Messages From Mercury: Developing Theories From the Chemistry of Mercury

In Mercury and Venus: Unveiling the Secrets of Our Nearest Neighbors, Professor Brian Cox explores the unique atmospheres of Mercury and Venus. Mercury, lacking an atmosphere, is bombarded by meteorites that reach the surface intact and at full speed. Venus, on the other hand, suffers from a runaway greenhouse effect, which has caused extreme heat and thick sulfuric acid clouds. These atmospheric conditions influence the surface features and climate of each planet. This video is excerpted from BBC's Wonders of the Solar System, a spellbinding documentary series that explores the most extreme locations on Earth to explain how the laws of physics carved natural wonders across the Solar System.

In Mapping Mission: Reaching the Surface of Mercury, Professor Brian Cox explains how scientists were able to send the space probe Messenger to Mercury, a particularly difficult planet for us to explore. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.

In Mercury: A Planet Exposed, narrator Professor Brian Cox highlights the brutal environment of the smallest planet in our Solar System. Its small size meant Mercury didn’t have enough gravity to hang on to its atmosphere. Without the protection of even that thin line of gas, temperatures fluctuate from 842°F (450°C) during the day to -290°F (-180C) degrees at night on the rocky planet. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.