-and the laws of the small-quantum mechanics-breaking a conceptual logjam that has frustrated scientists for nearly a century.

If string theory proves correct, the universe we see obscures a reality that is far richer and more complex than anyone ever imagined-a universe with numerous hidden dimensions, a universe in which the fabric of space can rip and tear, a universe that may be but one of many parallel universes.

Join host Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and the best-selling author of The Elegant Universe, for this exciting and in-depth exploration of this groundbreaking new theory.

Special DVD features include: bonus video-how the animation was created; Multidimensional Math activity; The Making of The Elegant Universe activity; printable materials and activities for educators; link to The Elegant Universe Web site; excerpt from the best-selling book The Elegant Universe; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

Stargaze – Hubble’s View of the Universe

“StarGaze” brings the beauty and majesty of the universe to your home theater, direct from the Hubble Space Telescope. With over an hour of the most incredible images of the universe you’ll ever see, from gaseous clouds to more than 200 other astronomical objects, plus Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound music from popular new age group 2002, “StarGaze” will quickly become a favorite in your DVD collection.