Cosmos

1980
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (13)

1 The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean
9/28/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan examines our planet's place in the universe by leading us on a journey from Earth to Deep Space.
2 One Voice in the Cosmic Fugue
10/5/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan examines the origin, development, and complexity of life on Earth and speculates on the possibility of life developing elsewhere in the universe.
3 Harmony of the Worlds
10/12/80
Season-only
After briefly looking at the pseudoscience of astrology, Carl Sagan examines the history of astronomy from ancient times through Ptolemy to Johannes Kepler.
4 Heaven and Hell
10/19/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan examines the nature of comets before turning to have a close look at the planet Venus.
5 Blues for a Red Planet
10/26/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan looks at the search for life on Mars, from the speculations of Percival Lowell and H.G. Wells to the arrival of the Viking probes.
6 Travellers' Tales
11/2/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan looks at the planets Jupiter and Saturn by examining the work of Galileo, Huygens, and the Voyager probes.
7 The Backbone of Night
11/9/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan looks at the work of ancient Greek scientists and astronomers including Thales, Anaximander, Democritus, and Pythagoras.
8 Journeys in Space and Time
11/16/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan explains scientific concepts like relativity and examines the possibility of time travel.
9 The Lives of the Stars
11/23/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan examines the life cycle of stars, from their creation to their deaths.
10 The Edge of Forever
11/30/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan focuses on the origin of the universe by discussing the Big Bang, Galaxies, Dimensions, and the expansion of the universe.
11 The Persistence of Memory
12/7/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan examines life on earth discussing genes, DNA, the brain, and human social development.
12 Encyclopaedia Galactica
12/14/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan examines the possibility of extraterrestrial life and discusses his scepticism about UFOs.
13 Who Speaks for Earth?
12/21/80
Season-only
Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discusses the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.

About this show

Astronomer Carl Sagan's landmark 13-part science series takes you on an awe-inspiring cosmic journey to the edge of the Universe and back aboard the spaceship of the imagination. Topics covered include: the 15-billion year history of the Universe; the evolution of life on Earth and what forms life might take on other worlds; Johannes Kepler, the first modern astronomer; the hellish atmosphere of Venus and the threat of the Greenhouse Effect on Earth; the search for life on Mars; the 17th century exploration of the Earth; the Voyager missions to Jupiter and Saturn; the possibility of time travel; Einstein's theories; the life cycle of stars; determining the origin of the Universe; the brain and the evolution of intelligence; how we might communicate with alien civilisations and the continued survival of the human race versus the threat of nuclear destruction.