OU on the BBC: Beagle 2: A Mission To Mars
Five years, one spacecraft. Discover the people behind Beagle 2. The OpenLearn team.First published on Mon, 23 Jul 2001 as OU on the BBC: Beagle 2: A Mission To Mars. To find out more visit The Open...
View ArticleWhat does the AU mean?
Dr Alan Cooper discusses the significance of the astronomical unit as a measurement Dr Alan Cooper.First published on Tue, 01 Jun 2004 as What does the AU mean?. To find out more visit The Open...
View ArticleSuperWASP: Search for Extrasolar Planets
The Transit Of Venus was focused on our Solar System. But there are projects which are looking far, far further afield - and the SuperWASP is just one. The OpenLearn team.First published on Tue, 01 Jun...
View ArticleHistory of The Transit of Venus
There are no records of astronomers observing the Transit of Venus until the 17th century. Professor David W Hughes picks up the story Professor David Hughes.First published on Tue, 01 Jun 2004 as...
View ArticleNewton: The Expert View
Discovering gravity was only part of Isaac Newton's immense contribution to mathematics and science, Robin Wilson and Barbara Allen describe his rise from humble beginnings to national acclaim and pay...
View ArticleOU on the BBC: Stardate
What do we know of Venus? Find out more about Earth's evil twin. The OpenLearn team.First published on Wed, 04 Aug 2004 as OU on the BBC: Stardate. To find out more visit The Open University's...
View ArticleOU on the BBC: The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide
Maggie, Adam and Janet tell you everything you need to know about the universe. The OpenLearn team.First published on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 as OU on the BBC: The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide. To find out more...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: Disappointments and science fiction
'Disappointments and science fiction' is part 10 of The OU Lecture 2007 - Fingers Crossed: 50 years of space exploration by John Zarnecki Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 as...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: The flight of Beagle 2
John Zarnecki's team contributed to the ill-fated Beagle 2 mission. What were they hoping to uncover on Mars, and what went wrong? Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 as OU...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: 50 years of space exploration: Introduction
Vice-Chancellor Brenda Gourley introduces The OU Lecture 2007 - Fingers Crossed: 50 years of space exploration. Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: Brave Giotto
Giotto was approching Halley's Comet. Would the DIDSY team come good? Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 as OU Lecture 2007: Brave Giotto. To find out more visit The Open...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: Fifty Years In Space: Listen to/download the lecture
The Open University's 2007 Annual Lecture by John Zarnecki reviews some nail-biting moments from the first 50 years of mankind's journey into space Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: Chasing a comet
The Giotto Project was Europe’s kamikaze mission to Halley’s comet. Discover the challenges of chasing a comet. Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 as OU Lecture 2007: Chasing a...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: Brewing Hubble
Part of the team that created the Hubble Space Telescope, John Zarnecki looks back at his time on the project - and shares some of the photographs. Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: My first five minutes in space
X-rays, fireworks and kangaroos - John tells the story of his first five minutes in space. Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 as OU Lecture 2007: My first five minutes in...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: The dirty window
Astronomers have great difficulty looking at the stars. John Zarnecki explains why. Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 as OU Lecture 2007: The dirty window. To find out more...
View ArticleOU Lecture 2007: Yuri and me
When the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin came to visit Karl Marx's tomb in Highgate, local schoolchildren turned out to see him, among them young John Zarnecki, who was particularly inspired. Professor...
View ArticleCosmos TV and 'The News'
Dave Rothery blogs about the latest developments in planet hunting. Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, where he is...
View ArticleThe Material World: On Chesil Beach (getting closer to Titan)
The OU's planetary scientists spend time on Chesil Beach, simulating the surface of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Professor John Zarnecki.First published on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 as The Material World: On...
View ArticleWhat is SuperWASP showing us?
Andy Norton brings us up to date with SuperWASP, the Wide Angle Search for Planets Professor Andrew Norton.First published on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 as What is SuperWASP showing us?. To find out more visit...
View ArticleExplore the Solar System
Explore the planets in our Solar System with our interactive guide. The OpenLearn team.First published on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 as Explore the Solar System. To find out more visit The Open University's...
View ArticleBiodiversity: What's in it for me?
World Environment Day celebrates environmental issues, including biodiversity. But what's in it for you? Dr Yoseph Araya.First published on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 as Biodiversity: What's in it for me?. To...
View ArticleKepler's mission to discover 'Star Trek' planets
Will Captain Kirk and Spock ever be able to visit other worlds and walk around in their skin-hugging uniforms, breathing the air? This is the question that NASA’s Kepler satellite is on the way to...
View ArticleLife on a 'New Earth'?
Is there anybody out there? The recent discovery of a 'New Earth' has expanded our obsession with extra-terrestrial life. But what do experts say? The OpenLearn team.First published on Thu, 08 Dec 2011...
View ArticleA day on Mercury
Discover some surprising facts about the planet Mercury Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, where he is Professor of...
View ArticleNational Astronomy Week
National Astronomy Week runs from the 1st-8th March 2014. First published on Thu, 27 Feb 2014 as National Astronomy Week. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative...
View ArticleScience Blue Pathway
Links to resources recommended by 'Pathways to Success in Higher Education' by The Open University in Wales. First published on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 as Science Blue Pathway. To find out more visit The...
View Article60 second adventures in microgravity
What is microgravity, and how does it help science research? This series, funded by the UK Space Agency, explores how we recreate microgravity conditions on Earth, and why they are beneficial to...
View ArticleDr Matt Balme on modelling the landscape of Mars
In this 3 minute video, Dr Matt Balme in The Open University's Space Science research priority area, gives us a tour of his laboratory and shows how he models the landscape of Mars. Dr Matt Balme.First...
View ArticleThe Search for a New Earth
Stephen Hawking believes if mankind is to survive we only have 100 years to colonise another planet… Can we? First published on Fri, 01 Sep 2017 as The Search for a New Earth. To find out more visit...
View ArticleGalaxies, stars and planets
This free course, Galaxies, stars and planets, is a general introduction, including scale of the universe from the very large to the very small; orbits and gravity; the Solar System; the Sun and other...
View ArticleWhat danger do asteroids pose to life on earth?
It was a huge asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, so what damage could smaller asteroids do to life on earth. Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at The Open University, Monica...
View ArticleGalaxies, stars and planets
Galaxies, stars and planetsis one of a series of short, five month 10-credit modules introducing fascinating topics in science. It covers the exploration of our Solar System; the discovery of planets...
View ArticleScience: galaxies, stars and planets
Develop your understanding of a wide range of topics in astronomy by exploring the fascinating science behind the galaxies, stars and planets of the Universe.Science: galaxies, stars and planetsis one...
View ArticleFrom Neptune's blue hue to Jupiter's red spot: are the colours of...
Do images of planets produced from spacecraft data really illustrate the true look of each planet? Professor David Rothery investigates... Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a...
View ArticleThe Weather on all 8 Planets of our Solar System
Ever wondered how the weather differs on Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune? Professor Stephen Lewis investigates... Stephen Lewis .First published on Mon, 29 Apr 2019 as...
View ArticleThe Planets
Professor Brian Cox explores the dramatic lives of the eight majestic planets that make up our Solar System. First published on Wed, 15 May 2019 as The Planets. To find out more visit The Open...
View Article15 minutes on Mars
Have you ever looked up into the night sky at the red planet and wanted to know more? Now here’s your chance to explore Mars. Dr Vic Pearson.First published on Tue, 25 Mar 2003 as 15 minutes on Mars....
View ArticleHitching a ride on an asteroid to travel back to the birth of the Solar System
Right now there are two active asteroid sample-return missions in space... Dr Ashley James King. I obtained an MEarthSci in Geology with Planetary Science (2007) and then a PhD in Isotope...
View ArticleEnceladus: A habitable ice world?
Is it possible that Enceladus, one of the moons of Saturn, could potentially host life? Grace Richards, a PhD student at The Open University, explores... Grace Richards.First published on Fri, 27 Nov...
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