After 30 Years, New "Cosmos" Science TV Series Airs on FOX

Photograph of a scale-model of the ancient Library at Alexandria, part of the "Cosmos" exhibit at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, which accompanied Carl Sagan's original 1980 "Cosmos" television series on PBS.
(Image Source: Francis G. Graham, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Kent State University)

By Glenn A. Walsh
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower

Starting Sunday evening (2014 March 9), "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" will begin a 13-part series of programs regarding the science and history of Astronomy and the Space Sciences. After more than 30 years, when noted Cornell University Astronomer Carl Sagan broadcast the first 13-part "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage" series, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will host this updated series of programs.

In 1980, the original series appeared on the Public Broadcasting Service. The new series will be broadcast on the FOX television network. The first hour airs on Sunday, 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. EDT. In Pittsburgh, this program can be seen on the FOX television affiliate, WPGH-TV 53. People in other cities and time zones should check the Sunday listings for their FOX television affiliate.

Carl Sagan was a well-known astronomer long before his 1980 television series aired. However, the 1980 television series, along with Dr. Sagan's many interviews on radio and television programs, including his well-known interviews on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, made his name well known to the public.

Accompanying the 1980 television series were both a planetarium show and a traveling museum exhibit, which were seen by the public in many planetaria and museums throughout the nation. Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science both showed the "Cosmos" planetarium show and hosted  the "Cosmos" exhibit.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is the long-time Director of New York City's Hayden Planetarium. He was planetarium director during a controversial renovation of Hayden Planetarium in 2000, which included the complete demolition of the original Hayden Planetarium building. It was replaced by a newer Hayden Planetarium, as part of a larger and more impressive Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Hayden Planetarium, built as part of the American Museum of Natural History, hosted the fourth Zeiss II Planetarium Projector in the United States, opening in 1935, while Buhl Planetarium received America's fifth (and the very last) Zeiss II Planetarium Projector in 1939, just before the beginning of World War II. For a short time just before the United States entered the War, Hayden Planetarium and Buhl Planetarium co-sponsored publication of the monthly The Sky Magazine, which led to today's Sky and Telescope Magazine.

More on the original television series, "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage":
Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Personal_Voyage

More on the new television series, "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey":
Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Space-Time_Odyssey

More about Carl Sagan: Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan

More about Neil deGrasse Tyson: Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson

More about the Hayden Planetarium: Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayden_Planetarium

More about the Rose Center for Earth and Space of the American Museum of Natural History:
Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Center_for_Earth_and_Space

More about Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science:
Link >>> http://www.planetarium.cc/

Source: Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss. 

2014: 75th Year of Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium

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gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/ >
Electronic Mail - < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
About the SpaceWatchtower Editor / Author: < http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/weblog/spacewatchtower/gaw/ >
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Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
  < http://www.planetarium.cc >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
  < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
  < http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
  < http://inclinedplane.tripod.com >
* Public Transit:
  < http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >