Solar System
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars that orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large group of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.
12 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
Asteroids
Melvyn Bragg discusses asteroids, once regarded as “the vermin of the solar system” but now viewed as key to our understanding of the beginning of time.
3 November 2005
Featuring: Monica Grady, Carolin Crawford, John Zarnecki
Astronomy and Empire
Melvyn Bragg discusses the relationship between astronomy and the British Empire, how astronomical science provided a means for navigation and British naval control.
4 May 2006
Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Kristen Lippincott, Allan Chapman
Comets
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss comets, the 'dirty snowballs' of the solar system which orbit the sun.
17 January 2013
Featuring: Monica Grady, Paul Murdin, Don Pollacco
Jupiter
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the largest planet in our solar system.
29 June 2023
Featuring: Michele Dougherty, Leigh Fletcher, Carolin Crawford
Mars
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Mars. Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has been a source of continual fascination.
11 January 2007
Featuring: John Zarnecki, Colin Pillinger, Monica Grady
Mercury
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the smallest planet in our solar system, what the Mariner 10 and Messenger missions have revealed and the hopes for the new BepiColombo mission.
02 May 2024
Featuring: Emma Bunce, David Rothery, Carolin Crawford
Saturn
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Saturn, the most distant planet easily visible to the human eye, with over 60 moons and, with its rings, one of the most striking sights in space.
14 January 2016
Featuring: Carolin Crawford, Michele Dougherty, Andrew Coates
The Kuiper belt
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Kuiper Belt region, home to Pluto and countless remnants from the beginnings of our solar system.
2 March 2017
Featuring: Carolin Crawford, Monica Grady, Stephen Lowry
The Moon
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins, science and mythology of the moon. Man may have landed on the moon, but our 'twin planet' in many ways still remains a mystery.
3 November 2011
Featuring: Paul Murdin, Carolin Crawford, Ian Crawford
The Planets
Melvyn Bragg discusses our knowledge of the planets in both our and other solar systems. What causes them to form and what is the likelihood of there being another with properties similar to Earth’s?
27 May 2004
Featuring: Paul Murdin, Hugh Jones, Carolin Crawford
The Sun
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the science of the sun, source of all our energy.
10 July 2014
Featuring: Carolin Crawford, Yvonne Elsworth, Louise Harra
Venus
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Earth's neighbouring planet, once thought very similar but now known to be extremely volcanic with a surface temperature of 450C.
27 December 2018
Featuring: Carolin Crawford, Colin Wilson, Andrew Coates