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Crash Course Astronomy

Welcome to school without the classroom! Join host Phil Plait and discover everything there is to know about the cosmos.

Life in the Universe: Crash Course Astronomy #46

11m 9s

Here it is, folks: the end. In our final episode of Crash Course Astronomy, Phil gives the course a send off with a look at some of his favorite topics and the big questions that Astronomy allows us to ask.

Episodes

  • The Oort Cloud: Crash Course Astronomy #22: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Oort Cloud: Crash Course Astronomy #22

    S1 E22 - 11m 40s

    Now that weÕre done with the planets, asteroid belt, and comets, weÕre heading to the outskirts of the solar system. Out past Neptune are vast reservoirs of icy bodies that can become comets if they get poked into the inner solar system.

  • Comets: Crash Course Astronomy #21: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Comets: Crash Course Astronomy #21

    S1 E21 - 11m 54s

    Today on Crash Course Astronomy, Phil explains comets. Comets are chunks of ice and rock that orbit the Sun. When they get near the Sun the ice turns into gas, forming the long tail, and also releases dust that forms a different tail. WeÕve visited comets up close and found them to be lumpy, with vents in the surface that release the gas as ice sublimates.

  • Asteroids: Crash Course Astronomy #20: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Asteroids: Crash Course Astronomy #20

    S1 E20 - 11m 32s

    Now that weÕve finished our tour of the planets, weÕre headed back to the asteroid belt. Asteroids are chunks of rock, metal, or both that were once part of smallish planets but were destroyed after collisions. Most orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, but some get near the Earth.

  • Uranus & Neptune: Crash Course Astronomy #19: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Uranus & Neptune: Crash Course Astronomy #19

    S1 E19 - 12m 15s

    Today weÕre rounding out our planetary tour with ice giants Uranus and Neptune. Both have small rocky cores, thick mantles of ammonia, water, and methane, and atmospheres that make them look greenish and blue. Uranus has a truly weird rotation and relatively dull weather, while Neptune has clouds and storms whipped by tremendous winds.

  • Saturn: Crash Course Astronomy #18: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Saturn: Crash Course Astronomy #18

    S1 E18 - 12m 12s

    Saturn is the crown jewel of the solar system, beautiful and fascinating. It is a gas giant, and has a broad set of rings made of ice particles. Saturn has dozens of moons, including Titan, which is as big as Mercury and has a thick atmosphere and lakes of methane; and Enceladus which has an undersurface ocean and eruptions of water geysers.

  • Jupiter's Moons: Crash Course Astronomy #17: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Jupiter's Moons: Crash Course Astronomy #17

    S1 E17 - 10m 26s

    Before moving on from Jupiter to Saturn, weÕre going to linger for a moment on JupiterÕs moons. There are 67 known moons, and 4 huge ones that we want to explore in greater detail.

  • Jupiter: Crash Course Astronomy #16: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Jupiter: Crash Course Astronomy #16

    S1 E16 - 10m 42s

    Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system. The gas giant is NOT a failed star, but a really successful planet! It has a dynamic atmosphere with belts and zones, as well as an enormous red spot thatÕs actually a persistent hurricane.

  • Mars: Crash Course Astronomy #15: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Mars: Crash Course Astronomy #15

    S1 E15 - 10m 11s

    The fourth planet from the sun and the outermost of the terrestrial planets, Mars has long been a popular spot for missions and imagination. Phil walks you through the planet's topography, core, and features. We'll take a look back to Mars's past and makes predictions for its future, including the possibilities for human life.

  • Venus: Crash Course Astronomy #14: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Venus: Crash Course Astronomy #14

    S1 E14 - 10m 46s

    Venus is a gorgeous naked-eye planet, hanging like a diamond in the twilight -- but itÕs beauty is best looked at from afar. Even though Mercury is closer to the sun, Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, due to a runaway greenhouse effect, and has the most volcanic activity in the solar system.

  • Mercury: Crash Course Astronomy #13: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Mercury: Crash Course Astronomy #13

    S1 E13 - 10m 17s

    Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It has no atmosphere and is, as such, covered in craters. It's also incredibly hot but, surprisingly, has water ice hiding beneath its surface.

  • The Moon: Crash Course Astronomy #12: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Moon: Crash Course Astronomy #12

    S1 E12 - 9m 47s

    Join Phil for a tour of our capital-M Moon, from surface features, inside to the core, and back in time to theories about its formation.

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