The Planets

To primitive peoples, the Sun was synonymous with God - the ultimate source of life-giving warmth and light. Now, step aboard with the Skylab space station to probe the turbulent heart of our local power source. Plunge into the centre of the Sun to witness the reactions driving its primordial atomic pulse. And observe the spectacle of massive solar flares capable of engulfing entire planets - including our own.

Atmospheres make weather. This can result in alien weather reports that seem as if they're right our of a science program: torrential sulphuric rain and metallic snow on Venus, global dust storms raging across Mars and centuries-long, Earth-sized cyclones circling Jupiter. It's an eye-opening exploration of other worldly weather that reveals the surprising variety and force of atmospheric activity throughout the solar system.

From the startling Copernican revelation that the Earth was not the centre of the Universe, humanity has wondered if life is unique to our world. But how likely is it that the Earth is the only reservoir of life in the vastness of space? Come along for the ride as early planetary researches learn that conditions on our neighbouring planets may be too hostile to support life and discover how recent findings hint there may be alien life "hiding out" in places we've overlooked.

What is the long-term fate of the planets in our solar system? Voyage to a future billions of years in the distance. Explore the Sun's expansion as it engulfs its planetary progeny in the final, fiery act of its billion-year long dilemma.