We investigate the unimaginable power of our nearest star, the Sun, and marvel at its inner workings.

We also gaze at our ever-present lunar satellite, the Moon, pondering how it was formed and recalling how reaching it became an obsession for both America and Russia.

Linked to that, another episode follows the pioneering Cold War work of Korolev in the USSR and Von Braun in the USA, whose rocket-science rivalry pushed back the boundaries of space travel.

Naturally the focus falls on the planets themselves, from red-hot Mercury, gaseous Venus, mysterious Mars, the giant globes of Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, and far-flung Pluto, patrolling the very edge of the solar system.

Finally, the series asks the big questions: Are we truly alone in the universe, and if not, what are the chances of finding life beyond Earth? And what will happen in the distant future, when the sun finally sets to become a red giant and every light goes out?