A route map to the stars. The Hipparcos satellite measured the position of stars with better precision than ever before.

The Scale of Our Galaxy

Thanks to cutting-edge radio and infra-red astronomy, our understanding of the universe is moving very fast. Ideas about black holes and cosmic jets are constantly being refined as new discoveries are made using new, more powerful telescopes. This album explores the incredible discoveries and theories developed in recent years and introduces the astronomical observatories, space missions and satellites that have made it possible. The 12 video tracks reveal that our sun, though essential for our existence, is an unremarkable member of the stellar menagerie. They describe how astronomers study the structure and dynamics of our galaxy, the Milky Way and they introduce the challenges inherent in mapping the geometry and expansion of the universe. This material forms part of the course S282 Astronomy.

Share The Scale of Our Galaxy

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Scale of Our Galaxy

The Scale of Our Galaxy

More shows like Astronomy - for iPod/iPhone

Bon départ: beginners' French - Audio

Croeso: beginners' Welsh - Audio

Getting started on Classical Latin - for iBooks

Writing Poetry - Audio

Reading Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Mill - Audio

Start writing essays - Audio

Beginners’ Chinese - Audio

Critical Social Psychology - for iPod/iPhone

Andante: beginners' Italian - Audio

Bon départ: beginners’ French second edition - for iPod/iPhone