# Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980)

> Carl Sagan guides viewers through the origins of life, the solar system, and humanity's place in the universe.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1346

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 13
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary
- Created by: Carl Sagan
- Network: PBS
- Cast: Carl Sagan, Jaromír Hanzlík, Josef Vinklář, Dana Hlaváčová, Jonathan Fahn, Jean Charney, Linda Morabito
- TMDB rating: 9.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081846/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: awe-inspiring, reflective, hopeful, wistful, contemplative, warm

## What critics say

Audiences regard the series as an acclaimed, accessible and awe-inspiring tour of science, with Carl Sagan's warm and lucid presentation as its centerpiece.

## Synopsis

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980) is an American public television science documentary series created by Carl Sagan and broadcast on PBS. Across thirteen hour-long episodes, astronomer Carl Sagan serves as the warm, unhurried host, guiding viewers through the origin of life, the structure of the solar system, the history of astronomy, and the evolution of humanity's understanding of the universe. Rather than a single narrative engine, the series is built from distinct episodes, each exploring a scientific subject and returning to the question of our place among the stars. Sagan's personal voice carries the emotional weight, mixing awe, curiosity, and a gentle urgency about nuclear war and the greenhouse effect. Dramatized segments featuring actors playing astronomers such as Johannes Kepler, played by Jaromír Hanzlík, and Tycho Brahe, played by Josef Vinklář, bring historical discoveries to life. The tone is wondrous, reflective, and hopeful, with a studio-bound, classic educational look. Fans of Planet Earth, The Ascent of Man, and A Brief History of Time will find resonance in its blend of spectacle and scientific reflection.

## Shows like Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

- [How the Universe Works (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/31140)
- [The Universe (2007)](https://ember.film/tv/2491)
- [Planet Earth (2006)](https://ember.film/tv/981)
- [Wonders of the Universe (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/34738)
- [The Planets (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/76061)
- [Wonders of the Solar System (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/29793)
- [The Living Planet (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/8856)
- [The Ascent of Man (1973)](https://ember.film/tv/32079)
- [Life on Earth (1979)](https://ember.film/tv/14092)
- [Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/30012)

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