Nova Hunt For Alien Worlds (1997)
DATE: February 18, 1997 Tuesday 8:00 PM


One in this series of science documentaries. This edition examines astronomers' search for new planets and other solar systems. Highlights include the following: George Gatewood, of the University of Pittsburgh, commenting on the difficulty of locating a planet in outer space; an animated clip demonstrating the subtle shifts in a star's path; Fritz Benedict, of the University of Texas, talking about the way that a star's "wobble" helps to prove that a planet is nearby; Geoff Marcy, of San Fransisco State University, discussing the reason that many astronomers feel that Jupiter is essential for the development of life in outer space; and David Black, of the Lunar & Planetary Insitute, commenting on the best theory regarding the formation of planetary systems. Additional highlights include the following: Daniel Goldin, of NASA, commenting on the difficulty of locating planets, despite advancements in technology; Andrew Lyne, of the University of Massachusetts, referring to the tracking of pulsars; Alex Wolszczan, of Pennsylvania State University, discussing the discovery of three new planets, a finding which was not well-received by some scientists; Didier Quelloz and Michel Mayor, of the Geneva Observatory, commenting on mistakes that astronomers might have made when they gauged the wobble of stars, and new ways that astronomers can predict this movement of the stars; Geoff Marcy discussing discrepancies among scientists' findings, despite the fact that the scientists use similar techniques; and Daniel Goldin addressing the ramifications of the existence of new life in distant space. Includes a promo for the next episode of "Nova." This program is closed-captioned.


Are we alone? Philosophers and dreamers have long gazed up at the night sky and asked that question. Now science is on the verge of a breakthrough. Are we ready for what's out there?
Wielding stronger telescopes, faster computers, and brave new ideas, planet hunters are suddenly making discoveries in farther reaches of the universe. What they're finding could rival the weirdest scenarios of science fiction: Exploding stars, or pulsars, with planets unexpectedly orbiting them. A huge planet circling a living star at impossibly close range, with its 'year' just four days long. Best of all: a planet whose temperatures is that of warm tea--and whose moons could have pools of water where conditions would be suited for the formation of life.
Take a look at the new technology that's making these tantalizing glimpses possible: scientists measuring wobbles in a star's movement that signal an orbiting planet's gravitational pull. And sneak a peek at an interferometer-in-the-making, an astonishing telescope 100 times stronger than any now used on earth. Through its powerful lenses, a new breed of astronomer hopes soon to image a planet far from our solar system--perhaps one with a landscape eerily like our own.

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