In Dark Worlds, the second episode of 5 part series, Solar System, Brian Cox heads out on a journey through the darkest realms beyond Mars. The episode focuses on the asteroid belt, where Ceres stands out due to its bright, white salt crystals that hint at the existence of an ancient ocean. The possibility of hidden pools of salty water beneath Ceres’ surface places it in the spotlight as a candidate for life.
Moving beyond the asteroid belt, Cox explores the far reaches of our solar system, including Neptune’s moon Triton, believed to have originated farther out in the Kuiper Belt. Triton and Pluto are among the many distant worlds in this dark region, offering a glimpse into the frozen realms of our solar system.
The journey continues as Cox discusses the mysterious Oort Cloud, home to a trillion icy bodies, some larger than mountains, which occasionally send comets hurtling toward the inner solar system.
With the aid of new spacecraft and advanced telescopes, this episode aims to expand our understanding of the solar system’s scale and hidden secrets.
Solar System: Dark Worlds airs Monday, 14 October, 2024 at 9:00 pm on BBC Two.
