The Sky at Night backdrop
Documentary•News

The Best Episodes of The Sky at Night Season 18

Every episode of The Sky at Night Season 18 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Sky at Night Season 18!

Your monthly journey through the fascinating world of space and astronomy with the latest thinking on what's out there in space and what you can see in the night sky.

Airs on
BBC Four
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons69

All123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 1 - Positional Astronomy
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Positional Astronomy

    S18:E1

    Patrick Moore talks about what is on view in the night sky now, and discusses with Gilbert Satter thwaite the important subject of positional astronomy - the exact measurements and movements of celestial objects.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 2 - Saturn - The Ringed Planet
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - Saturn - The Ringed Planet

    S18:E2

    Saturn is now very well placed in the evening sky, and a small telescope will show its ring system as well as some of the moons. Patrick Moore and Dr Garry Hunt examine the recent results showing that its largest satellite, Titan, has a thick atmosphere, and discuss the Saturn space-probe now being planned.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 3 - The Milky Way
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - The Milky Way

    S18:E3

    The Milky Way, made up of countless faint stars, can easily be seen in the evening sky this month. Tonight Patrick Moore describes this luminous band which stretches from one horizon to the other, and explains how it forms part of the huge Galaxy of stars in which we live. The latest news will also be given of Mariner 10, the space probe now nearing Mercury, which on 29 March should send back the first close-range pictures of the planet's surface.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 4 - Life in the Universe
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Life in the Universe

    S18:E4

    How strong is the possibility of life existing in other worlds in our galaxy and elsewhere in the universe, and if it does, where is the nearest life likely to be and how could we communicate with it? Patrick Moore discusses this with Professor Carl Sagan , director of planetary studies at Cornell University in New York.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 5 - The Daylight Star
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - The Daylight Star

    S18:E5

    The Sun is the only star near enough for us to study in detail. Patrick Moore discusses with Dr Ron Maddison the mysterious cycles of activity which cause spots and vast looped prominences to appear on the sun's surface.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 6 - The Heart of the Scorpion
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - The Heart of the Scorpion

    S18:E6

    Patrick Moore describes the Red Giant star, Antares, in the constellation of Scorpio. It is now visible above the southern horizon; and although it looks like a dot, it is bigger than the orbit of the Earth round the Sun.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Sky at Night

    READ
  7. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 7 - Shooting Stars
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Shooting Stars

    S18:E7

    At this time of the year shooting stars can be seen in profusion, for we are in the middle of the year's richest meteor-shower - The Perseids. Tonight Patrick Moore discusses these spectacular objects and how they occur. He also hopes to show photographs which viewers were invited to send.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 8 - Choosing a Telescope
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Choosing a Telescope

    S18:E8

    What can you see in the night sky with binoculars, or with a small telescope - and how much money must you spend if you need adequate equipment for 'the amateur astronomer'? Patrick Moore shows examples of telescopes, and explains what can be seen with each of them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 9 - Lord Rosse's Great Telescope
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Lord Rosse's Great Telescope

    S18:E9

    A century ago, the most powerful telescope in the world was the great 72-inch reflector at Birr Castle in Eire, with which its builder, the 3rd Earl of Rosse, discovered the spiral galaxies. Patrick Moore visits Birr, and talks to the present Earl and Countess of Rosse about the past and future of the great telescope.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 10 - The Changing Force of Gravity
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - The Changing Force of Gravity

    S18:E10

    Has gravity always been the same? There have been suggestions that the force of gravity today is weaker than it used to be. Patrick Moore and Colin Ronan discuss this fascinating theory and try to decide whether we are all getting lighter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 11 - Eros - Wanderer in Space
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Eros - Wanderer in Space

    S18:E11

    This winter the minor planet Eros is due to approach the Earth as closely as it will ever do. Patrick Moore talks with Gordon Taylor of the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Sky at Night Season 18 Episode 12 - The Year of the Planets
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - The Year of the Planets

    S18:E12

    During 1974 there have been some important and spectacular space missions. In the spring Mariner 10 sent back the first close-range pictures of cloud-covered Venus and crater-scarred Mercury. Then, early in December, Pioneer II made a close rendezvous with Jupiter, the only planet known to have a tremendously powerful magnetic field. Pioneer will now travel on to Saturn, which it should reach in 1979. All these probes have given us vital new information about the Solar System. Patrick Moore discusses with Dr Garry Hunt the most important results of the Year of the Planets.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 18 Ratings Summary

"Positional Astronomy" is the best rated episode of "The Sky at Night" season 18. It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/27/1974. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Saturn - The Ringed Planet".