Wonders of the Solar System (2010)

Episode Overview

Our planet is surrounded by rocky worlds, each with unique characteristics. Brian embarks on a journey to Mauna Kea, the tallest volcano on Earth in Hawaii, to illustrate how a planet's size can impact the potential for life. At its summit, he stands beneath Olympus Mons, a colossal extinct volcano on Mars that towers 27 km high. However, the fifth wonder isn't found on a planet; it's on Jupiter's small moon, Io. Despite its seemingly lifeless nature, Brian, with the stunning Ethiopian volcanic landscape behind him, unveils Io's incredible lakes of lava and massive volcanic plumes that soar 500 km into the atmosphere.