Wonders of the Solar System

Wonders of the Solar System 401u3j

2010
Wonders of the Solar System
Wonders of the Solar System

Wonders of the Solar System 401u3j

8.7 | TV-G | en | Documentary

In this spellbinding series, Professor Brian Cox visits the most extreme locations on Earth to explain how the laws of physics carved natural wonders across the solar system.

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EP1  Empire of the Sun
Mar. 07,2010
Empire of the Sun

Physicist Brian Cox examines the sun's rule over our planet, heading for India to witness a total solar eclipse, and viewing the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle.

EP2  Order Out of Chaos
Mar. 14,2010
Order Out of Chaos

Brian reveals how the beauty and order of the solar system was formed from a chaotic cloud of gas.

EP3  The Thin Blue Line
Mar. 21,2010
The Thin Blue Line

Brian reveals how something as flimsy as an atmosphere can create some of the most wondrous sights in the solar system. He takes a ride to the top of earth's atmosphere, and in the Namib desert, he tells how Mercury lost its atmosphere.

EP4  Dead or Alive
Mar. 28,2010
Dead or Alive

The worlds that surround our planet are all made of rock, but there the similarity ends. Some have a beating geological heart, others are frozen in time. Brian travels to the tallest mountain on earth, the volcano Mauna Kea on Hawaii, to show how something as basic as a planet's size can make the difference between life and death. Even on the summit of this volcano, Brian would stand in the shade of the tallest mountain in the solar system, an extinct volcano on Mars called Olympus Mons, which rises up 27 km. Yet the fifth wonder in the series isn't on a planet at all. It's on a tiny moon of Jupiter. The discoveries made on Io have been astonishing. This fragment of rock should be cold and dead, yet, with the volcanic landscape of eastern Ethiopia as a backdrop, Brian reveals why Io is home to extraordinary lakes of lava and giant volcanic plumes that erupt 500 km into the sky.

EP5  Aliens
Apr. 04,2010
Aliens

Professor Brian Cox visits some of the most stunning locations on earth to describe how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the solar system. Brian descends to the bottom of the Pacific in a submarine to witness the extraordinary life forms that survive in the cold, black waters. All life on Earth needs water so the search for aliens in the solar system has followed the search for water. Soaring above the dramatic Scablands of the United States, Brian discovers how the same landscape has been found on Mars. And it was all carved out in a geological heartbeat by a monumental flood. Armed with a gas mask, Brian enters a cave in Mexico where bacteria breathe toxic gas and leak concentrated acid. Yet relatives of these creatures could be surviving in newly-discovered caves on Mars.

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8.7 | TV-G | en | Documentary | More Info
Released: 2010-03-07 | Released Producted By: BBC , Science Channel Country: United Kingdom Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qyxfb
info

In this spellbinding series, Professor Brian Cox visits the most extreme locations on Earth to explain how the laws of physics carved natural wonders across the solar system.

Genre

Documentary

Watch Online

Wonders of the Solar System (2010) is currently not available on any services.

Cast

Brian Cox

Director

Gideon Bradshaw

Producted By

BBC , Science Channel

Wonders of the Solar System Videos and Images 4g3y3h

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  • Top Credited Cast
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  • Crew
Gideon Bradshaw
Gideon Bradshaw

Director

Michael Lachmann
Chris Holt
Chris Holt

Director

Paul Olding
Paul Olding

Director

Andrew Cohen
Andrew Cohen

Executive Producer

Danielle Peck
Danielle Peck

Producer

Chris Holt
Chris Holt

Writer

Paul Olding
Paul Olding

Writer

Wonders of the Solar System Audience Reviews 133g5t

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
dikdik3001 Trying to watch this TV show was like trying to watch a bad Christian rock video. There were tons of lingering shots of Brian Cox staring off into the distance looking at some "majestic" scenery, a lot of silhouettes of him posing as the sun or stars rise above him, multiple shots of him contemplating the universe or absorbing in some "fantastic" sight--all of this accompanied by horrible, drowning music. Half the time I was left wondering if it was actually a science show or not because of how little information was actually given. If you can stomach watching what I have just described, or know very little about the solar system or basic physics, then this show is for you; otherwise, stay clear or prepare to be both bewildered and angered by the fact that the BBC has produced such a mind-boggling awful show.
madfranco i haven't logged into IMDb for years but i thought i'd make a special exception to say how far off the mark i felt you (cinemaion) were with you're wonders.. review. i think that you completely missed the point, you have reviewed it from a standpoint pointing out things that were missing from it but not really ever understanding what the program was. it seems you've reviewed it as if this were an essay or a report on new discoveries in the solar system which it isn't, it's a bbc production telling the vast majority of people in Britain a bit of information they probably didn't know about the solar system (our solar system which is why it didn't mention neighboring solar systems).in summary:1- most bbc factual entertainment programs are only commissioned for 5 shows which is why there is only a limited number of things covered, also brian cox chose to write what he wanted to make a program about, it's your subjectivity which is the problem if you were't happy with what you learned, and if you already knew it why bother watching the program?2- the lack of graphics was probably due to budgetary constraints or a creative choice, there wasn't really any massive need for more graphics and the fact things were shot on location (i feel was a good thing), was to show the massive similarities there are even on alien worlds!3- again it is your subjectivity which is the problem, i personally like brian cox, i think he's quite funny.4- i personally didn't have a problem with the editing, it was a documentary ON TV so why would images stay on the screen for prolonged times for someone to study them, read a book or watch it on DVD and discover the wonders of the pause button.5- that's just a mean comment and not objective critical analysis of the program, maybe a poor attempt at humour?in detail-1- there is some repetition but mainly between episodes or you may be confused with what the function of an introduction and credits are.in David attenborough documentaries the information is much more easy to grasp and doesn't require massive knowledge of physics and other subjects the majority of Britain has not much grasp of, that is why if you want to learn about the science become a scientist, not watch a bbc TV program.i've already covered why he didn't cover what you wanted him to cover so i will also point out that you didn't make the television program which is probably another reason why he didn't cover everything you wanted him to cover.and why didn't he cover any complex physics... (BBC PRIME TIME)2- well you've explained to yourself that it is because of the similarities why he travelled to look at similarities between alien worlds so again; your subjectivity = the problem and if you want to continue to complain about the lack of graphics why don't you go live in tron?3- this reader feels the reviewer may be a jilted ex the way they continue to attack the presenter and has still no grasp of the function of an informative program as opposed to a space probe.4- & 5- not a book, jilted lover.something on the oort cloud would have been good though..
zephyrus_boreas I had high hopes for this series as it's been quite a while since I've seen a series with astronomy as its focus. Unfortunately I'm finding it tough going. I'm sure Brian Cox is a highly qualified scientist with a bunch of letters after his name, but he is definitely no David Attenborough. He does, however seem to think he is.Every second shot is of Cox in a new location, which probably cost the BBC a small fortune. All this in aid of presenting a documentary about .... the solar system.I found this distracting, excessive and indulgent. It makes Cox seem to be on a world tour financed by BBC. His style of speaking and delivery jar with the subject matter being presented.Ultimately I wish that the BBC had spent more on some nice CGI and the services of someone like Patrick Stewart, or any other actor with a good voice for narration to present this off camera rather than visiting deserts, waterfalls and the arctic circle.Having said that, the CGI used is very pretty. The science, while fairly basic, is explained well, though would have taken half the time had we not been looking at location shots instead of diagrams.
peterclark99 Brian Cox is the kind of man who can incite excitement in adults, change career paths of the young, and generally engage and include people of all levels of intelligence. His rock star credentials have clearly allowed him to transcend stereotypical geekiness, and purvey complex matters in simplistic formats. Maybe he is a genius? A man who clearly has a highly active brain in both the areas of arts and science. It is just such a guy that the country needs as it seeks to transform itself from a Nation of number crunching ants to a re-establishing Nation of scientists, engineers and innovators. He is clearly a reminder of what we once were and what this great Nation once spawned, and more importantly he has answered some of the biggest questions that have shadowed mankind since the creation of time.