Exploring the Solar System

A series of short (20-25 min) talks about our solar system, planets within our solar system and planets orbiting other stars. The talks can be given/watched separately in any order.

Exploring the Solar System I – Robots on Mars

Rovers have been exploring the surface of Mars for over 25 years. The latest generation of rovers is looking for signs of past life and is collecting rock, soil and atmosphere samples for return to Earth.

Recording	Handout

Exploring the Solar System II – Spacecraft

We have visited every major body in the solar system by sending spacecraft across billions of miles. These unmanned probes have mapped dozens of planets and moons and sent back incredible images.

Recording	Handout

Exploring the Solar System III – Telescopes

Since Galileo first turned his telescope on the night sky, we have been using telescopes with ever larger apertures to observe and study all types of object in the solar system.

Recording	Handout

Exploring the Solar System IV – Exoplanets

The first discovery of a planet orbiting another star was made 30 years ago. Since then, many thousands more have been found. The number of habitable planets in the galaxy may number in the billions, but are they inhabited?

Recording	Handout

Exploring the Solar System V – Solar Max

The activity of the Sun goes through an 11-year cycle and is at a maximum in 2025. Specialist instruments, both professional and amateur, have been able to capture detailed images of its surface features.

Recording	Handout

Exploring the Solar System VI – Origins

The solar system is 4.6 billion years old. How did it form? How did we end up with the collection of rocky planets, giant planets, dwarf planets and asteroids that we see today?

Recording	Handout

Steve Barrett April 2025

S.D.Barrett@liv.ac.uk

All ESS talks are nominally 20-25 minutes in length