Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Empire of the Sun

Wonders of the Solar System Original Series
Episode 1 of 5

Professor Brian Cox describes how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the solar system. He explores the powerhouse of them all, the sun.

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.

In this first episode Brian explores the powerhouse of them all, the sun. In India he witnesses a total solar eclipse - when the link to the light and heat that sustains us is cut off for a few precious minutes.

But heat and light are not the only power of the sun over the solar system. In Norway, Brian watches the battle between the sun's wind and earth, as the night sky glows with the northern lights.

Beyond earth, the solar wind continues, creating dazzling aurora on other planets. Brian makes contact with Voyager, a probe that has been travelling since its launch 30 years ago. Now 14 billion kilometres away, Voyager has just detected the solar wind is beginning to peter out. But even here we haven't reached the end of the sun's rule.

Brian explains how its greatest power, gravity, reaches out for hundreds of billions of kilometres, where the lightest gravitational touch encircles our solar system in a mysterious cloud of comets.

58 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Aug 2022 23:40
BBC Four

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

Next

Order out of ChaosOriginal Series

See all episodes from Wonders of the Solar System

Clips

See all clips from Empire of the Sun (6)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:17

    Jean Rochefort

    Youri Gagarine

  • 00:28

    Cruz

    The Overture

  • 00:35

    Thomas Ferry

    Imagination

  • 00:44

    Elbow

    Bones Of You

  • 00:44

    Elbow

    The Bones Of You

  • 00:51

    Keoki

    Pass It On

  • 00:53

    Ludwig Hirsch

    Engerl

  • 00:55

    Berk and The Virtual Band

    Change

Credits

Presenter Brian Cox
Director Gideon Bradshaw
Producer Danielle Peck
Executive Producer Andrew Cohen

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Mar 2010 21:00
    BBC HD & BBC Two
  • Tue 9 Mar 2010 19:00
    BBC Two except Wales
  • Wed 10 Mar 2010 00:10
    BBC HD
  • Sat 10 Apr 2010 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Thu 6 May 2010 02:40
    BBC One
  • Sun 6 Jun 2010 21:00
    BBC HD
  • Fri 27 Aug 2010 00:00
    BBC HD
  • Sun 12 Sep 2010 18:00
    BBC Two except Wales
  • Fri 19 Nov 2010 19:00
    BBC HD
  • Sat 20 Nov 2010 01:05
    BBC HD
  • Mon 27 Dec 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Mon 11 Apr 2011 23:20
    BBC Two except Northern Ireland & Scotland
  • Mon 11 Apr 2011 23:30
    BBC Two Northern Ireland
  • Tue 12 Apr 2011 00:35
    BBC Two Scotland
  • Sat 28 Jan 2012 23:55
    BBC HD
  • Thu 7 Jun 2012 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Fri 8 Jun 2012 02:35
    BBC Four
  • Sat 9 Jun 2012 23:45
    BBC Four
  • Tue 26 Mar 2013 00:20
    BBC HD
  • Tue 10 Feb 2015 00:30
    BBC Four
  • Thu 14 Nov 2019 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Fri 15 Nov 2019 02:20
    BBC Four
  • Sun 28 Aug 2022 23:40
    BBC Four

Featured in...

  • Professor Brian Cox

    Join Brian Cox as he investigates the mysteries of nature, time and the Universe.