The Planets and Beyond

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2017 American TV series or program

The Planets and Beyond

Season 2 title card

Also known as| The Planets
Genre| Documentary
Presented by| Mike Massimino
Narrated by| Erik Dellums
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 2
Production
Running time| ca. 45 minutes
Original release
Network| Science
Release| August 22, 2017 (2017-08-22) –
April 10, 2019 (2019-04-10)

The Planets, retitled The Planets and Beyond for its second season, is a documentary television series produced by the Science Channel that aired from 2017 to 2019. It explores the planets and of the Solar System, exoplanets, and other astronomical objects.

## Format

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Former astronaut Mike Massimino hosts the show, appearing briefly to introduce each segment of each episode, and Erik Dellums narrates the series. During its first season, titled The Planets, the series focused on planets exclusively except for a single episode which studied the Moon. Retitled The Planets and Beyond, the series expanded its focus during its second season to include other types of astronomical objects. The Science Channel also broadcast The Planets and The Planets and Beyond specials, some of them made up of original footage and others of segments broadcast previously on The Planets, The Planets and Beyond, How the Universe Works, Space's Deepest Secrets, and Strip the Cosmos.

## Episode list

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### Season 1 – The Planets (2017)

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Episode #  | Title  | Directed by  | Original air date

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1| "Jupiter: King of the Planets"| Unknown| August 22, 2017 (2017-08-22)

The exploration of Jupiter — the biggest and most extreme planet in the Solar System — may change humanity's understanding of the Solar System. Recent discoveries by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Juno mission uncover what lies beneath Jupiter's violent storms and reveal that Jupiter is more akin to a star than a planet.

2| "Mars: The Definitive Guide"| Unknown| August 30, 2017 (2017-08-30)

The most detailed survey ever created of Mars – our closest planetary neighbor – reveals its dark history.

3| "Venus: The Hell Planet"| Unknown| September 5, 2017 (2017-09-05)

Venus is a hellish planet covered in active volcanoes and dense clouds, and the possibility exists that Earth could be heading towards the same fate.

Special| "Dark Secrets on Mars"| Unknown| September 11, 2017 (2017-09-11)

An exploration of Mars's greatest mysteries.

4| "Saturn: Mysteries Among the Rings"| Unknown| September 12, 2017 (2017-09-12)

What the latest data gathered by the Cassini and Huygens probes tell us about Saturn and its rings, including Saturn′s giant icy geysers and powerful hurricanes, and about Titan, a Saturnian moon that may harbor life.

Special| "Saturn: The Cassini Secrets"| Unknown| September 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Cassini spacecraft concludes its 20-year mission to explore Saturn and its moons, and the special unveils what happened during Cassini's final moments and details how its discoveries revealed Saturn's deepest secrets.

Special| "Riddles of the Gas Giants"| Unknown| September 18, 2017 (2017-09-18)

An exploration of the Solar System's two gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn.

5| "Planet 9: The Lost World"| Unknown| September 19, 2017 (2017-09-19)

Planet Nine, an as-yet-undiscovered giant ninth planet, may orbit the Sun at the edge of the Solar System, and scientists have various theories about what it might be like.

Special| "Strange Secrets of Planet 9"| Unknown| September 25, 2017 (2017-09-25)

Planet 9 is a hypothetical and mysterious world at the edge of the Solar System.

6| "Pluto: The Secret Science"| Unknown| September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)

The dwarf planet Pluto is a tiny frozen world, but appears to have an internal ocean that could harbor life.

Special| "Pluto's Greatest Mysteries"| Unknown| October 2, 2017 (2017-10-02)

An exploration of the mysteries of Pluto.

7| "Alien Worlds: Stranger than Fiction"| Unknown| October 3, 2017 (2017-10-03)

Astronomers are discovering exoplanets every day, including everything from worlds that appear to eat light to planets that resemble Earth.

Special| "Riddles of the Hell Planets"| Unknown| October 9, 2017 (2017-10-09)

An exploration of some of the strangest planets in the universe.

8| "The Moon: Earth's Guardian Angel"| Unknown| October 10, 2017 (2017-10-10)

The Moon is a world permanently tied to Earth, and new research has revealed its origin and how it played a role in life arising on Earth.

### Season 2 – The Planets and Beyond (2018)

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Episode #  | Title  | Directed by  | Original air date

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1| "Earth: The Secret History"| Unknown| March 20, 2018 (2018-03-20)

A series of cataclysms formed the Earth and were essential to the rise of life — and Earth-like planets may exist elsewhere in the universe.

Special| "Mysteries on Mars"| Unknown| March 26, 2018 (2018-03-26)

New discoveries about Mars are changing everything we know about the planet. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets episode "Mars: The Definitive Guide (Season 1 Episode 2) and the How the Universe Works episode "Life and Death on the Red Planet" (Season 5 Episode 6).

Special| "Earth & Moon: 2 Strange Rocks"| Unknown| March 26, 2018 (2018-03-26)

The special relationship between the Earth and the Moon. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Earth: The Secret History" (Season 2 Episode 1) and The Planets episode "The Moon: Earth's Guardian Angel" (Season 1 Episode 8).

2| "Alien Planets: Cosmic Nightmares"| Unknown| March 27, 2018 (2018-03-27)

An exploration of the most violent, uninhabitable exoplanets discovered thus far.

Special| "Secrets of Alien Earths"| Unknown| April 2, 2018 (2018-04-02)

Alien planets might be home to extraterrestrial life. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Alien Planets: Cosmic Nightmares" (Season 2 Episode 2) and The Planets episode "Alien Worlds: Stranger Than Fiction" (Season 1 Episode 7).

3| "Milky Way: The Monster Inside"| Unknown| April 4, 2018 (2018-04-04)

A supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, lies at its center of our galaxy, the Milky Way .

Special| "Mysteries of the Milky Way"| Unknown| April 9, 2018 (2018-04-09)

The Milky Way's deadliest phenomena. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Milky Way: The Monster Inside" (Season 2 Episode 3) and the How the Universe Works episode "Death of the Milky Way," also known as "Monsters of the Milky Way" (Season 6 Episode 4).

4| "Ends of the Solar System: Strange Frontiers"| Unknown| April 10, 2018 (2018-04-10)

Our latest discoveries have increased our understanding of the dark and mysterious frontiers of the Solar System.

Special| "Secret Worlds of the Solar System"| Unknown| April 16, 2018 (2018-04-16)

The latest NASA discoveries about the dark and mysterious frontiers of the Solar System. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Ends of the Solar System: Strange Frontiers" (Season 2 Episode 4) and The Planets episode "Planet 9: The Lost World" (Season 1 Episode 5).

5| "Ice Giants: The Frozen Aliens"| Unknown| April 17, 2018 (2018-04-17)

The ice giants — Uranus and Neptune — are the farthest planets from the Sun and are home to some of the Solar System′s strangest mysteries.

Special| "Secrets of Alien Giants"| Unknown| April 23, 2018 (2018-04-23)

The strange secrets of the Solar System's largest planets. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Ice Giants: The Frozen Aliens" (Season 2 Episode 5) and The Planets special "Saturn: The Cassini Secrets" (Season 1).

Special| "Curse of the Comets"| Unknown| April 30, 2018 (2018-04-30)

The latest discoveries about comets. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in the Strip the Cosmos episode "Hunting a Comet" (Season 1 Episode 6) and the How the Universe Works episode "Comets - Frozen Wanderers" (Season 2 Episode 6).

Special| "The Sun: Secrets of Our Star"| Unknown| May 7, 2018 (2018-05-07)

An exploration of the secrets of the Sun. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in the Strip the Cosmos episode "Inside the Sun" (Season 1 Episode 2) and the How the Universe Works episode "Journey from the Center of the Sun" (Season 3 Episode 1).

6| "Alien Galaxies: The Strange Secrets"| Unknown| July 24, 2018 (2018-07-24)

A look at the universe's strangest galaxies, places that could be home to extraterrestrial life and supermassive black holes.

7| "Mercury: The Cursed Planet"| Unknown| July 31, 2018 (2018-07-31)

Mercury is a tiny planet under constant attack by the Sun, and one day it might pose a threat to all life on Earth.

Special| "Life and Death in the Cosmos"| Unknown| August 6, 2018 (2018-08-06)

An exploration of Mercury — one of the deadliest planets in the Solar System — as well as the places with the best chance of harboring extraterrestrial life. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Mercury: The Cursed Planet" (Season 2 Episode 7) and the Space's Deepest Secrets episode "Expedition Extraterrestrial" (Season 3 Episode 7).

8| "Comets: Mysteries from the Deep"| Unknown| August 7, 2018 (2018-08-07)

Comets are strange visitors from deep space that might be responsible for life existing on Earth.

Special| "Rise of the Galaxy Monsters"| Unknown| August 13, 2018 (2018-08-13)

How galaxies work — and the dangerous forces lurking inside of them. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episodes "Alien Galaxies: The Strange Secrets" (Season 2 Episode 6) and "Milky Way: the Monster Inside" (Season 2 Episode 3).

9| "The Sun: Secrets of Our Star"| Unknown| August 14, 2018 (2018-08-14)

Discoveries about Earth's star, the Sun, and how it will one day destroy the Earth.

Special| "The Sun's Forbidden Wonders"| Unknown| August 20, 2018 (2018-08-20)

The strange truth behind the Sun's greatest mysteries. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "The Sun: Secrets of Our Star" (Season 2 Episode 9) and the How the Universe Works episode "Journey from the Center of the Sun" (Season 3 Episode 1).

10| "The Solar System: Alien Origins"| Unknown| August 21, 2018 (2018-08-21)

The strange and violent birth of the Solar System — and how its planets were built from the wreckage of bygone alien worlds.

Special| "Riddles of our Solar System"| Unknown| August 27, 2018 (2018-08-27)

Exploring the secrets of the Solar System. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episodes "The Solar System: Alien Origins" (Season 2 Episode 10) and "Ends of the Solar System: Strange Frontiers" (Season 2 Episode 4).

11| "Dwarf Planets: Aliens Among Us"| Unknown| August 28, 2018 (2018-08-28)

The dwarf planets of the Solar System — mysterious worlds like Pluto that are too small to be a planet — are home to some of the universe's biggest secrets.

Special| "Curse of Alien Worlds"| Unknown| September 3, 2018 (2018-09-03)

The strange and deadly secrets of alien worlds both inside and outside of the Solar System. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Dwarf Planets: Aliens Among Us" (Season 2 Episode 11) and The Planets episode "Alien Worlds: Stranger Than Fiction" (Season 1 Episode 7).

12| "Alien Stars: Mystery of the Monsters"| Unknown| September 4, 2018 (2018-09-04)

The deadliest stars in the universe can rip planets apart, but they might be integral to the existence of life on Earth.

Special| "The Universe's Deadliest Stars"| Unknown| September 10, 2018 (2018-09-10)

The deadliest and most extreme stars in the universe. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Alien Stars: Mystery of the Monsters" (Season 2 Episode 12) and the Space's Deepest Secrets episode "Rise of the Monster Star" (Season 2 Episode 8).

13| "Alien Volcanoes: Life in Hell"| Unknown| September 11, 2018 (2018-09-11)

The volcanoes of distant planets could be hotbeds for extraterrestrial life.

Special| "Aliens of the Inferno"| Unknown| September 17, 2018 (2018-09-17)

An exploration of volcanoes on alien worlds and on Earth. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Alien Volcanoes: Life in Hell" (Season 2 Episode 13) and the Space's Deepest Secrets episode "Mysteries of Alien Volcanoes" (Season 2 Episode 5).

14| "Alien Moons: The Next Earth"| Unknown| September 18, 2018 (2018-09-18)

Some of the moons of the Solar System could harbor extraterrestrial life.

Special| "The Moon's Evil Twins"| Unknown| September 24, 2018 (2018-09-24)

The most bizarre moons that orbit other planets, the Solar System, and the strange secrets of the Earth's Moon. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Alien Moons: the Next Earth" (Season 2 Episode 14) and The Planets episode "Jupiter: King of the Planets" (Season 1 Episode 1).

15| "Alien Oceans: Search for Life"| Unknown| September 25, 2018 (2018-09-25)

The latest discoveries about the oceans of the Solar System provide new clues in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Special| "Hunt for Alien Oceans"| Unknown| October 1, 2018 (2018-10-01)

The oceans of the Solar System and the alien origins of Earth's own seas. The episode consists entirely of segments broadcast previously in The Planets and Beyond episode "Alien Oceans: Search for Life" (Season 2 Episode 15) and the How the Universe Works episode "The First Oceans" (Season 4 Episode 7).

### Special — The Planets and Beyond (2019)

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Episode #  | Title  | Directed by  | Original air date

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Special| "Monster Black Hole: The First Image"| Unknown| April 10, 2019 (2019-04-10)

For the first time, scientists have captured an image of a black hole. Experts explain how they did it, what they saw, and the significance of their achievement.

## References

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* "The Planets - Episode List". TV Maze. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

## External links

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* Science Channel's The Planets, "Venus Alien Evidence" on YouTube

*[No.]: Number