Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123050800200.htm

New Delhi

A journey to the edge of the Universe

Staff Reporter

Hot on the heels of the successful launch of India’s first lunar mission, Chandrayaan 1, re-igniting public interest in the working of the Universe, National Geographic Channel takes viewers on a journey to the edge of the Universe in a brand new series going on the air from January 4.

Taking space lovers on an epic voyage across the cosmos, “Space Special” examines how stars are born, the ultimate fate of our Universe, life on other planets, and the most mysterious and terrifying phenomena of all – the black holes.

With an extraordinary combination of real images, cutting edge computer-generated imagery, expert opinions and scientific findings, the series will try to unravel the secrets of the universe.

It takes an in-depth look into the unknown and answers some mysterious questions about the fate of our planet.

Crucial question

The series examines the crucial question whether the Universe will be torn apart atom-by-atom until only the most fundamental particles remain or will all the stars in the universe gradually burn out, leaving the universe cold and lifeless.

Narrated by British actor Sean Pertwee, “Journey to the Edge of the Universe” that begins on January 4 ventures into the farthest reaches of our existence and explains the extraordinary phenomena taking place trillions of kilometres away from Earth.

“Hubble’s Final Frontier” beaming on January 11 will investigate the achievements of a space telescope that has proven the existence of black holes. The channel meets engineers who put this telescope in space and astronomers who used Hubble’s telescope to decode the mysteries of the Universe.

“Monster of the Milky Way” on January 18 will take viewers to the early days of the Universe and delve into the black holes. “Death of the Universe” to be aired on January 18 will examine the three theories about the ultimate demise of the Universe some 50 billion years from now.

Speaking about the series, Sudha Sadhanand of the channel says: “It is an attempt to bring our viewers closer to the world outside our own which affects our own existence and will play a huge role in determining our future”.