Out of this world

Professor Brian Cox reveals the incredible events occurring in our solar system

- HANNAH DAVIES

NEW FACTUAL

Solar System Monday, 9pm, BBC2 (box set, BBC iPlayer)

From falling ice crystals on Mars to violent eruptions on Jupiter's moon, Io, professor Brian Cox examines some of the incredible events that unfold on our neighbouring moons and planets in his new BBC2 series Solar System.

"We are living through a golden age of space exploration, explains Cox, who, over the course of five episodes, travels to different locations on Earth to shed light on the physics and geology of space.

'Right now, there are spacecraft in orbit around or on the surface of five of the eight planets in our solar system.

The series begins with a visit to Iceland, where Cox uses the surrounding geology to explain the 'volcano worlds' of the solar system, including Venus, a planet covered in more than 85,000 volcanoes, including one that is as high as Mount Everest.