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Last broadcast on Sat, 28 Jan 2012, 23:55 on BBC HD (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
Professor Brian Cox visits some of the most stunning locations on earth to describe how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the solar system.
In this first episode Brian explores the powerhouse of them all, the sun. In India he witnesses a total solar eclipse - when the link to the light and heat that sustains us is cut off for a few precious minutes.
But heat and light are not the only power of the sun over the solar system. In Norway, Brian watches the battle between the sun's wind and earth, as the night sky glows with the northern lights.
Beyond earth, the solar wind continues, creating dazzling aurora on other planets. Brian makes contact with Voyager, a probe that has been travelling since its launch 30 years ago. Now 14 billion kilometres away, Voyager has just detected the solar wind is beginning to peter out. But even here we haven't reached the end of the sun's rule.
Brian explains how its greatest power, gravity, reaches out for hundreds of billions of kilometres, where the lightest gravitational touch encircles our solar system in a mysterious cloud of comets.
Clips (6)
Photo: Aurora over Norway
The spectacular Aurora Borealis appear over the Norwegian countryside.
Photo: Iguazu Falls
Professor Brian Cox at the Iguazu Falls in Brazil.
Photo: Solar Eclipse
Photo: Deep Earth Network
The Deep Earth Network at Goldstone, California, USA.
Explore the Solar System
Watch video clips from classic BBC television programmes about the Solar System. The videos cover topics including the planets, moons and astronauts from series such as The Planets, The Sky at Night and Horizon.
Learn more about the Solar System with clips from the BBC archive
Credits
- Presenter
- Brian Cox
- Director
- Gideon Bradshaw
- Producer
- Danielle Peck
- Executive Producer
- Andrew Cohen
Broadcasts
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Sun 7 Mar 201021:00
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Sun 7 Mar 201021:00
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Tue 9 Mar 201019:00
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Wed 10 Mar 201000:10
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Sat 10 Apr 201020:00
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Thu 6 May 201002:40
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Sun 6 Jun 201021:00
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Fri 27 Aug 201000:00
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Sun 12 Sep 201018:00
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Fri 19 Nov 201019:00
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Sat 20 Nov 201001:05
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Mon 27 Dec 201019:00
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Mon 11 Apr 201123:20
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Mon 11 Apr 201123:30
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Tue 12 Apr 201100:35
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Sat 28 Jan 201223:55
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