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As much as we love the idea of space exploration and discovering what lies in the deep black,
it’s often difficult for us to fully cover every astronomical topic.
That’s when we turn to these top ten space film and TV documentaries, to fill in the
gaps that our own Archives aren’t quite long enough to discuss in their entirety.
As we begin this stellar journey, if you found at the end that you enjoyed this video, then
give it a like.
And be sure to leave a comment below, perhaps about your favorite space documentary.
And remember to click the bell to be notified every time we launch a new video.
10.
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage If you have the time to sit through Carl Sagan,
Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter’s 13-part television documentary, Cosmos was an incredible introduction
not just to the cosmos but also to the world of science-themed television.
Originally released in the fourth quarter of 1980, Cosmos is 780 minutes of Sagan narrating
topics including Mars, the concept of time and space, and the bountiful galaxies within
the great beyond.
While much of the subject matter is dated compared to what we know today, Sagan’s
journey through space and time is a fascinating introduction to the cosmos.
And look at those effects!
9.
Seeing in the Dark This 2007 PBS documentary by Timothy Ferris
is less an educational film and more about the practice of and serenity that comes with
stargazing.
The film, while detailed in the methods of how the most extreme stargazers peer out into
the night sky, tries less to teach through a lectured narration and focuses more on trying
to tempt viewers to make their own experience of it.
You’ll hear about historic stargazers like Edward Emerson Barnard and William Herschel
while viewing the stunning images captured by the documentary’s subjects.
8.
Monster of the Milky Way If the title of this NOVA special isn’t
enticing enough, consider that the 2007 documentary covers one of the most destructive forces
in the universe – supermassive black holes.
Digging through past and present black hole research, Monsters of the Milky Way forces
viewers to consider what would happen if such a force were to consume our galaxy, literally
forcing them through computer-generated simulations and visually disturbing recreations of such
an event.
Though the film tends to treat the super massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way
as a working theory, there is little doubt today that one was discovered at Sagittarius
A. 7.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Nowadays, it’s almost blasphemous to discuss
science without Neil deGrasse Tyson’s name coming up at least once.
The astrophysicist headlined the 13-episode long follow-up to the 1980’s Carl Sagan
Cosmos documentary series.
Rather than reiterate or correct some of the science of the original series, A Spacetime
Odyssey, which exists partially thanks to Seth MacFarlane, tackles subjects like black
holes, the wave theory of light, star composition, and the works of scientists like Michael Faraday,
Isaac Newton, and Clair Patterson.
Even with Tyson as host, the series tends to focus on drawing in a broad audience, ensuring
that its science isn’t too complex for the casual viewer.
6.
Who’s Afraid of a Big Black Hole?
The documentary asks and we have an answer – We’re afraid of a big black hole!
Though the title of Stephen Cooter’s space documentary sounds more like a b-grade sci-fi
horror flick, it’s a scientifically detailed look into the strangest concepts of space.
How do we research something that can’t be seen?
Can these anomalies be used to build a timeline of space, dating before the Big Bang Theory?
Samuel West’s narration covers these inquiries and more through research of theoretical physicists,
though being an eight-year-old film, expect to come across outdated concepts and theories
already proven or debunked. 5.
Hubble: Universe in Motion If space exploration and discovery is something
you tend to gravitate towards, 2015’s Universe in Motion is the film for you.
If not for the Hubble Space Telescope, much of what we presently know about the universe
would still be a mystery, and this movie pays tribute to its technological importance and
many of its astounding findings.
The Hubble’s 25-year-lifespan is detailed in this 50-minute-long documentary, giving
the viewer a look into amazing finds like the violent formation of stars.
See the universe in crystal clear clarity through images captured by the Hubble since
its launch in 1990.
4.
The Planets It doesn’t get much more direct than this
1999 BBC documentary, which foregoes fancy cinematography and quirky animations in favor
of delivering straight facts about the planets within our solar system.
Even though it’s almost 20-years-old, the documentary is an essential resource for anyone
interested in our solar system, and at 400 minutes long, you know there is much to discuss.
Definitely a great companion on your quest to better understand the universe, our galaxy,
and our neighboring planets.
3.
Wonders of the Universe Brian Cox is no strange face in the science
community with books like Why Does E=MC2?
and The Quantum Universe, and he showed off his prowess for the scientific and the unknown
again with the 4-part documentary series Wonders of the Universe.
Released in 2011, Wonders of the Universe eclipses its predecessor simply because it
opens its scope further, exploring deeper aspects of the universe and how common elements
may affect deeper regions of space.
Starting close to home with our own cycles of time, the series wastes no time to explore
the vastness of space with time spent on the Crab Pulsar and the Big Bang’s “invisible
light.”
2.
When We Left the Earth: The NASA Missions Definitely not a documentary series for Flat
Earthers, The NASA Missions details the history of human spaceflight, dating as far back as
the very first Mercury mission.
Hear first-hand the trials and tribulations of spaceflight through the men that experienced
it through interviews with John Glenn and Neil Armstrong.
The six-part series is a fascinating and detailed look at the Space Race that led to the launching
of the Mercury Program, the disasters of the Columbia and Challenger flights that temporarily
sidelined the Space Shuttle program, and the successful lunar landing of Apollo 11.
1.
Through the Wormhole If you’re looking for a new show to binge
watch, Through the Wormhole, narrated by yours truly, should be high on your list!
Alright, so Morgan Freeman narrates, but… well, nevermind.
Sixty-two episodes tackle numerous aspects of science and seek to answer questions many
of us ponder as we try to fall asleep, such as “Is there life after death,” but we’re
here for space and the show does not disappoint!
When it comes to the universe, the galaxies, black holes, the concept of extraterrestrials,
and so much more, Through the Wormhole is unprecedented in its discussion of complex
topics.
If you’re a space nerd, try and muscle through or maybe skip over episodes dedicated to debated
topics like “Did God create evolution?”
(although you may actually be a weenie if you do).
There is plenty of space exploration to be had in over 2,400 minutes of incredibly informational
and well-spoken television.
Thanks for watching!
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