Returning: Stargazing

Professor Brian Cox and Julia Zemiro will team up once more for their third Stargazing event for ABC.

The special will be part of themed programming to mark the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing in July.

“We’re really excited to bring our audiences a mind-blowing month of content celebrating space exploration past and future – and telling the stories of our neighboring planets with stunning new visuals,” says Aidan Laverty, Manager Science, ABC. “I’m hoping we can help inspire the next generation of Australian astronauts and space scientists.”

The special is produced by BBC Studios Australia.

Director of Production Kylie Washington said: “We’re delighted to be working with The Science Unit to produce this Stargazing special for ABC’s landmark season of moon landing programs and that BBC Studios ANZ’s crew will be delivering this premium show.”

Helen Thomas, Executive Producer, BBC Studios Science Unit said: “It is great to be collaborating with BBC Studios ANZ on this special production, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the amazing Apollo moon landing and looking ahead at the very exciting future of space exploration.”

Also screening are Fly Me to the Moon which looks in detail at the lunar landing of 1969, plus a  new series, The Planets, showcasing the solar system.

Stargazing: Moon and Beyond
Tuesday, July 16 at 8:00pm
Stargazing returns for a very special edition on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing mission. Professor Brian Cox and Julia Zemiro will be back with a lively fun-packed hour of television. Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke will share with Brian what it was like being part of the space missions; we’ll have a sneak preview of the new generation of spacecraft, and “Space Gandalf” Greg Quicke will explain how the Moon really shapes life on earth. You can also find out if you have the right stuff to be one of the next generation of space travellers.

Relive the excitement and spirit of optimism of the moon landings; celebrating Australia’s vital role in the mission and discovering the future of space exploration with Mars as the destination.

Alongside the Stargazing special, ABC Science and ABC NEWS will publish a digital “Pocket Guide to the Moon” narrated by astronomer Fred Watson. Discover every detail about the expedition and immerse yourself in an audio and visual guided tour of the Moon. You can also relive the drama and become part of that first epic journey as Facebook Messenger delivers “real time” messages from the Apollo 11 mission which will also be broadcast across ABC Radio.

Fly Me to the Moon
Tuesday, July 16 at 9:00pm
Narrated by John Barron, Fly Me to the Moon will feature interviews with prominent Australians as they reflect on this triumph of human achievement. It will examine the role played by scientists down under as they helped with the landing and broadcast of the historic occasion.

Tapping into the treasure trove of ABC TV and radio archives, the documentary will broadcast footage not seen since that momentous day and document the aftermath as the famed Apollo 11 astronauts made their way around our nation on a victory tour.

Australia’s only three astronauts, Dr Philip Chapman, Dr Paul Scully-Power, and Dr Andy Thomas, will be brought together for the first time to describe how their lives have been inspired and defined by this historic moment in time, and what it was like to work for NASA during the Apollo missions and in the decades since.

The documentary will examine the legacy of the space exploration, and the impact it had on Australian culture. With the recent launch of the Australian Space Agency, the program will also look ahead to the future, to speculate when mankind might make that giant leap once again.

The Planets
Sunday, July 7 at 7:40pm
Professor Brian Cox presents The Planets. This stunningly ambitious 5-part series from BBC Studios brings to life the most memorable events in the history of the solar system, using ground breaking visual effects to tell the thrilling story of all eight planets. Transporting you to the surface of these dynamic worlds to witness the moments of high drama that shaped each one, The Planets reveals how the latest science allows us to unlock their past lives.