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Give the universe: tonight's must-see TV & National Geographic gifting
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Are we a significant part of the cosmos or only a footnote? The always-excellent National Geographic Channel asks that question as it opens tonight's premiere presentation of Journey to the Edge of the Universe. The first showing is at 8 p.m. EST Dec. 7, with repeat showings later this month.
I've pre-screened the show, and it is exceptional. Combining the poetry and the science of exploring our universe, Journey soars through a stunning graphics exploration of "what's out there." The show deftly combines science--including mention of NASA spacecraft and missions--and the excitement of learning more about other worlds.
Here are some key facts from the NGC:
Beyond the comforts of our home planet Earth, is a vast and mysterious world. Learn more about our galaxy and the secrets it holds.
- Venus, the goddess of love, is the solar system's brightest planet.
- Although similar in size and gravity as Earth, Venus' atmosphere is full of deadly sulphuric acid.
- Covered with a thin veneer of rock, Mercury is a huge ball or iron and has a powerful gravitational pull for its size.
- The strongest magnet known in the universe is a magnetar, a rare type of neutron star. To date, there have only been about ten discoveries of a magnetar.
- The sun is so far away that if it burned out we wouldn't know about it for eight minutes.
- The red planet, Mars, has no ozone layer and has nothing to protect against the sun's ultra-violet rays. This makes it unlivable for humans.
- By dating the meteorites found on Earth, we can tell the planets were born 4.6 billion years ago.
- Jupiter is spinning at an incredible rate, whipping up winds to hundreds of miles an hour.
- Saturn is a giant ball of gas; so light it would float on water.
But there's more than just this show, as fantastic as it is. Browse the Journey portal and enjoy photos, videos, and supporting material. Shown above: a graphic depiction of Neptune's moon Triton and its geysers, courtesy of mage courtesy Red Vision/C4 Studios/Pioneer Production.
You can choose among dozens of photos to download (free!) to make screensavers and wallpaper. And, take time to enjoy the blog that explains how Journey came to be and the creation of the graphics.
Which brings us to expanding your holiday shopping universe. Ever notice how library book sales always seem to have carefully-hoarded collections of the National Geographic magazine?
That's because nobody does exploration and education better. Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has been documenting our worlds in stunning photos and text.
When you give a gift subscription to the National Geographic Magazine for only $15, you're also helping to continue the Geographic tradition. The Society provides grants, educational opportunities, research, conservation, and a long list of activities that educate and empower.
And there's more--two websites filled with free stories, videos, and photos. Submit your own pictures, play games (including jigsaw puzzles), and enjoy interactive features at the Geographic magazine website.
The National Geographic Channel is a star not only on your TV, but on the web too. The website offers videos, stories, interactive features, and activities just for kids. And it's all--free.
Here's a great idea for a special holiday gift, thanks to my nephew Mark. Grab a download of a space photo. Then add it to a plain mousepad and you have a personal mousepad as a perfect gift. National Geographic has an online store filled with goodies.
To whet your space exploration appetite, take a look at Journey director Yavar Abbas' commentary on tonight's two-hour special. If you enjoy learning how animations and computer graphics play into shows like this, this clip is a real treat. He discusses the care required to make sure that animations are accurate.
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