Tied to a Star: The Fate of Mars

In Once a Red Planet, Always a Red Planet? The Birth of Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains how when Mars and Earth were born, they had similar atmospheres and were made of similar material, but the two planets took dramatically different paths. Learn how different Mars is from Earth, and how much Mars has changed in 4.6 billion years. 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 Early Elements: Mars and Earth, Professor Brian Cox explains what Mars and Earth looked like when they were formed. Learn which was the original “blue 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.

In Postcards From the Surface of Mars, Professor Brian Cox examines the geographic evolution of Mars, noting the vast canyon called Valles Marineris. He looks at photographs taken from the surface of Mars that look eerily similar to Earth: sunsets, clouds, and landscapes. There is, however, one glaring difference: no sign of water. 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.