Horizon Season 2016 Episode 5 The End of the Solar System

In Horizon season 2016 episode 5, entitled "The End of the Solar System," the focus is on what will happen to our solar system in the future. The episode explores the latest scientific research and theories regarding the end of the solar system, including the fate of the sun.

The episode begins by exploring how the planets in our solar system were formed billions of years ago. Scientists believe that the solar system was created from a cloud of gas and dust, which eventually collapsed in on itself due to the force of gravity. As the cloud collapsed, it began to spin, which created a central glowing object, the sun, at the center of the solar system. The remaining gas and dust formed clumps which eventually became the planets, moons, and other objects that exist in our solar system today.

The episode then explores what will happen to our solar system in the future. Scientists predict that the sun will eventually run out of fuel and will begin to expand, becoming a red giant star. As it expands, it will engulf Mercury and Venus, and most likely Earth as well. It's estimated that this will occur in about 5 billion years, which may seem like a long time, but is actually relatively soon on a cosmic timescale.

After the sun becomes a red giant, it will eventually shed its outer layers, forming a planetary nebula. This will leave behind a tiny white dwarf star, which will slowly cool over billions of years. The planets that survive the expansion of the sun will continue to orbit the dying star until they are eventually destroyed or flung out into interstellar space. However, some moons and other objects may remain in stable orbits around the white dwarf for billions of years.

The episode discusses the various scientific tools and methods used to study our solar system and make predictions about its future. This includes telescopes, both on Earth and in space, as well as spacecraft that have been sent to study planets and other objects in our solar system. The episode also describes how scientists use computer simulations to predict the future of the solar system, based on the laws of physics and our current understanding of how the sun and planets interact with each other.

The episode also delves into the search for other solar systems beyond our own. Scientists have discovered thousands of exoplanets, or planets that orbit stars other than the sun. By studying these other solar systems, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how our own solar system formed and what its ultimate fate may be.

Overall, "The End of the Solar System" is a fascinating and thought-provoking look at what will happen to our home in the universe. Through a combination of scientific research, stunning visuals, and engaging storytelling, this episode of Horizon offers viewers a glimpse into the distant future of our solar system, and perhaps even our species as a whole.