A Visual Guide to the Universe

Watch A Visual Guide to the Universe

  • TV-PG
  • 2014
  • 1 Season

A Visual Guide to the Universe from The Great Courses Signature Collection is a fascinating and visually stunning exploration of our galaxy and beyond. Hosted by David M. Meyer, an accomplished professor and astrophysicist, this series takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the vast expanse of space.

The show is broken up into 24 episodes, each one focusing on a different aspect of the universe. From the origins of the universe to black holes to the search for extraterrestrial life, this series covers a wide range of topics that will captivate viewers of all ages and backgrounds.

One of the things that sets A Visual Guide to the Universe apart from other science documentaries is its use of stunning visuals to help illustrate complex concepts. Meyer and his team of experts use state-of-the-art animations, graphics, and computer simulations to bring these fascinating topics to life. From watching the birth of stars to seeing galaxies collide, viewers will feel like they are right in the middle of the action.

But the show isn't all about eye candy — Meyer and his team also delve deep into the science behind these phenomena. Viewers will learn about the different types of stars, the properties of black holes, and the strange world of quantum mechanics. The explanations are clear and accessible, even for those without a strong background in science.

Another strength of this series is Meyer's infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter. He clearly loves what he does and his passion shines through in every episode. He makes even the most complicated topics seem exciting and accessible, and viewers can't help but get caught up in his enthusiasm.

Throughout the series, Meyer is joined by a variety of experts in their respective fields who provide additional insights and perspectives. From astronomers to cosmologists to engineers, these guest speakers offer fresh viewpoints and help paint a more complete picture of our universe.

But it's not just the science and the visuals that make A Visual Guide to the Universe such a worthwhile watch — it's also the sense of wonder and awe that viewers will feel as they explore the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's gazing at the beautiful swirls of a galaxy or contemplating the mind-boggling vastness of the universe, this series is a reminder of just how amazing our world is.

Overall, A Visual Guide to the Universe is a must-watch for anyone who's ever looked up at the stars and wondered what lies beyond. With its stunning visuals, accessible explanations, and infectious enthusiasm, it's a show that will leave viewers both educated and inspired.

A Visual Guide to the Universe is a series that ran for 1 seasons (18 episodes) between October 24, 2014 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons
The Afterglow of the Big Bang
18. The Afterglow of the Big Bang
October 24, 2014
Conclude your cosmic tour by probing the echo of creation: the faint afterglow of the Big Bang, which is present everywhere in space. View this signal in increasing detail provided by spacecraft, and uncover its astonishing story about the earliest epoch of our vast universe.
The Cosmic Reach of Gamma-Ray Bursts
17. The Cosmic Reach of Gamma-Ray Bursts
October 24, 2014
Search for the origin of the most powerful explosions since the Big Bang. Known as gamma-ray bursts, these colossal beams of high-energy radiation are among our deepest views into the cosmic past. Also consider the chance that a nearby gamma-ray burst could cause a mass extinction on Earth.
The Dark Side of the Bullet Cluster
16. The Dark Side of the Bullet Cluster
October 24, 2014
Investigate mounting evidence that invisible dark matter must exist. Then see how telescopes scanning the sky at different wavelengths have mapped the distribution of dark matter, notably in a collection of distant colliding galaxy clusters called the Bullet Cluster.
The Brightest Quasar
15. The Brightest Quasar
October 24, 2014
Travel to some of the most distant and luminous objects in the universe: quasars. Discovered in the early 1960s, these active galaxies are associated with matter-devouring supermassive black holes. Investigate the brightest and first-found quasar, called 3C 273, and learn what it reveals about the early universe.
Hubble's Galaxy Zoo
14. Hubble's Galaxy Zoo
October 24, 2014
Use the sharp eye of the Hubble Space Telescope to survey some of the most peculiar galaxies in the local universe. Focus on Hoag's Object, a ring galaxy with a yellow nucleus, surrounded by a nearly perfect circle of hot blue stars. Explore competing ideas for the origin of this unique structure.
The Andromeda Galaxy
13. The Andromeda Galaxy
October 24, 2014
Investigate the nearby Andromeda galaxy, tracing its puzzling spiral arms. Use images from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer and other telescopes to gather evidence that something once crashed into Andromeda. Then chart Andromeda's collision course with our own galaxy!
The Center of the Milky Way
12. The Center of the Milky Way
October 24, 2014
Travel to the most exotic sector of the Milky Way, the galactic center, which has a black hole four million times more massive than the sun and is orbited by hot gas and giant stars. View this violent region at multiple wavelengths using the most advanced telescopes of our day.
Runaway Star, Zeta Ophiuchi
11. Runaway Star, Zeta Ophiuchi
October 24, 2014
Why is the enormous star Zeta Ophiuchi careening through our galaxy at unusually high speed? Probe the mystery of this runaway star and its gorgeous shock wave, using images from the Spitzer Space Telescope and other observatories to tell a story of massive interacting stars and a likely supernova explosion.
Future Supernova, Eta Carinae
10. Future Supernova, Eta Carinae
October 24, 2014
Explore the imminent fate of the luminous star Eta Carinae, a ticking bomb due to explode as a supernova in the next few hundred thousand years. Study the life cycle of stars, and trace the history of Eta Carinae to mysterious events first observed in 1843.
The Seven Sisters and Their Stardust Veil
9. The Seven Sisters and Their Stardust Veil
October 24, 2014
The Pleiades cluster, or Seven Sisters, is one of the most beautiful star formations in the heavens. Discover the origin of the wispy nebulae that surround these bright stars. In the process, learn how the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a powerful tool for estimating the ages of star clusters.
The Swan Nebula
8. The Swan Nebula
October 24, 2014
Venture into a nearby spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy, as imaged in infrared light by the Spitzer Space Telescope. See how Spitzer's panorama of the Swan nebula reveals that spiral arms are active regions of star formation, showing up brilliantly in the infrared band.
The Search for Other Earths
7. The Search for Other Earths
October 24, 2014
Join the Kepler telescope in the search for other Earths. Kepler has spotted thousands of candidate planets orbiting other stars, including many that are roughly Earth-sized. Learn how planets are detected at stellar distances, and study the conditions needed to support life.
The Ice Moons Europa and Enceladus
6. The Ice Moons Europa and Enceladus
October 24, 2014
Focus on two enigmatic ice worlds: Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus. Both may harbor liquid water beneath their icy crusts. Weigh the chances that life exists in these underground oceans, despite the extreme cold in the outer solar system.
Saturn - The Rings of Enchantment
5. Saturn - The Rings of Enchantment
October 24, 2014
Examine Saturn through the eyes of the Cassini probe, which has been orbiting the ringed planet since 2004, taking spectacular pictures of Saturn's cloud tops, moons, and especially the enigmatic ring system. Examine competing theories for the origin of this complex circular band.
Vesta and the Asteroid Belt
4. Vesta and the Asteroid Belt
October 24, 2014
Study fossil remains of the early solar system, preserved in the rocky debris of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Focus on one of the largest asteroids, Vesta, viewing it close up via the Dawn spacecraft. Learn how pieces of Vesta have fallen to Earth as meteorites.
Mars - Water and the Search for Life
3. Mars - Water and the Search for Life
October 24, 2014
Discover that Mars is a water world whose surface dried up long ago and may once have supported life. Four robotic rovers have landed on Mars, including the sophisticated Curiosity rover, now crawling across the planet searching for clues connected to microbial life forms.
The Magnetic Beauty of the Active Sun
2. The Magnetic Beauty of the Active Sun
October 24, 2014
Explore the sun in astonishing detail through the multispectral instruments of the Solar Dynamics Observatory. See debris from magnetic storms explode into space and then crash back into the sun. Learn how these mammoth outbursts affect Earth.
Probing the Cosmos from Space
1. Probing the Cosmos from Space
October 24, 2014
Prepare for your cosmic journey by surveying NASA's space exploration strategy. Although human spaceflight gets the lion's share of publicity, the greatest scientific discoveries in space are the work of planetary probes and space observatories. Learn why this approach has paid off so spectacularly. #Science & Mathematics
Description
Where to Watch A Visual Guide to the Universe
A Visual Guide to the Universe is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch A Visual Guide to the Universe on demand at Apple TV Channels and Amazon Prime and Amazon.
  • Premiere Date
    October 24, 2014
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