1: Empire of the Sun | Wonders of the Solar System

Duration: 58'29''

Synopsis

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.

Further Information

More clips from 01: Empire of the Sun

The centre of our solar system | Wonders of the Solar System

The centre of our solar system | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'55''

Professor Brian Cox describes each planet's perspective of the star at the centre of our solar system.

The life cycle of the sun | Wonders of the Solar System

The life cycle of the sun | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'14''

An exploration of each stage of our sun's lifecycle, from clumps of hydrogen and dust to being the most powerful forc...

The suns empire | Wonders of the Solar System

The suns empire | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 3'03''

Professor Brian Cox explains the immense power of the Sun, and the extent of its gravitational influence.

The centre of our solar system | Wonders of the Solar System

The centre of our solar system | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'55''

Professor Brian Cox describes each planet's perspective of the star at the centre of our solar system.

The life cycle of the sun | Wonders of the Solar System

The life cycle of the sun | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 4'14''

An exploration of each stage of our sun's lifecycle, from clumps of hydrogen and dust to being the most powerful forc...

The suns empire | Wonders of the Solar System

The suns empire | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 3'03''

Professor Brian Cox explains the immense power of the Sun, and the extent of its gravitational influence.

More resources about The Solar System and Universe

1: A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets | The Planets

1: A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets | The Planets

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'02''

The rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars were born at the same time from the same material - yet have...

1: Destiny | Wonders of the Universe

1: Destiny | Wonders of the Universe

BBC Two | 2011 | 59'04''

Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian looks at the nature of time and its role in creating both ...

1: Seeing is Believing | Stephen Hawking's Universe

1: Seeing is Believing | Stephen Hawking's Universe

BBC Two | 1997 | 49'18''

Professor Stephen Hawking explains the history of mankind's quest to explain the Universe. He shows how advances in techn...

1: The Sun: God Star | Universe

1: The Sun: God Star | Universe

BBC Two | 2021 | 59'10''

Since the first star lit up the universe, they have been engines of creation. Professor Brian Cox reveals how, ultimately, stars brought life...

1: Volcano Worlds | Solar System

1: Volcano Worlds | Solar System

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'57''

Professor Brian Cox explores planets and moons covered in volcanoes. He encounters alien landscapes bursting with fire and ice - eruptions s...

2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe

2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe

BBC Two | 2021 | 58'48''

Professor Brian Cox questions whether we are alone in the universe. There might be more planets than stars in our gal...

2: Dark Worlds | Solar System

2: Dark Worlds | Solar System

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'40''

Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's hidden realms, between and beyond the planets, where countless worlds lie hiding in the darkness.

2: In the Beginning | Stephen Hawking's Universe

2: In the Beginning | Stephen Hawking's Universe

BBC Two | 1997 | 49'01''

Professor Stephen Hawking looks at the mystery of how the Universe. He introduces the Big Bang theory and the scientists who...

2: Order out of Chaos | Wonders of the Solar System

2: Order out of Chaos | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'43''

Professor Brian Cox describes how nature has carved out the solar system. He looks at the rings of Saturn, explaining how...

2: Stardust | Wonders of the Universe

2: Stardust | Wonders of the Universe

BBC Two | 2011 | 58'23''

Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, he seeks to answer the biggest questions of all - what are we a...

2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets

2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'16''

Professor Brian Cox continues his tour of the solar system revealing that it was once home to not one, but two blue planets.

3: Cosmic Alchemy | Stephen Hawking's Universe

3: Cosmic Alchemy | Stephen Hawking's Universe

BBC Two | 1997 | 49'21''

Professor Stephen Hawking looks at the search from ancient to modern times for the 'cosmic alchemy' that created all the matte...

3: Falling | Wonders of the Universe

3: Falling | Wonders of the Universe

BBC Two | 2011 | 58'51''

Series in which Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian takes on the story of the force that sculp...

3: Storm Worlds | Solar System

3: Storm Worlds | Solar System

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'57''

Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's wildest weather, encountering powerful lightning, strange metallic frosts and monsoon rains on...

3: The Godfather: Jupiter | The Planets

3: The Godfather: Jupiter | The Planets

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'10''

Brian Cox continues his exploration of the solar system with a visit to a planet that dwarfs all the others: Jupiter. Its size gives ...

3: The Milky Way: Island of Light | Universe

3: The Milky Way: Island of Light | Universe

BBC Two | 2021 | 59'04''

A space mission discovers the dramatic history of the Milky Way. Professor Brian Cox reveals how our galaxy endured multiple col...

3: The Thin Blue Line | Wonders of the Solar System

3: The Thin Blue Line | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'59''

Professor Brian Cox reveals how something as flimsy as an envelope of gas - an atmosphere - can create some of the most w...

4: Black Holes and Beyond | Stephen Hawking's Universe

4: Black Holes and Beyond | Stephen Hawking's Universe

BBC Two | 1997 | 49'07''

Professor Stephen Hawking looks at how radio astronomy and the discovery of quasars affected the debate about the exis...

4: Black Holes: Heart of Darkness | Universe

4: Black Holes: Heart of Darkness | Universe

BBC Two | 2021 | 58'55''

Professor Brian Cox journeys into a supermassive black hole - a monster that can destroy worlds and stop time, and which is forc...

4: Dead or Alive | Wonders of the Solar System

4: Dead or Alive | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'27''

Professor Brian Cox travels to the tallest mountain on Earth to show how something as basic as a planet's size can make the di...

More from Brian Cox

5: Strange Worlds | Solar System

5: Strange Worlds | Solar System

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'50''

Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's misfits and oddballs and investigates the forces that sculpted the bizarre features on these...

Brian Cox: Seven Days on Mars

Brian Cox: Seven Days on Mars

BBC Two | 2022 | 1'28'53''

With unique access to Nasa, Brian Cox follows Perseverance rover's search for life on Mars during a critical seven-day period as it undertakes ...

1: Space: How Far Can We Go? | Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time

1: Space: How Far Can We Go? | Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time

BBC Two | 2021 | 59'06''

Brian Cox explores the latest science and takes a new look at his old films and asks: how far can we ...

2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe

2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe

BBC Two | 2021 | 58'48''

Professor Brian Cox questions whether we are alone in the universe. There might be more planets than stars in our gal...

The centre of our solar system | Wonders of the Solar System

The centre of our solar system | Wonders of the Solar System

BBC Two | 2019 | 2'55''

Professor Brian Cox describes each planet's perspective of the star at the centre of our solar system.

2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets

2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'16''

Professor Brian Cox continues his tour of the solar system revealing that it was once home to not one, but two blue planets.

Moon Landing Special | Stargazing

Moon Landing Special | Stargazing

BBC Two | 2019 | 1'28'41''

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, Professor Brian Cox and Dara O Briain travel to where the historic Apollo 11 ...

The 21st Century Race For Space

The 21st Century Race For Space

BBC Two | 2017 | 58'52''

Brian Cox gains exclusive access to Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and Spaceport America, to explore what is really happening in privately fina...

4: The Pale Blue Dot | Forces of Nature with Brian Cox

4: The Pale Blue Dot | Forces of Nature with Brian Cox

BBC One | 2016 | 58'35''

Professor Brian Cox reveals how Earth's beauty is created by just a handful of forces. In this episode Brian explains ...

The Entire Universe

The Entire Universe

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'09''

Eric Idle persuades Professor Brian Cox to present a lecture on the birth of the entire universe. Brian soon realises Eric is actually hosting a comedy a...

4: A Place in Space and Time | Human Universe

4: A Place in Space and Time | Human Universe

BBC Two | 2014 | 58'58''

Professor Brian Cox explores mankind's place in the universe. He looks at how we came to understand that we are not at the cent...

Brian Cox: Space, Time & Videotape

Brian Cox: Space, Time & Videotape

BBC Four | 2014 | 59'13''

Professor Brian Cox is joined by two of his heroes, the actor Brian Blessed and Professor Alice Roberts. On the agenda are his TV idols fr...

Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life

Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life

BBC Two | 2013 | 4'12''

Spec references J247: B5.2c J250: B5.2c. Clip starts with a description of hearing and then goe...

The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone

The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2013 | 6'12''

Brian Cox explores the science behind the genetic modification of plants, and the ongoing debate around ...

The inspiration for Frankenstein | In Search of Science

The inspiration for Frankenstein | In Search of Science

BBC Two | 2013 | 2'33''

Brain Cox looks into the story and scientist that is thought to have influenced Frankenstein.

How are elements made? | Wonders of the Universe

How are elements made? | Wonders of the Universe

BBC Two | 2011 | 7'37''

Brian Cox explains what elements are and how they are formed, including the importance of carbon.

A Night with the Stars

A Night with the Stars

BBC Two | 2011 | 58'39''

Professor Brian Cox takes an audience of famous faces, scientists and members of the public on a journey through some of the most challenging concepts...

Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon

Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon

BBC Four | 2009 | 59'05''

Brian Cox uses the BBC archive to examine the story of man's relationship with the moon, from James Burke testing out Nasa equipment to Neil Ar...

The Big Bang Machine

The Big Bang Machine

BBC Four | 2008 | 58'57''

Brian Cox looks around Cern's LHC in Geneva before it is sealed off and the experiment to try and create conditions that existed a billionth of a second...