Wonders of the Solar System with Brian Cox

Brian Cox is almost certainly the only human in history to hold a chair in particle physics (Manchester University) and have a hit record to his credit. His pop-star look, ease with explaining complicated concepts and infectious enthusiasm are among the virtues of Wonders of the Solar System. The series is also a poetically gorgeous travelogue— come see the planets through the taillights of comets, go dancing in the swirling Milky Way — even as Cox addresses big concepts such as the age of our sun and how long it’s going to last. And the stunning visuals are not limited to the telescopic. The producers shuttle Cox from breathtaking locations to jaw-dropping vistas, places right here on Earth from which people can experience solar wonders — a total eclipse viewed from the Ganges River, the aurora borealis in Norway. For highlighting the awesome beauty of our solar neighborhood and illuminating the science that underpins it, Wonders of the Solar System with Brian Cox receives a Peabody Award.