# Wonders of the Solar System (2010)

> Professor Brian Cox travels to the most extreme places on Earth to reveal how the laws of physics sculpted wonders across the solar system.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/29793

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 5
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary
- Network: BBC Two
- Cast: Brian Cox
- TMDB rating: 8.7/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1611787/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: awe inspiring, spellbinding, wondrous, curious, uplifting

## What critics say

Viewers broadly find the series spellbinding, praising its spectacular location filming and clear explanations of physics.

## Synopsis

Wonders of the Solar System (2010) is a British science documentary miniseries created for BBC Two and presented by physicist Professor Brian Cox, who appears as himself throughout. Across five hour-long episodes, Cox travels to some of the most extreme landscapes on Earth, from volcanic and icy terrain to arid and remote regions, to show how the same physical laws that shaped those places also sculpted worlds across the solar system. Each episode is built around on-location demonstrations, clear explanations of forces and processes, and sweeping wide shots that let the scenery carry the argument. The engine is curiosity: a single presenter asking how a familiar natural wonder connects to planets and moons far beyond it, then answering with patient, visual reasoning. The tone is spellbinding, warm and wondering rather than dry, with a sense of discovery that suits viewers who enjoy popular science. Fans of Cosmos, Planet Earth and Civilisations will find similar pleasure in a charismatic host, grand landscapes and ideas made vivid. The series is a single season with no fiction, no characters beyond its presenter, and a runtime that makes it an easy, rewarding watch.

## Shows like Wonders of the Solar System

- [The Living Planet (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/8856)
- [The Planets (1999)](https://ember.film/tv/5941)
- [Frozen Planet (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/8082)
- [Cosmos (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/52325)
- [Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/30012)
- [One Strange Rock (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/65697)
- [The Planets (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/76061)
- [A Perfect Planet (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/95990)
- [Wonders of the Universe (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/34738)
- [Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980)](https://ember.film/tv/1346)

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