For the fans of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos series, you might just be pleasantly surprised that the series is back with a ‘big bang’, not to mention updates on all of the new discoveries in the universe.

As if the debut on Sunday night wasn’t exciting enough, there was a pretty special surprise guest: President Barack Obama, who introduced the episode with a special message that urged viewers to explore new frontiers, like space!

All politics aside, it was awe inspiring to have Obama as the opening act of such a spectacular event. The president’s introduction “invites a new generation to embrace the spirit of discovery and inspires viewers to explore new frontiers and imagine limitless possibilities for the future,” according to a statement issued by Fox.

The new Fox science series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey premiered on Sunday March 9th, and begins a 13-part journey through the universe and beyond, airing on 10 networks, led by Fox and National Geographic Channel.

With the brilliant scientist, astrophysicist and educator, Neil deGrasse Tyson hosting the series, it should be full of surprises.

I want to fall to my knees and weep tears of joy for how beautiful and mind blowing #Cosmos is done. Bravo @neiltyson bravo. #CosmosPremiere

— Melissa Danielson⚡️ (@DaniMeli208) March 10, 2014

Robert Lloyd writes in his review for The Times, headlined: Neil deGrasse Tyson’s ‘Cosmos’ a fascinating, fun place to be:

“The subject — everything that is and how it got that way — is obviously a big one, encompassing not only planets and stars and amoebas and people, but the lenses through which we’ve viewed it all. Most important, it celebrates scientific inquiry itself, which Tyson defines as ‘generations of searchers strictly adhering to a simple set of rules: test ideas by experiment and observation; build on those ideas that pass the test; reject the ones that fail; follow the evidence wherever it leads; and question everything.”

The series is presented to generate interest in science and the universe, with an interesting and fun introduction.

“The goal is to convey why science matters to the person, to our society, to us as shepherds of this planet. It involves presenting science in ways that connect to you, so Cosmos can influence you not only intellectually but emotionally, with a celebration of wonder and awe,” says Tyson. “Science should be part of everybody’s life. The prerequisite is not that you become a scientist. It’s that at the end of the series, you will embrace science and recognize its role in who and what you are.”

The Fox and National Geographic preview hosted at the White House on Feb 28, signaled the start of the White House Student Film Festival, and tied in with Obama’s efforts to boost the use of technology and science in classrooms around the country.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will air Sundays at 9 pm on Fox and Mondays at 10 pm on the National Geographic Channel with bonus footage and behind-the-scenes content.

Amazingly, the series will also be shown on 220 channels in 181 countries, and is a group effort from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions and Cosmos Studios, the company founded in 2000 by Ann Druyan, Carl Sagan’s widow.

Image via YouTube