At The Edge of Space

Today on Far Future Horizons we present another exciting episode from the PBS science documentary series NOVA.  

In this episode of NOVA we will be entering the realm where such mysterious upper atmospheric denizens known as Sprites, Elves and Blue Jets have recently been discovered.

Can scientists unravel the mysterious electrical phenomena that lurk between Earth and at the edge of space?

Between the blue sky above and the infinite blackness beyond lies a frontier that scientists have only just begun to investigate. In "At the Edge of Space," NOVA takes viewers on a spectacular exploration of the Earth-space boundary that's home to some of nature's most puzzling and alluring phenomena: the shimmering aurora, streaking meteors, and fleeting flashes that shoot upwards from thunderclouds, known as sprites.

Only discovered in 1989, sprites have eluded capture because they exist for a mere split-second—40-times faster than an eye blink. NOVA rides with scientists in a high-flying weather observation plane on a hunt for sprites, finally snaring them in 3D video and gaining vital clues to unravelling their mystery. Combining advanced video technology with stunning footage shot from the International Space Station, "At the Edge of Space" probes the boundary zone and offers an entirely new perspective on our home planet.

NOVA:  At The Edge of Space can be purchased on DVD from PBS Home Video. 

NOVA - At The Edge of Space


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