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Last broadcast on Mon, 30 Jan 2012, 23:00 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.
Brian reveals how something as flimsy as an envelope of gas - an atmosphere - can create some of the most wondrous sights in the solar system. He takes a ride in an English Electric Lightning and flies 18 km up to the top of earth's atmosphere, where he sees the darkness of space above and the thin blue line of our atmosphere below. In the Namib desert in south-west Africa, he tells the story of Mercury. This tiny planet was stripped naked of its early atmosphere and is fully exposed to the ferocity of space.
Against the stunning backdrop of the glaciers of Alaska, Brian reveals his fourth wonder: Saturn's moon Titan, shrouded by a murky, thick atmosphere. He reveals that below the clouds lies a magical world. Titan is the only place beyond earth where we've found liquid pooling on the surface in vast lakes, as big as the Caspian Sea, but the lakes of Titan are filled with a mysterious liquid, and are quite unlike anything on earth.
Clips (6)
Photo: Brian prepares for take off
Brian Cox sitting in a Lightening Jet preparing to fly 18KM above the surface of the earth.
Photo: NASA control room
Inside the NASA control room where all communication with the Mars Rovers takes place.
Photo: The Matanuska Glacier
Brian sits on the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska as he prepares to reveal his fourth wonder.
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
- Series Producer
- Danielle Peck
- Presenter
- Brian Cox
- Director
- Chris Holt
- Executive Producer
- Andrew Cohen
Broadcasts
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Sun 21 Mar 201021:00
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Sun 21 Mar 201021:00
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Tue 23 Mar 201019:00
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Wed 24 Mar 201000:10
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Sat 24 Apr 201020:00
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Sun 25 Apr 201002:20
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Thu 20 May 201001:15
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Thu 20 May 201001:45
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Wed 6 Oct 201023:50
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Tue 23 Nov 201019:00
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Wed 24 Nov 201001:00
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Sat 27 Nov 201017:15
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Wed 29 Dec 201019:00
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Wed 13 Apr 201100:20
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Wed 13 Apr 201100:30
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Mon 30 Jan 201223:00
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