The Planets: Inner Worlds

Among the stars in the night sky wander the eight-plus worlds of our own solar system—each home to truly awe-inspiring sights. Volcanoes three times higher than Everest, geysers erupting with icy plumes, cyclones larger than Earth lasting hundreds of years.

The rocky planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars—were born of similar material around the same time. Yet only one of them supports life. Were Earth's neighbors always so extreme? And is there somewhere else in the solar system life might flourish?

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. But what else makes Venus's next door neighbor unique?

What else makes the second planet in our solar system interesting?

"The Planets" is a five-part series telling the extraordinary story of all eight planets and Pluto.

But what else makes Earth unique?

Working with scientists, "The Planets" production team created more than 2.5 hours of CG and VR effects to visually represent the physics of our Solar System.