The Sky at Night · SEASON 21
Why Do the Planets Shine?
Episode 12 · 1977-11-23

- Documentary
- News
Episode overview
All the bright planets are now visible in the early morning sky. Some of them seem to outshine the stars, and yet they have no light of their own. They shine only by reflecting the light of the sun. The different ways in which they reflect the sunlight tell us a great deal about the planets themselves. Patrick Moore talks about the reflecting powers of the planets and what they can tell us with Dr Peter Cattermole of Sheffield University.
Season 21 episodes
1. Sirius, the Dog-Star1977-01-17
2. Travel in Space and Time1977-02-17
3. The Mapping of Mercury1977-03-16
4. Celebrates its 20th anniversary1977-04-20
5. The Solar Cycle1977-05-18
6. Uranus - the Second Ringed Planet?1977-06-15
7. The New Infra-red Telescope1977-07-20
8. The Swan in the Sky1977-08-10
9. The Voyager Missions1977-09-07
10. Stars of the Far South1977-09-28
11. The Amateur Astronomer1977-10-24
12. Why Do the Planets Shine?1977-11-23
13. Suns, Space-ships, and Bug-eyed Monsters1977-12-14