Secrets of the Solar System - Season 1

From frigid canyons kilometres deep, to sprouting geysers that reach space, we embark on a grand tour of the solar system, unravelling the secrets that the planets have harboured for millions of years and discovering that Earth came close to almost not existing at all.

A team of scientists launch a probe to touch the sun and make a surprise discovery on the tiny planet Mercury.

We have been mesmerized by Venus since ancient times. Was this a paradise world teeming with life? This film tells the remarkable story of how spacecraft revealed the true nature of Earth's enigmatic twin, that it's a lifeless hell – and that the Earth could follow suit.

The dramatic, moving and powerful story of humanity's conquest of Mars, told by the people who risked entire careers to explore the red planet. Did we find evidence for life back in the '70s? Some believe we did.

Jupiter is a massive and dangerous planet, surrounded by a wreath of deadly radiation. This is the story of how humans built machines that not only survived the perils of the huge gas giant but revealed its innermost secrets.

Saturn, with its majestic rings, is the jewel in the crown of the solar system. This film is an emotional journey of exploration told by the world's top experts. A magical, space-based mystery tour.

Our solar system is home to many wanderers, the asteroids and comets. This is a journey into deep space to visit objects that have endured unimaginable periods of time, waiting to reveal the origins of the solar system and therefore, us.

The story of how an underground group of scientists took on the establishment to send a spacecraft to the most distant world ever seen up-close. It would be an astounding, yet life-affirming journey for all.