Other

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

The Compass v2 Podcast

The Compass

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

The Compass v2 Standard

With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about society

Surprising stories from unusual places. With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about the environment and politics, culture and society.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

The Compass: Stargazing: Stargazing: Astronomy from the Edge of the World

Factual

panoramicos-1920.jpg

30/08/2017 GMT

Stargazing: Astronomy from the Edge of the World

Stargazing

BBC World Service - The Compass, Stargazing, Stargazing: Astronomy from the Edge of the World

ALMA, the remote observatory in Chile, tracks the 'radio sky': 2/5

ALMA, the remote observatory high in the Atacama Desert in Chile, tracks the 'radio sky' in which the Moon and planets are barely detectable. Episode two of five.

Dava Sobel hears from telescope operators at ALMA, the remote observatory high in the Atacama Desert in Chile, talking to us with their oxygen tanks at the ready. Episode two of five.
As we hear, the ‘radio sky’ presents an alternate universe, in which the Moon and planets are barely detectable. In their place are clouds of interstellar gas and other exotic celestial sources which reveal different aspects of our history and astronomy. At ALMA, the radio astronomers do not need to wait until dark to make their observations but can work at any hour, day or night.


(Photo: The ALMA Observatory is located in the Chajnantor Plateau over 5,000 metres above sea level. Credit: ALMA/ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)

The Compass: Stargazing

Dava Sobel explores our fascination with the cosmos

Dava Sobel explores our fascination with the cosmos, from the revelations of Copernicus to the latest developments.

Dava Sobel explores our fascination with the cosmos, from the revelations of Copernicus to the latest developments.

Photo: The ALMA Observatory (Credit: Carlos Padilla – AUI/NRAO)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Compass

Stargazing

Stargazing: Astronomy from the Edge of the World

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service