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Journey
to the farthest reaches of space to witness the awesome spectacle
of the nine planets and their varied histories. This series
uses detailed and distinct computer imagery along with live
footage, to present a beautiful graphic explanation of our
solar system. Hosted by Joseph Campanella.
The
Inner Planets - Heaven or Hell
See man’s search throughout recorded time for the meaning
behind the lights that shine in the nighttime sky. Explore
the means by which humankind expanded its knowledge of the
universe above. Visit the inner planets of our solar system,
Mercury and Venus. Dark mysterious worlds which boil in the
constant heat of the nearby sun. Discover why Mercury has
no atmosphere, and why it continues to shrink in size at an
alarming rate. Venture to Venus, and see how this seemingly
beautiful planet shrouded by delicate yellow clouds is actually
the most inhospitable places in the entire solar system.
Earth
to Mars - The Next Frontier
Explore Earth, the third planet from the sun. A planet of
blue skies, white clouds, and deep oceans of water. A planet
which possesses the only environment in the solar system which
harbored and developed the most fragile of elements: LIFE.
Understand how it has evolved from the time of burning volcanoes,
and constant meteor barrage, to a place where living things
can flourish. See how mankind has shaped and molded the world,
and how that manipulation has wrought havoc with the environment.
Learn ways in which we can preserve our ecosystem. Then, journey
to Mars the fourth planet from the sun, and the most likely
candidate for future human habitation. See huge valleys and
canyons which could only have been carved by huge amount of
liquid flowing water. These rivers and lakes are dry now,
but where did the water go? It appears that most of it can
be found underground in vast quantities. Fly through valleys
cut by ancient rivers and soar over the icy polar caps of
Mars which are made both of water ice and carbon dioxide.
The
Gas Giants - Stars that Failed
Go even beyond the great Asteroid Belt to the outer gaseous
giants Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter, a planet so large itÍs
bigger than all of the other 8 planets combined. A planet
so huge, that it would take 3000 earths to equal its size.
Jupiter is made up of the same elements which make up the
sun, and in fact if Jupiter had been larger it would have
collapsed upon its weight and ignited like the sun. This planet
also has a mysterious blemish on its clouds called “The
Great Red Spot.” It is revealed that the red spot is
actually a storm on Jupiter where the clouds spin at over
800 miles per hour and has lasted over 200 years. Explore
Io, the most volcanically active place on the solar system
and Europa where ice water melts at the deepest part of the
planet. Then, journey to Saturn, the seventh planet from the
sun is surrounded by a thin band of icy particles which make
up its distinctive ring structure. Look into the rings to
see what they are made of and why they stay in such constant
order. See the eerie and beautiful moons of Saturn. One moon
in particular larger than the planet Mercury with an atmosphere
of liquid and gas. Could there be life present on so distant
a place?
Frozen
Worlds on the Outer Limits
Journey to the most distant planets in our solar system. The
first, Uranus, a planet which looks much like a huge bulls-eye
in space. It appears this way due to the fact that it is tilted
almost 90 degrees on its side. Discover how Uranus is shrouded
in clouds of methane and ammonia, which cover an enormous
sea of liquid water unlike anything we have seen on earth.
Then explore Neptune, still shrouded in such mystery. Peer
into its atmosphere and glimpse a storm so violent that the
wind travels over 1000 miles per hour. Finally, look at the
smallest and least explored planet, Pluto. So far away, that
the sun appears to be only a somewhat bright star in the sky.
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