The Planets

Season 1
The Planets is an educational series that explores the universe through previously unreleased NASA footage. It features consultations with renowned scientific experts, including astronomers and astronauts, and combines an artful mix of real telescope and satellite images with computer-generated graphics and effects. Explore the solar system as you've never seen it before!
IMDb 8.419998 episodesALL
Available to buy

Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Different Worlds

    April 29, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    This first episode takes us back to the origin of our solar system, tracing the creation of the sun, the planets, and the surfaces of each.
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  2. S1 E2 - Terra Firma

    May 6, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    The second installment features the intriguing geological surfaces of Earth's neighbors: Jupiter, Jupiter's moon Europa, Mars, and Venus.
    Available to buy
  3. S1 E3 - Giants

    May 13, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    Giants delves into the history of space exploration. This episode investigates the discovery of techniques used to study distant planets and examines NASA's study of Saturn and Neptune.
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  4. S1 E4 - Moon

    May 20, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    Moon chronicles the Cold War era space race, from sputnik and Apollo to the historical moon landing. It also explores the dark side of the moon and compares Earth's moons to those of other planets in the solar system.
    Available to buy
  5. S1 E5 - Star

    May 27, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    In Star, the series shifts focus to the center of our solar system to take a close look at the sun and its relation to the other stars in the galaxy. Besides providing light for our planet, the sun is responsible for some incredible phenomenon. We see eclipses and northern lights, and study the effects of the sun alongside theories about the historical worship of the sun by ancient cultures.
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  6. S1 E6 - Atmosphere

    June 3, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    Earth's atmosphere is responsible for supporting life on our planet, and in this installment we compare Earth's atmosphere with that of other planets in the solar system. We take a look at the weather patterns of other planets, and by comparison discover Earth's secrets of life support. Learn about the Greenhouse effect and "red" planets, as well.
    Available to buy
  7. S1 E7 - Life Beyond the Sun

    June 10, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    Need a space vacation? Life Beyond the Sun reveals the hypothetical locations in space where man could survive if we ever needed to leave Earth.
    Available to buy
  8. S1 E8 - Destiny

    June 17, 1999
    49min
    TV-G
    What will happen to the solar system be like in several billion years? Destiny explores the distant future of the solar system with specific predictions of how the sun will determine the fate of the planets.
    Available to buy

Details

More info

Subtitles

None available

Directors

David McNab

Producers

BBC

Cast

Samuel West

Studio

BBC Earth
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