A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets
The rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars were born at the same time from the same material - yet have lived radically different lives. What immense forces are at play?
In this major landmark series, Professor Brian Cox tells the extraordinary life story of our solar system. For four and a half billion years each of the planets has been on an incredible journey, filled with astonishing spectacle and great drama. Using the data from our very latest explorations of the solar system combined with groundbreaking CGI this series reveals the unimaginable beauty and grandeur of eight planets whose stories we are only just beginning to understand.
The first episode traces the development of the four rocky worlds closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Born together, they battled the unbelievable violence of the early solar system to become stable planets. For a while each had a moment of hope when they enjoyed almost earth-like conditions. Yet today Mercury is a scorched barren world. Venus is a runaway greenhouse world with a scorching atmosphere and Mars is a frozen desert. Only on Earth do oceans – and life – persist.
Why has Earth thrived whilst the others have faded away? The most advanced space missions ever mounted allow us to reveal the moments when the fate of each world turned. Mercury was flung across the solar system in a collision of unimaginable ferocity. A young Venus resplendent with oceans was locked in a battle with the sun. And an early wet Mars was robbed of the material it would need to survive.
Only Earth found itself far enough away from the sun for life to hold on. But it can’t last forever. Billions of years from now our world will follow the fate of its sister planets as the sun expands to become a red giant. But as it does other oases may awaken on the faraway moons of the gas giants - like Saturn’s moon Titan. In the far future, it too may enjoy its moment in the sun.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Clip
-
Secrets of the Solar System: Hunting for volcanoes
Duration: 04:44
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Brian Cox |
Executive Producer | Andrew Cohen |
Series Producer | Gideon Bradshaw |
Director | Stephen Cooter |
Director | Martin Johnson |
Editor | Louise Salkow |
Production Manager | Evih Efue |
Composer | Bleeding Fingers |
Broadcasts
- Tue 28 May 2019 21:00
- Sat 1 Jun 2019 19:30
- Sat 15 Jun 2019 01:40
- Christmas Day 2019 11:00
- Mon 15 Jun 2020 19:00
- Mon 11 Jan 2021 14:00
- Wed 21 Jul 2021 21:00
- Thu 22 Jul 2021 02:10
Featured in...
Professor Brian Cox
Join Brian Cox as he investigates the mysteries of nature, time and the Universe.
Documentaries
Documentaries from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two - the home of distinctive, specialist factual programming.
Bitesize Daily
Resources and programmes to support learners, teachers and parents during lockdown.
Lockdown Learning
Resources and programmes to support learners, teachers and parents during lockdown.
Midweek Wind Down
Turn on, tune in, chill out - favourite shows for relaxing
The Space Collection
A collection of programmes exploring space travel, science and distant planets.
Family Favourites
Must watch shows from across the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Big in 2019
The series that had us all hooked this year.
Exploring the Cosmos
A collection of programmes exploring the mysteries of stars, Space and distant planets.
Family Favourites
All your favourites from across the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Space Adventures!
Explore the universe and reach fro the stars with these CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ shows ...
Download your FREE Open University poster about our Solar System’s planets and moons
Visit OpenLearn and find out more about our Solar System.