Ep 42. Weirdest Planets

In the 42nd episode of National Geographic Documentaries' 2010 season, viewers are taken on a journey through outer space to explore some of the most bizarre planets discovered to date. The episode, titled "Weirdest Planets," features stunning footage and informative commentary from some of the world's leading astrophysicists and astronomers.

The episode begins by introducing the concept of exoplanets, which are planets that exist outside of our solar system. With advanced technology and telescopes, scientists have been able to detect thousands of exoplanets in recent years, many of which are unlike anything seen before.

The first planet viewers are introduced to in this episode is called HD209458b, also known as "Osiris." This gas giant orbits extremely close to its host star, resulting in extreme heat and violent winds that have stripped its atmosphere away. The episode uses stunning animation to illustrate what Osiris might look like, and how its environment affects its behavior.

The next planet explored in "Weirdest Planets" is a bit more familiar -- Earth's own neighbor, Mars. The episode discusses the potential for life on Mars, and how scientists are working to uncover clues about its history. They also explain the challenges of sending a manned mission to Mars and how NASA's current programs are working to overcome these challenges.

Moving on from Mars, the episode explores a planet named Gliese 581 c. This planet exists in the "habitable zone" of its star, meaning that it has a similar environment to Earth and could potentially support life as we know it. However, the episode explains that the planet has a thick, toxic atmosphere and a surface that is constantly bombarded by radiation, making it an inhospitable place for humans.

Next up is a planet known as Kepler-10b, which orbits a star that is similar in size and age to our own sun. This planet is made mostly of rock, but its extreme proximity to its host star means that it is constantly bathed in intense radiation that would make life as we know it impossible. The episode describes how scientists have been able to use data from Kepler-10b to learn more about our own planet's history.

The episode then takes a detour to explore some of the more exotic planets in our galaxy, including a gas giant with rings that extend over 175,000 miles and a planet composed almost entirely of diamond. These planets are unlikely to ever support life, but their unique characteristics have captivated scientists and stargazers alike.

The final planet explored in "Weirdest Planets" is a particularly fascinating one: a planet nine times the size of Jupiter that orbits a binary star system. This planet, known as PH1, was discovered by a team of citizen scientists -- including a kindergarten teacher -- who used public data from NASA's Kepler mission to identify the planet's presence. The episode highlights how citizen science has become an increasingly important part of modern astronomy and how anyone can contribute to scientific discovery.

Overall, "Weirdest Planets" offers viewers an engaging and informative look at some of the most fascinating planets in our universe. With stunning visuals and expert commentary, the episode is sure to captivate anyone with an interest in space and exploration.