Is There Anybody Out There?
ET, Close Encounters, Mars Attacks - the movies are full of extra-terrestrial landings and contact with aliens. In fact, all cultures have represented alien beings in their art, stories and writing at...
View ArticleChallenger
Forensic engineering enables us to analyse the 1986 Challenger disaster The Forensic Engineering team.First published on Wed, 03 Apr 2002 as Challenger. To find out more visit The Open University's...
View ArticleToutatis: A visitor in our skies
Toutatis passed Earth at a distance of just 962,951 miles on 29 September 2004. In astronomical terms, that's pretty much a near-miss The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 28 Sep 2004 as Toutatis:...
View ArticleVoyage To The Planets: Remote Sensing
Professor David W Hughes offers a brief history of sending spacecraft to observe the planets in our Solar System. Professor David Hughes.First published on Mon, 06 Dec 2004 as Voyage To The Planets:...
View ArticleLanding On The Planets
Professor David W Hughes offers a brief history of sending spacecraft to land on the planets in our solar system Professor David Hughes.First published on Mon, 06 Dec 2004 as Landing On The Planets. To...
View ArticleImpact Planet Earth: Weblinks
Find out more about the risks of asteroids with our weblinks and suggested reading The Background Brief team.First published on Mon, 07 Mar 2005 as Impact Planet Earth: Weblinks. To find out more visit...
View ArticleThe Things We Forgot To Remember - The Space Race
We ask whether Apollo 8 was more significant than Apollo 11 in establishing American dominance in space, as part of the BBC/OU series 'The Things We Forgot to Remember' The OpenLearn team.First...
View ArticleThe other space race: Transcript
For The Things We Forgot To Remember, Michael Portillo asks if the Space Race was won and lost long before Neil Armstrong took his small step. Michael Portillo.First published on Thu, 02 Jun 2005 as...
View ArticleCometary History
Professor David W Hughes explores the history of comets Professor David Hughes.First published on Mon, 27 Jun 2005 as Cometary History. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website....
View ArticleSnowballs In Space: An Introduction to Comets, their sizes and decay
Professor David W Hughes introduces the science behind comets Professor David Hughes.First published on Mon, 27 Jun 2005 as Snowballs In Space: An Introduction to Comets, their sizes and decay. To find...
View ArticleDeep Impact: The mission
Simon Green explains the thinking behind 2005's Deep Impact mission Dr Simon Green.First published on Fri, 01 Jul 2005 as Deep Impact: The mission. To find out more visit The Open University's...
View ArticleAs it happened: Deep Impact, July 2005
NASA's mission to smash the Deep Impact probe into Tempel One, tracked as it happened. The OpenLearn team.First published on Mon, 04 Jul 2005 as As it happened: Deep Impact, July 2005. To find out more...
View ArticleOU on the BBC: Stardate: Deep Impact
As NASA crashes a space-probe into a comet, blasting a crater the size of Wembley stadium, the award-winning Stardate will be broadcasting from mission headquarters bringing the latest pictures and...
View ArticleVenus craters
Images provided by NASA of craters on the surface of Venus The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus craters. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website....
View ArticleVenus coronae
Images provided by NASA of mysterious rounded humps rising up from the surface of the planet Venus The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus coronae. To find out more visit The...
View ArticleVenus terrain
Images provided by NASA increase our knowledge of the surface of Venus The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus terrain. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn...
View ArticleVenus's atmosphere
What we know about the atmosphere on Venus - prior to the launch of Venus Express The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus's atmosphere. To find out more visit The Open...
View ArticleVenus volcanoes
Images provided by NASA of volcanoes on the surface of Venus The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus volcanoes. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website....
View ArticleVenus Express
What are the aims of the Venus Express mission? The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus Express. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Copyrighted 2006
View ArticleVenus mountain belts
Images provided by NASA of mountain belts on Venus The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus mountain belts. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website....
View ArticleVenus lava flows
Images provided by NASA of the lava flows from Venusian volcanic activity The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus lava flows. To find out more visit The Open University's...
View ArticleVenus fractures
Images provided by NASA of fractures found on the surface of Venus The Stardate team.First published on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 as Venus fractures. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn...
View ArticleWater on Mars?
Andrew Morris describes some recent developments in astronomy - the detection of what might be water on Mars and a map of dark matter. Andrew Morris.First published on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 as Water on...
View ArticleThe Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide - Space exploration
What is happening at the cutting edge of space exploration now? The OpenLearn team.First published on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 as The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide - Space exploration. To find out more visit The...
View ArticleThe Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide - Other worlds
Finding another Earth outside our solar system would be big news - but there are some surprising discoveries in our very own cosmic backyard. The OpenLearn team.First published on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 as...
View ArticleThe Athens Mars plot
Attending a conference in Athens to plan future European space exploration, Dave Rothery finds that where China goes, the world follows. Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a...
View ArticleOU on the BBC: James May's 20th Century - About the series
Top Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century- trying out for himself some of the most surprising and influential technological advances of the past hundred years. The OpenLearn...
View ArticleMars in 3D - NASA World Wind
Tony Hirst recommends some online applications for viewing the surface of Mars, Venus and Jupiter. Dr Tony Hirst.First published on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 as Mars in 3D - NASA World Wind. To find out more...
View ArticlePhoenix on Mars!
The Phoenix lands on Mars. Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, where he is Professor of Planetary Geosciences within the...
View ArticleSpace telescopes galore
As the Hubble Space Telescope undergoes a service, Andrew Morris marvels at the technology behind taking photographs in space Andrew Morris.First published on Fri, 15 May 2009 as Space telescopes...
View ArticleSecond life: Have we found a separate genesis?
Although an extraordinary development, life which grows from arsenic rather than phosphorous might not be evidence of a shadow biosphere, says David Rothery. Professor David Rothery. Professor David...
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 ArticleHas Curiosity made you curious about Mars?
As Curiosity lands in a Martian crater, get to know the Red Planet a little more closely... First published on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 as Has Curiosity made you curious about Mars?. To find out more visit The...
View ArticleLife on Mars
What happens if we find evidence of life on Mars? Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, where he is Professor of Planetary...
View ArticleOU on the BBC: The Challenger
A new drama follows acclaimed scientist Richard Feynman’s search for the truth in the wake of the NASA Challenger disaster. First published on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 as OU on the BBC: The Challenger. To find...
View ArticleInterstellar: a dangerous fantasy of US colonialism?
Anne Hathaway's space movie puts engineers and scientists at the heart of the story - but is let down by an American colonialist message, says Peter Bloom. Dr Peter Bloom.First published on Wed, 19 Nov...
View ArticlePluto comes into sharp focus – but it’s still not a planet
New Horizons is giving us the chance to see Pluto, close-up, for the first time. But familiarity won't restore Pluto's planet status. Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist...
View ArticleWhat do the latest pictures of Pluto tell us?
Dave Rothery takes a look at the latest images reaching us from Pluto Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, where he is...
View ArticleHaven't we been told there's water on Mars before?
The recent announcement wasn't the first time astronomers have spoken about water on Mars - but this time, it's what's in the water that has excited NASA, explains Dave Rothery. Professor David...
View ArticleDiscover Mercury: International collaboration
The journey to another world relies on co-operation all around this one. Professor David Rothery. Professor David Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, where he is...
View ArticleOpenLearn Live: 8th July 2016
The pretty pigment that packs a poisonous punch; George Eliot on Brexit; Jupiter's wife and why Nottingham Forest have got a problem. Free learning from across the day. The OpenLearn team.First...
View ArticleOpenLearn Live: 11th November 2016
The worst president of all time plus Nasa on small satellites. Then more learning and research across the day. The OpenLearn team.First published on Fri, 11 Nov 2016 as OpenLearn Live: 11th November...
View ArticleOpenLearn Live: 21st November 2016
Are we enjoying a wet autumn, or a soggy fall? Plus, NASA's new weather satelitte, patent boxes and champagne science. Learning and research from across the day. The OpenLearn team.First published on...
View ArticleOpenLearn Live: 25th November 2016
Autumn on Mars; quantum computing; children caring for parents with Parkinsons. Learning and research from across the day. The OpenLearn team.First published on Fri, 25 Nov 2016 as OpenLearn Live: 25th...
View ArticleWhat do we know about the seven Earth-like planets?
Yesterday, space scientists announced the discovery of a star that is being orbited by seven Earth-like planets. Here's Dave Rothery with what you need to know. Professor David Rothery. Professor David...
View ArticleAs Cassini reaches the end, we should prepare the next mission
What Cassini taught us about Saturn's moons is a start. We look back at its amazing journey, and Monica Grady argues we should now be thinking about sending the next probe. Professor Monica Grady.First...
View ArticleWhy has Donald Trump set his sights on the Moon?
The President has instructed NASA to build a camp on the Moon. It might be a better idea than trying to get straight to Mars, as this New Scientist short, sharp, science video explains. First published...
View ArticleMoons
Explore our collection of free games, articles and courses on Moons. Dr Mahesh Anand. Reader in Planetary Science and Exploration in the School of Physical Sciences at the Open University. First...
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