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The Sky at Night

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Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Iconic series exploring space science and the incredible universe all around us.

Look up! Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Professor Chris Lintott present the iconic, inspirational look at cutting-edge space science and the incredible universe all around us.

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Chris Lintott

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Pete Lawrence

Simon Winchcombe

Jonathan Renouf

The Sky at Night: Telescope on a Plane!

Factual

Telescope on a Plane!

BBC Four - The Sky at Night, Telescope on a Plane!

How the SOFIA telescope can tell us why stars are no longer forming in space.

The Sky at Night takes to the air on board the largest airborne observatory in the world – a specially modified jumbo jet, flying out of California.

Telescope on a Plane!

In this special programme, the Sky at Night takes to the air on board the largest airborne observatory in the world – a specially modified jumbo jet, flying out of California. This extraordinary aircraft is home to a 17-tonne telescope that observes the galaxy from around 40,000 feet.

This telescope – called SOFIA – specialises in infrared astronomy. It can peer into the heart of a galaxy through the dust and gas, and see how stars form. It’s designed to answer some of the biggest questions in astronomy: why aren’t more stars being created and how do planets form?

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