Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

PBS Digital Studios Debuts STELLAR Alongside PBS's Summer of Space Interactive Experience at PBS.org

19/06/2019

STELLAR, A New Six Part Miniseries from PBS Digital Studios.

PBS

The Six Episode Miniseries Debuts on Facebook and YouTube Beginning June 20; Accompanies PBS.org Interactive Hub and Compelling, Space-Themed Content

ARLINGTON, VA; June 18, 2019 - PBS Digital Studios, dedicated to developing thought-proving programming for the curious minds of the Internet, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing with the launch of STELLAR, a six-episode space-themed miniseries on PBS's Facebook and YouTube pages. Beginning Thursday, June 20, STELLAR will feature three of PBS Digital Studios' most popular, space-loving hosts - Matt Dowd (SPACE TIME), Dianne Cowern (PHYSICS GIRL) and Joe Hanson (IT'S OKAY TO BE SMART) on location at space flight centers around the country highlighting current developments in space exploration, astronomy and astrophysics.

STELLAR is an evolution for PBS's original digital programming, it blends together the cinematic quality of broadcast science documentaries with the communal spirit of YouTube and Facebook, said Brandon Arolfo, Senior Director, PBS Digital Studios. We've brought together three of PBS' biggest science creators to help bring the universe to digital audiences and couldn't be more excited to share this great content in celebration of this momentous anniversary.

As part of the previously announced Summer of Space multiplatform experience, STELLAR will accompany more than 20 compelling space-themed offerings throughout the summer. New offerings from the PBS Digital Studios network include an episode on martians from MONSTRUM, a look at a space-themed art from ART ASSIGNMENT, an ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING episode that asks why did we plant a flag on the moon? and a video from AMERICA FROM SCRATCH that looks at whether or not we should colonize Mars.

In addition, a Summer of Space interactive hub is coming in July to pbs.org where viewers will be invited to submit videos, photographs, audio recordings and text entries sharing their love of space exploration and how they experienced the Apollo 11 mission. Educators, students and life-long learners will also find Summer of Space classroom-ready materials available on PBS LearningMedia.

An overview of STELLAR and its weekly premiere dates are as follows:

Episode 1: The Mysterious Quasar at the Beginning of the Universe

Host: Matt O'Dowd

Location: Gemini Observatory in Hawaii

Premiere Date: Thursday, June 20

In this episode, host Matt O'Dowd explores how Gemini Observatory detected the oldest and farthest object ever seen - the ancient J0439+1634 quasar. Dowd explains how humans use telescopes to expand their vision into the electromagnetic spectrum, revealing what's out there millions and billions of light years away, just by analyzing the invisible wavelengths traveling through space.

Episode 2: Detecting Black Hole Collisions from 5 Billion Years Ago

Host: Dianna Cowern

Location: LIGO Hanford Observatory in Washington

Premiere Date: Tuesday, June 25

Going beyond the EM spectrum, it is now possible to see a phenomenon that was completely theoretical and invisible to all until just a few years ago: gravitational waves. By sensing the tiniest ripples in gravity, itself, we can see violent stellar collisions like the merging of black holes and neutron stars - events that happened hundreds of millions or billions of years in the past.

Episode 3: Imaging an Impossible Object with a World Sized Telescope

Host: Joe Hanson

Location: Submillimeter Array in Hawaii

Premiere Date: Thursday, June 27

Black holes began as theoretical curiosity in the minds of early 20th century physicists and slowly moved from curiosity to reality, as both the math and observatory observations verified the necessity of their existence. But we had no idea what they looked like and no way to take an image, until now. This is the story of how a worldwide group of telescopes used radio interferometry to not only prove irrefutably that black holes exist but show us what they look like.

Episode 4: How We Discovered the Universe

Host: Matt O'Dowd

Location: Mt. Wilson Observatory in California and American Museum of Natural History in New York

Premiere Date: Thursday, July 11

At the beginning of the 20th century humans thought the Milky Way Galaxy was the entire universe. By the end of the century we discovered the universe is composed of more than 100 billion galaxies. This episode is the story of that incredible awakening to the magnitude of our universe, starting with the discoveries of Edwin Hubble at Mt. Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles.

Episode 5: Where is Everyone?

Host: Joe Hanson

Location: Mauna Kea Summit and W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii

Premiere: Thursday, July 18

In this enormous universe there must be other intelligent life, so why haven't we met them yet? We explore the Drake Equation to discover the likelihood that intelligent civilizations exist and how many of them there may be, and identify what risks they, and humanity, face as they grow into technological powers.

Episode 6: Can We Live Elsewhere in the Solar System?

Host: Dianna Cowern

Location: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California

Premiere Date: Thursday, July 25

Could we live anywhere else in our solar system? In this episode, we investigate how NASA's rovers are setting the stage for human habitations on Mars and discuss the challenges we face in both getting there and creating a sustainable colony. And we explore Jupiter's moon Europa and its ice-covered ocean, which very well may contain life.

STELLAR is produced by Kornhaber Brown, PBS Digital Studios' longtime production partner behind Space Time and PBS Idea Channel. Support for the miniseries was provided by Draper and its Hack the Moon Initiative.

About PBS Digital Studios

PBS Digital Studio
LINK: http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-digital-studios-debuts-stellar...
See more stories from pbs

North America Stories

13/03/2026

SVG Sit-Down: Net Insight's Andreas Eriksson on Scalable, Predictable Live-Media Infrastructure

Recently named CEO Andreas Eriksson has taken the helm at Net Insight at a pivot...

13/03/2026

Scripps Sports To Broadcast First PWHL Game on National TV in U.S.

Scripps Sports and Ally Financial are partnering with the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) to broadcast its first game on national linear televisio...

13/03/2026

Disney+ Follows in ESPN's Footsteps With Launch of Verts Vertical Video Feed on Mobile

Disney+ has launched Verts, a vertical video feed on its U.S. mobile app, markin...

13/03/2026

LTN and Appear Announce Integrated Solution for Live Event Video Transport and Distribution

LTN, a managed IP video transport company, and Appear, a live production technol...

13/03/2026

PFL Signs Betting Data and Streaming Agreement With Sportradar

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced an agreement with Sportradar for global betting data and streaming rights. Under the deal, Sportradar becom...

13/03/2026

SVG GameDay, Ep. 7: Milwaukee Brewers' Jami Patton - Game Pres with the Brew Crew

In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...

13/03/2026

Peacock To Add Vertical Video Option for Live NBA Games

The streamer will be the first entertainment platform to offer AI-enabled vertical video for live games, starting with the NBA...

13/03/2026

Ease Live Deploys Interactive Overlay Platform on Red Bull TV for Premier Padel

Ease Live, an Evertz company specializing in interactive graphical overlays, has deployed its platform on Red Bull TV for Premier Padel coverage. The deployment...

13/03/2026

ESPN's Andy Jacobson on Pushing the Envelope to Debut MNF Playbook'

Monday Night Football, ESPN's premiere NFL property, has continued to be improved and upgraded from a production perspective. Alternative broadcasts are aug...

13/03/2026

NAB 2026: Net Insight Introduces Nimbra 520 Media Processing Node

At NAB Show 2026, Net Insight (booth W1653) is introducing the Nimbra 520, a high-density media processing node for live contribution and distribution across ma...

13/03/2026

NAB 2026: Harmonic Takes Wraps Off Spectrum X Plus Media Server

Harmonic (booth W2831) has announced Spectrum X Plus, the newest generation of its Spectrum X media server, offering double the channel density of previous gene...

13/03/2026

Riedel Communications Appoints Jan Schaffner as VP of Managed Technology Americas

Riedel Communications has announced the expansion of its Managed Technology Divi...

13/03/2026

NAB 2026: Telestream Launches UP, a Cloud-Native Ingest and Monitoring Solution

Telestream (booth W1503) has announced the expansion of Telestream Cloud Services with the introduction of UP, a cloud-native solution for ingest, orchestration...

13/03/2026

It's Showtime! Production Pros Bring Awards Shows, Festivals, and Other Events to Life

From awards ceremonies and sports honors shows to festivals and fan conventions,...

13/03/2026

Overtime Partners with Metro by T-Mobile for OTE and Overtime Select Basketball Leagues

Overtime has announced a partnership with Metro by T-Mobile, naming Metro the Of...

13/03/2026

NAB 2026: Calrec to Showcase IP Ecosystem and Plethora of New Products

At NAB 2026, Calrec (booth C6907) will IP Ecosystem powered by True Control 2.0, integrating the company's IP-native Argo consoles - including the U.S. debu...

13/03/2026

Ratings Roundup: FOX Smashes WBC Records, ESPN Nets Best College Hoops Audience in 10+ Years

Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent ratings news derived from press releases ...

13/03/2026

Missionized Business Jets: Fielded and Flying

Over a year ago, L3Harris delivered the first missionized Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Two ATHENA-R platforms now average 400+...

13/03/2026

GFiber and Stonepeak's Astound Broadband to Merge

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

13/03/2026

Harmonic Redefines the Economics of Video Playout with Ne...

Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced Spectrum X Plus, the newest generation of its Spectrum X media server, offering double the channel density of previous ...

13/03/2026

Historic Ewing Covenant Church Revitalizes Worship Experi...

When Ewing Covenant Church made the decision to return to its original, historic building, affectionately called 1867 Sanctuary for weekly worship, the congre...

13/03/2026

Marshall Electronics Launches CV574 WP its First 4K All I...

Marshall Electronics introduces its first all-IP 4K POV camera, the CV574-WP, at NAB 2026 (Booth C8339). The CV574-WP supports NDI |HX, providing ultra-efficien...

13/03/2026

Net Insight launches Nimbra 520 - Predictable Live Media...

At NAB Show 2026, Net Insight introduces Nimbra 520, a high-density media processing node designed to simplify live contribution and distribution across both ma...

13/03/2026

Abandon Editorial Signs With Michal Dimitri for West Coast Representation

Abandon Editorial Signs With Micha l Dimitri for West Coast Representation Brie Clayton March 12, 2026 0 Comments Abandon Editorial is excited to part...

13/03/2026

Documentary The Bulldogs Shot and Edited with Blackmagic Design

Documentary The Bulldogs Shot and Edited with Blackmagic Design Brie Clayton March 12, 2026 0 Comments Editorial tools helped shape film in real time,...

13/03/2026

AE Captions as Fast as CapCut - No Plugins

AE Captions as Fast as CapCut - No Plugins Graham Quince March 12, 2026 0 Comments Stop wasting hours clicking through nested compositions and manuall...

13/03/2026

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2026 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2026 Nex...

12/03/2026

Utah Scientific Expands Technology Partner Program With Integrations From Audinate, Bitfocus, and Skaarhoj

Utah Scientific Expands Technology Partner Program With Integrations From Audina...

12/03/2026

Techex Hires Matt McKee as Senior Director, Sales, Americas

Techex, a global expert in live video solutions over IP and cloud, announces the appointment of Matt McKee as Senior Director, Sales, Americas, further strength...

12/03/2026

KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America Welcomes Mondae Hott as Regional Sales Manager, Northeast

KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America has appointed Mondae Hott as Regional Sales Manag...

12/03/2026

Interra Systems Focuses on Streaming-First QC, Monitoring, and Responsible AI Workflows at 2026 NAB Show

At the 2026 NAB Show, Interra Systems will showcase its latest advancements in a...

12/03/2026

15th National Games of China Features Expansive Unified Broadcast Network

The 15th National Games of China concluded after a two-week celebration of athletic excellence and regional collaboration. Held from Nov. 9-21 across Guangdong,...

12/03/2026

SVG in Indy: Butler University Students Get Live-Sports Experience via On-Campus Studio, Production Truck

Live-production academic program Butler Sports Live produced a total of 40 fall-...

12/03/2026

Lawo Delivers Fully IPBased Video Infrastructure for University of Nebraska's HuskerVision

The University of Nebraska's HuskerVision has completed the second phase of ...

12/03/2026

University of Illinois Upgrades Game-Day Production with New Hybrid IP Control Room

Grass Valley and integration partner Tab M Solutions have completed Phase 1 of a...

12/03/2026

CBS Sports Turns to University of Cincinnati's Control Room and Staff for Two Big 12 Men's Basketball Broadcasts

The broadcaster expands its campus-production model as the university handles tw...

12/03/2026

Disney+ to Stream Men's and Women's NCAA March Madness Across Europe, South Africa

Disney has announced the addition of March Madness - the NCAA Division I Men...

12/03/2026

Apple TV Further Integrating iPhones into Friday Night Baseball' Camera Lineup This Season

Apple TV's Friday Night Baseball MLB doubleheader series returns for its f...

12/03/2026

SVG Students To Watch: Jack Rinaldi, University of Notre Dame

The senior from New Jersey is making his mark in South Bend, both on the mic and behind it...

12/03/2026

Ross Video's Kevin Dresser on Powering Graphics for Major Sporting Events Throughout a Busy February

After a relatively quiet January, the month of February was jammed packed with l...

12/03/2026

X Games Launches New Era With First League Draft at Cosm L.A.

Long-time production partner Echo Entertainment is producing the broadcast, while Cosm played a vital role in the collaboration...

12/03/2026

Film Festival Watch: 24 Sundance Institute-Supported Films to Catch at the SXSW Film Festival

By Jessica Herndon We love kicking off each year by introducing the world to po...

12/03/2026

Didn't Die Brings Improv to the Zombie Apocalypse

Samrat Chakrabarti, George Basil, Kiran Deol, Katie McCuen and Vishal Vijayakumar attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Didn't Die at the Lib...

12/03/2026

L3Harris and Shield AI Achieve Breakthrough in Autonomous Electronic Warfare

MELBOURNE, Fla., March 11, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) and Shield AI have successfully demonstrated a first-of-its-kind integration combining L3Har...

12/03/2026

L3Harris Delivering AI-Enabled CJADC2

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into modern, converged all-domain systems is enabling true Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Oper...

12/03/2026

L3Harris Appoints Sam Mehta President, Space & Mission Systems and Communications & Spectrum Dominance Segments

MELBOURNE, Fla., March 12, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) today announ...

12/03/2026

Australia's financial sector ad spend surged by 20% in 2025 according to Nielsen

Cost pressures, switching intent and demand for savings and credit products are ...

12/03/2026

Nielsen Launches 2026 Upfront Planning Series With New Data To Help Marketers and Agencies Unlock Growth, Innovation Opportunities

For the first time, Nielsen breaks out demographic information about FAST and AV...

12/03/2026

Disney+ Goes Vertical with Verts

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/03/2026

LTN and Appear Collaborate to Enable Scalable IP-Native L...

Appear's high-performance, ultra-low latency encoding platform augments LTN's fully managed global IP network and orchestration platform LTN, a leader ...