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Narrator: OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
IS HOME TO GIANTS.
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GAS GIANTS JUPITER AND SATURN
SEEM TO DOMINATE,
3
00:00:12,046 --> 00:00:15,780
BUT TWO ICE GIANTS DETERMINE
THE FATE OF THE REST --
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00:00:15,782 --> 00:00:19,784
NEPTUNE AND URANUS...
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00:00:19,786 --> 00:00:23,389
DISTANT PLANETS
UNCONNECTED TO US,
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00:00:23,391 --> 00:00:26,258
OR SO WE THOUGHT.
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00:00:26,260 --> 00:00:29,528
WE NOW KNOW THE FATE
OF THE ICE GIANTS
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00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:31,796
IS ENTWINED WITH OUR OWN.
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00:00:31,798 --> 00:00:34,866
THEY'VE GONE FROM BEING
THESE COLD, DULL WORLDS
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00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:36,668
TO ACTUALLY HAVING IN THEM
THE VERY SECRET
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00:00:36,670 --> 00:00:39,537
OF WHY YOU AND I EXIST AT ALL.
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00:00:39,539 --> 00:00:41,206
Narrator: THEIR STORY
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IS OF EPIC MIGRATION,
14
00:00:43,411 --> 00:00:45,544
BRUTAL DESTRUCTION...
15
00:00:45,546 --> 00:00:48,947
URANUS GOT JABBED
AND THEN KNOCKED ON ITS SIDE.
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00:00:48,949 --> 00:00:53,551
Narrator: ...OF WORLDS MORE
ALIVE THAN ANYONE IMAGINED.
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00:00:53,553 --> 00:00:57,288
THEY HOLD THE KEY TO THE HISTORY
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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00:00:57,290 --> 00:01:01,626
AND PERHAPS TO LIFE ON EARTH.
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[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
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[ RUMBLING ]
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00:01:04,498 --> 00:01:08,033
[ EXPLOSION ]
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00:01:08,035 --> 00:01:10,969
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
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00:01:10,971 --> 00:01:13,972
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
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00:01:18,245 --> 00:01:22,181
Narrator: URANUS AND NEPTUNE...
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MYSTERIOUS GIANTS
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LURKING IN THE COLD OUTER
REACHES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM...
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♪♪
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THE FARTHEST PLANETS
FROM THE SUN.
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Plait: URANUS AND NEPTUNE ARE
SORT OF THE SENTINELS
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OF THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM.
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THEY'RE OUT PAST
JUPITER AND SATURN,
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WELL OVER, LIKE, 2 BILLION,
3 BILLION MILES FROM THE SUN.
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00:01:42,937 --> 00:01:44,403
♪♪
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Narrator:
THEIR SIZE AND LOCATION
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ARE A PUZZLE
TO PLANETARY ASTRONOMERS.
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URANUS AND NEPTUNE ARE SOMEWHAT
OF A MYSTERY BECAUSE,
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00:01:52,813 --> 00:01:55,147
IN A WAY, THEY SHOULDN'T EXIST,
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OR AT LEAST THEY SHOULDN'T
EXIST WHERE THEY ARE.
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00:01:58,818 --> 00:02:01,019
Narrator:
SCIENTISTS CAN'T UNDERSTAND
40
00:02:01,021 --> 00:02:06,091
HOW THESE GIANT PLANETS GREW
SO BIG SO FAR FROM THE SUN.
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00:02:06,093 --> 00:02:09,494
♪♪
42
00:02:09,496 --> 00:02:13,698
THE MYSTERY STARTS
4 1/2 BILLION YEARS AGO...
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00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:15,167
♪♪
44
00:02:15,169 --> 00:02:17,302
...WITH THE BIRTH
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
45
00:02:17,304 --> 00:02:19,705
♪♪
46
00:02:19,707 --> 00:02:22,174
IN THE BEGINNING,
THE SUN IGNITES FROM A DISK
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00:02:22,176 --> 00:02:25,577
OF GAS AND DUST.
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THE ROCKY CORES OF THE FIRST
PLANETS START TO GROW.
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00:02:30,985 --> 00:02:34,986
THEY COLLIDE WITH THE DEBRIS IN
THE DISK AS THEY ORBIT THE SUN.
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00:02:34,988 --> 00:02:37,121
♪♪
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00:02:37,123 --> 00:02:40,858
BUT THE INNER PLANETS
HAVE A SIZE LIMIT.
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00:02:40,860 --> 00:02:44,596
TO GROW INTO A GIANT PLANET,
YOU NEED GAS.
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00:02:44,598 --> 00:02:46,732
♪♪
54
00:02:46,734 --> 00:02:51,135
HEAT FROM THE INFANT SUN BLASTS
THESE LIGHTER GAS MOLECULES
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00:02:51,137 --> 00:02:56,074
BEYOND A POINT ASTRONOMERS
CALL THE FROST LINE.
56
00:02:56,076 --> 00:02:59,811
OUT HERE, IT'S COOL ENOUGH
FOR GAS MOLECULES LIKE HYDROGEN
57
00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:03,348
AND HELIUM TO STABILIZE.
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00:03:03,350 --> 00:03:08,219
JUPITER AND SATURN
TAKE SHAPE FIRST...
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00:03:08,221 --> 00:03:13,091
SWEEPING IN THE ABUNDANT GAS
AND QUICKLY BECOMING GAS GIANTS.
60
00:03:13,093 --> 00:03:16,494
♪♪
61
00:03:16,496 --> 00:03:20,365
BUT NEPTUNE AND URANUS
ARE DIFFERENT.
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JUPITER AND SATURN ARE ABOUT
90% HYDROGEN AND HELIUM,
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00:03:24,038 --> 00:03:28,573
WHEREAS NEPTUNE AND URANUS
ARE MORE LIKE 20%.
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00:03:28,575 --> 00:03:31,109
Narrator: SO WHAT DOES THIS
DIFFERENCE IN GAS TELL US
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00:03:31,111 --> 00:03:33,645
ABOUT THEIR FORMATION?
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WE SUSPECT THAT URANUS AND
NEPTUNE CAME A LITTLE BIT LATER
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WHEN THERE WAS NOT
AS MUCH GAS TO BE SWEPT UP.
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♪♪
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00:03:42,723 --> 00:03:45,991
Narrator: URANUS AND NEPTUNE
HAVE LESS TIME TO SUCK UP
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00:03:45,993 --> 00:03:50,795
AS MUCH HYDROGEN AND HELIUM
BEFORE THESE GASES DISAPPEAR.
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00:03:50,797 --> 00:03:53,732
BUT THEY'RE ALSO
FORMING FARTHER OUT,
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00:03:53,734 --> 00:03:58,337
WHERE IT'S COLD ENOUGH FOR
OTHER, HEAVIER GASES TO FREEZE.
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THESE ARE SWEPT UP BY
THE GROWING OUTER PLANETS.
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00:04:05,079 --> 00:04:07,812
OUT WHERE URANUS AND NEPTUNE
ARE, TONS OF ICE,
75
00:04:07,814 --> 00:04:10,682
TONS OF FROZEN GASES
AS WE MIGHT THINK OF THEM --
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00:04:10,684 --> 00:04:12,283
METHANE, AMMONIA, WATER,
77
00:04:12,285 --> 00:04:16,288
AND SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES UP
THEIR COMPOSITION PREDOMINANTLY.
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00:04:16,290 --> 00:04:17,689
[ THUNDERCLAP ]
79
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Narrator: THEY MAY BE SMALLER
THAN JUPITER AND SATURN,
80
00:04:20,227 --> 00:04:24,229
BUT THESE HEAVY ICES
MEAN THEY GROW DENSE.
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00:04:24,231 --> 00:04:27,633
THEY BECOME ICE GIANTS.
82
00:04:27,635 --> 00:04:29,701
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
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THEY'RE TOO BIG.
84
00:04:32,239 --> 00:04:35,373
THE DISK OF GAS AND ICE
AROUND A NEWBORN STAR
85
00:04:35,375 --> 00:04:38,110
DOES NOT LAST FOREVER,
86
00:04:38,112 --> 00:04:39,845
AND MATERIAL IN THE FAR REACHES
87
00:04:39,847 --> 00:04:43,915
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
IS SPREAD THIN.
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00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:45,516
Walsh: AS YOU MOVE FURTHER OUT
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
89
00:04:45,518 --> 00:04:47,586
THE TIME SCALE FOR TWO BODIES
90
00:04:47,588 --> 00:04:50,655
TO FIND EACH OTHER AND COLLIDE
AND ACCRETE SLOWS DOWN
91
00:04:50,657 --> 00:04:52,791
BECAUSE THE PERIODS AROUND
THE SUN ARE MUCH LONGER,
92
00:04:52,793 --> 00:04:55,393
AND IT JUST TAKES
A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
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Narrator: NEPTUNE AND URANUS
ORBIT THE SUN INCREDIBLY SLOWLY,
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00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:03,602
TOO SLOWLY TO COLLIDE
WITH ENOUGH ICY MATERIAL
95
00:05:03,604 --> 00:05:06,872
TO GROW INTO THE GIANTS
WE SEE TODAY.
96
00:05:06,874 --> 00:05:10,542
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT NEPTUNE
AT THIS VERY DISTANT ORBIT,
97
00:05:10,544 --> 00:05:12,744
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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00:05:12,746 --> 00:05:14,279
TO BUILD A PLANET LIKE NEPTUNE.
99
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WE JUST DON'T THINK
WE COULD BUILD NEPTUNE
100
00:05:16,149 --> 00:05:19,351
WHERE WE FIND IT TODAY.
101
00:05:19,353 --> 00:05:21,953
SO WHAT HAPPENED?
102
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IT TURNS OUT,
WHERE WE SEE THEM NOW
103
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IS PROBABLY NOT WHERE
THEY STARTED OUT.
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[ WHOOSHING ]
105
00:05:29,229 --> 00:05:31,096
Oluseyl: ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED
ABOUT SOLAR SYSTEMS
106
00:05:31,098 --> 00:05:33,598
IS THAT THINGS ARE
IN A DELICATE BALANCE,
107
00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,501
AND PLANETS MIGRATE.
THEY MOVE AROUND.
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00:05:36,503 --> 00:05:39,437
THEY DON'T FORM IN ONE PLACE
AND STAY THERE FOREVER.
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00:05:39,439 --> 00:05:42,240
Narrator:
SO WHAT HAS ENOUGH POWER
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00:05:42,242 --> 00:05:45,910
TO MOVE A GIANT PLANET
LIKE NEPTUNE?
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00:05:45,912 --> 00:05:50,715
AN EVEN BIGGER ONE -- JUPITER.
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00:05:50,717 --> 00:05:52,584
ONE WAY FOR PLANETS TO MOVE
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00:05:52,586 --> 00:05:55,052
IS BY GRAVITATIONALLY
INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER,
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SO THEY FEEL
EACH OTHER'S GRAVITY.
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00:05:56,656 --> 00:06:00,258
THEY CAN TUG. THEY CAN PULL, AND
THAT EFFECT CAN LEAD TO PLANETS
116
00:06:00,260 --> 00:06:04,729
SLOWLY MIGRATING AROUND
IN THEIR PLANETARY SYSTEMS.
117
00:06:04,731 --> 00:06:08,533
Narrator: THE CLOSER TWO PLANETS
ARE, THE GREATER THE EFFECT,
118
00:06:08,535 --> 00:06:10,802
AND IN THE EARLY DAYS
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
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THE GIANT PLANETS
ARE MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER.
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00:06:14,942 --> 00:06:17,476
ON TOP OF THAT,
THEY MAY HAVE ORBITED
121
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IN A DIFFERENT ORDER
THAN WE SEE TODAY --
122
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JUPITER, SATURN,
NEPTUNE, AND URANUS.
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00:06:26,019 --> 00:06:30,889
SO WHAT CAUSES NEPTUNE
AND URANUS TO SWAP POSITIONS?
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00:06:30,891 --> 00:06:34,292
THE ANSWER LIES
WITH JUPITER AND SATURN.
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00:06:34,294 --> 00:06:39,631
THE TWO BIGGEST GIANTS LOCK
INTO A GRAVITATIONAL DANCE.
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00:06:39,633 --> 00:06:42,367
THERE'S ALWAYS THIS
INTERPLAY BETWEEN THEM.
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00:06:42,369 --> 00:06:47,105
THINK OF CAPOEIRA DANCERS,
BALANCING AND MOVING TOGETHER
128
00:06:47,107 --> 00:06:49,574
IN A CAREFUL, ORCHESTRATED WAY.
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00:06:49,576 --> 00:06:52,644
♪♪
130
00:06:52,646 --> 00:06:57,582
Narrator: OVER MILLIONS OF
YEARS, A RHYTHM SLOWLY BUILDS.
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00:06:57,584 --> 00:07:00,184
THESE GIANTS PUSH
AND PULL EACH OTHER
132
00:07:00,186 --> 00:07:03,655
INTO MORE ELLIPTICAL ORBITS.
133
00:07:03,657 --> 00:07:09,194
BUT THE GRAVITATIONAL DANCE
REACHES A CLIMAX.
134
00:07:09,196 --> 00:07:12,464
THE STRETCHED ORBITS
BECOME UNSTABLE.
135
00:07:12,466 --> 00:07:16,601
THE GIANTS MOVE OFF COURSE.
136
00:07:16,603 --> 00:07:20,271
AS SATURN AND JUPITER
TWIST OUT FROM THE SUN,
137
00:07:20,273 --> 00:07:23,341
THEY FLING NEPTUNE
OUT BEYOND URANUS.
138
00:07:23,343 --> 00:07:25,610
♪♪
139
00:07:25,612 --> 00:07:28,613
AS NEPTUNE MOVES OUT
THROUGH THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
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00:07:28,615 --> 00:07:32,083
IT PUSHES DEBRIS AHEAD OF IT.
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00:07:32,085 --> 00:07:36,621
THESE ARE THE LEFTOVER ICY
FRAGMENTS FROM PLANET FORMATION.
142
00:07:36,623 --> 00:07:40,224
NEPTUNE
SNOWPLOWS THESE BODIES OUT.
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00:07:40,226 --> 00:07:43,160
THEY BECAUSE THE KUIPER BELT,
144
00:07:43,162 --> 00:07:46,831
THE BAND OF THOUSANDS OF
SMALL BODIES OF ICE AND ROCK
145
00:07:46,833 --> 00:07:49,367
JUST BEYOND NEPTUNE'S ORBIT.
146
00:07:49,369 --> 00:07:52,437
YOU CAN THINK OF THE STRUCTURE
OF THAT KUIPER BELT AS, LIKE,
147
00:07:52,439 --> 00:07:54,906
BLOOD SPLATTER ON THE WALL
AT A MURDER SCENE.
148
00:07:54,908 --> 00:07:58,376
IT'S THE RECORD OF THIS
REALLY VIOLENT OF NEPTUNE
149
00:07:58,378 --> 00:08:01,646
MIGRATING OUTWARD
ACROSS THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
150
00:08:01,648 --> 00:08:04,649
Narrator: BUT NEPTUNE'S MOVEMENT
DOESN'T JUST FLING
151
00:08:04,651 --> 00:08:08,119
THESE SMALL ICY BODIES
OUT INTO THE KUIPER BELT.
152
00:08:08,121 --> 00:08:11,990
IT ALSO SENDS SOME OF THEM
CRASHING IN TOWARDS THE SUN.
153
00:08:11,992 --> 00:08:15,393
SOME BOMBARD THE EARLY EARTH.
154
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IT'S THE MOST VIOLENT TIME
ON OUR PLANET
155
00:08:17,397 --> 00:08:20,798
SINCE THE BIRTH OF
THE SOLAR SYSTEM ITSELF,
156
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:25,003
500 MILLION YEARS AFTER
THE SUN FLARED INTO LIFE.
157
00:08:25,005 --> 00:08:28,406
IT'S CALLED
THE LATE HEAVY BOMBARDMENT.
158
00:08:28,408 --> 00:08:29,941
DURING THE LATE HEAVY
BOMBARDMENT,
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00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:32,877
YOU HAD ROCKS LITERALLY FALLING
DOWN FROM THE SKY CONSTANTLY.
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00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:35,746
THIS WOULD'VE BEEN
A TERRIBLE TIME FOR LIFE.
161
00:08:35,748 --> 00:08:38,817
Narrator: AND YET,
THIS CASCADE OF ICY BODIES
162
00:08:38,819 --> 00:08:42,487
ALSO BRINGS SOMETHING
ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE.
163
00:08:42,489 --> 00:08:43,822
[ EXPLOSION ]
164
00:08:43,824 --> 00:08:46,224
ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OUTER
SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES
165
00:08:46,226 --> 00:08:48,760
IS THAT WE OFTEN FIND ORGANICS.
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00:08:48,762 --> 00:08:50,295
♪♪
167
00:08:50,297 --> 00:08:52,831
Narrator:
ORGANICS PROVIDE THE BASIS
168
00:08:52,833 --> 00:08:55,500
FOR ALL LIVING ORGANISMS
WE FIND TODAY.
169
00:08:55,502 --> 00:08:58,703
THEY'RE CARBON-BASED MOLECULES
THAT FORM ON THE SURFACE
170
00:08:58,705 --> 00:09:01,973
OF DUST GRAINS
IN THE EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM.
171
00:09:01,975 --> 00:09:06,578
THE ROCKY INNER PLANETS SWEEP UP
THESE ORGANICS AS THEY GROW...
172
00:09:06,580 --> 00:09:10,782
[ WHOOSH ]
173
00:09:10,784 --> 00:09:13,919
BUT THE SCORCHED SURFACES
OF THE YOUNG PLANETS
174
00:09:13,921 --> 00:09:15,720
ARE TOO INHOSPITABLE
175
00:09:15,722 --> 00:09:18,623
FOR MANY OF THESE
DELICATE MOLECULES TO SURVIVE.
176
00:09:20,860 --> 00:09:25,429
YET ORGANICS REMAIN INTACT
ON THE SMALL, ICY BODIES
177
00:09:25,431 --> 00:09:27,332
OF THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM
178
00:09:27,334 --> 00:09:31,402
THAT NEPTUNE TOSSES
TOWARDS THE EARLY EARTH.
179
00:09:31,404 --> 00:09:37,208
NEPTUNE WAS THE SOLAR SYSTEM'S
COSMIC DELIVERY SERVICE.
180
00:09:37,210 --> 00:09:39,410
AS FAR AWAY AS URANUS
AND NEPTUNE ARE,
181
00:09:39,412 --> 00:09:42,213
THE EXISTENCE OF ICE GIANTS
IN THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM
182
00:09:42,215 --> 00:09:47,218
MAY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL FOR
THE EXISTENCE OF EARTH TODAY.
183
00:09:47,220 --> 00:09:49,955
Narrator:
AND THE ICE GIANTS MAY HAVE DONE
184
00:09:49,957 --> 00:09:52,690
MORE THAN GIVE LIFE ON EARTH
A KICKSTART.
185
00:09:52,692 --> 00:09:54,892
THEY MAY HAVE PREVENTED
OUR PLANET
186
00:09:54,894 --> 00:09:58,830
FROM BEING COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
187
00:09:58,832 --> 00:10:00,498
♪♪
188
00:10:06,907 --> 00:10:11,776
[ EXPLOSION ]
189
00:10:11,778 --> 00:10:15,246
Narrator: THE ICE GIANTS --
URANUS AND NEPTUNE,
190
00:10:15,248 --> 00:10:16,647
DISTANT GIANT WORLDS
191
00:10:16,649 --> 00:10:20,451
THAT MAY HAVE DELIVERED
THE ELEMENTS OF LIFE TO EARTH.
192
00:10:20,453 --> 00:10:25,189
WITHOUT THEM, OUR PLANET ITSELF
MIGHT NOT EXIST AT ALL.
193
00:10:25,191 --> 00:10:27,525
THESE ICE GIANTS ARE
FASCINATING WORLDS,
194
00:10:27,527 --> 00:10:29,994
BUT THEY MAY BE EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.
195
00:10:29,996 --> 00:10:33,398
THEY MIGHT BE THE REASON
WE'RE HERE.
196
00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,332
Narrator:
AROUND 4 BILLION YEARS AGO,
197
00:10:35,334 --> 00:10:36,735
THE YOUNG EARTH IS UNDER THREAT
198
00:10:36,737 --> 00:10:41,539
FROM OUR SOLAR SYSTEM'S BULLY,
JUPITER.
199
00:10:41,541 --> 00:10:43,875
POSITIONED BETWEEN
THE ROCKY INNER PLANETS
200
00:10:43,877 --> 00:10:45,677
AND THE GIANT OUTER ONES,
201
00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,280
JUPITER DOMINATES
THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
202
00:10:49,282 --> 00:10:52,216
WHEN YOU HAVE A BEHEMOTH LIKE
JUPITER IN YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
203
00:10:52,218 --> 00:10:57,555
WHAT IT DOES DETERMINES IN PART
WHAT EVERYTHING ELSE DOES.
204
00:10:57,557 --> 00:10:59,757
Narrator:
AS JUPITER AND SATURN LOCK
205
00:10:59,759 --> 00:11:01,559
INTO THEIR GRAVITATIONAL DANCE,
206
00:11:01,561 --> 00:11:06,164
THEY MIGRATE OUT,
AWAY FROM THE SUN.
207
00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:09,033
JUPITER'S IMMENSE GRAVITY
SHOULD PULL EARTH
208
00:11:09,035 --> 00:11:13,138
AND VENUS ALONG WITH IT.
209
00:11:13,140 --> 00:11:16,173
EARTH AND VENUS' ORBITS
SHOULD STRETCH
210
00:11:16,175 --> 00:11:18,176
AND OVERLAP WITH EACH OTHER.
211
00:11:21,248 --> 00:11:25,049
IT'S A COLLISION
WAITING TO HAPPEN...
212
00:11:25,051 --> 00:11:29,921
[ EXPLOSION ]
213
00:11:29,923 --> 00:11:32,524
...EXCEPT...
214
00:11:32,526 --> 00:11:33,925
IT DIDN'T.
215
00:11:33,927 --> 00:11:36,193
Walsh: SO BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THIS HERE ON EARTH
216
00:11:36,195 --> 00:11:37,595
SUGGESTS THAT EARTH AND VENUS
217
00:11:37,597 --> 00:11:40,265
DIDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT
EARLY IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
218
00:11:40,267 --> 00:11:41,933
WHEN JUPITER AND SATURN
WERE MIGRATING.
219
00:11:41,935 --> 00:11:44,535
SOMETHING APPEARS
TO HAVE PROTECTED US.
220
00:11:44,537 --> 00:11:46,671
♪♪
221
00:11:46,673 --> 00:11:49,140
Narrator: SCIENTISTS THINK
SOMETHING YANKED JUPITER
222
00:11:49,142 --> 00:11:52,410
INTO A DIFFERENT ORBIT
BEFORE IT HAD A CHANCE TO PULL
223
00:11:52,412 --> 00:11:55,680
EARTH AND VENUS
ON A COLLISION COURSE.
224
00:11:55,682 --> 00:11:58,483
BUT WHAT COULD CAUSE
SUCH A LARGE JUMP
225
00:11:58,485 --> 00:12:01,686
IN JUPITER'S MIGRATION?
226
00:12:01,688 --> 00:12:06,290
THIS IS WHERE THE ICE GIANTS
ENTER THE STORY.
227
00:12:06,292 --> 00:12:09,828
GETTING JUPITER TO MAKE
A BIG JUMP IN ITS MIGRATION
228
00:12:09,830 --> 00:12:11,095
IS NOT EASY,
229
00:12:11,097 --> 00:12:13,765
AND SO THE BEST WAY THAT
THE MODELS HAVE BEEN ABLE
230
00:12:13,767 --> 00:12:16,901
TO ACTUALLY RECREATE THIS JUMP
IS TO HAVE JUPITER
231
00:12:16,903 --> 00:12:19,237
ACTUALLY EJECT SOMETHING
THE SIZE OF NEPTUNE
232
00:12:19,239 --> 00:12:21,139
OUT OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
ENTIRELY.
233
00:12:24,044 --> 00:12:26,377
Plait:
JUPITER HAS A LOT OF GRAVITY,
234
00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:27,978
AND IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE TO IT,
235
00:12:27,980 --> 00:12:30,782
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ACCELERATED
AS YOU FALL IN TOWARDS JUPITER,
236
00:12:30,784 --> 00:12:33,518
AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
YOU CAN EJECT A PLANET
237
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,787
COMPLETELY OUT OF
THE SOLAR SYSTEM THIS WAY.
238
00:12:35,789 --> 00:12:39,257
IT'S BASICALLY SLINGSHOTTING IT.
239
00:12:39,259 --> 00:12:41,392
Narrator:
BUT A PLANET THE SIZE OF NEPTUNE
240
00:12:41,394 --> 00:12:43,727
IS HEAVY, EVEN FOR JUPITER,
241
00:12:43,729 --> 00:12:46,731
AND SLINGSHOTTING IT OUT
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
242
00:12:46,733 --> 00:12:49,267
GIVES JUPITER A KICKBACK.
243
00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:55,873
JUPITER IS KNOCKED INTO A NEW
ORBIT, AND EARTH IS SAVED.
244
00:12:55,875 --> 00:13:01,078
BUT WHICH ICE GIANT
SACRIFICED ITSELF FOR US?
245
00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,615
NEPTUNE IS STILL
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
246
00:13:04,617 --> 00:13:06,751
AND SO IS URANUS.
247
00:13:06,753 --> 00:13:08,086
Plait:
IF YOU USE COMPUTER MODELS
248
00:13:08,088 --> 00:13:11,289
TO BASICALLY PREDICT
THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PLANETS,
249
00:13:11,291 --> 00:13:13,224
WHAT YOU FIND IS THAT
IF YOU START WITH JUPITER,
250
00:13:13,226 --> 00:13:16,294
SATURN, URANUS AND NEPTUNE,
YOU CAN'T SAVE THE EARTH
251
00:13:16,296 --> 00:13:18,896
WITHOUT EJECTING
EITHER URANUS OR NEPTUNE,
252
00:13:18,898 --> 00:13:21,299
BUT THEY'RE THERE,
SO WE KNOW THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
253
00:13:21,301 --> 00:13:23,234
HOWEVER, IF YOU ADD
A THIRD ICE GIANT,
254
00:13:23,236 --> 00:13:25,637
A FIFTH GIANT PLANET OUT THERE,
255
00:13:25,639 --> 00:13:27,438
THEN THAT ACTUALLY
MAKES EVERYTHING WORK.
256
00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,706
YOU CAN SAVE THE EARTH,
257
00:13:28,708 --> 00:13:31,042
HAVE THE PLANETS IN
THEIR PRESENT CONFIGURATION,
258
00:13:31,044 --> 00:13:35,246
AND THAT ICE GIANT GETS EJECTED
FROM THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
259
00:13:35,248 --> 00:13:36,981
Narrator:
IMAGINE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
260
00:13:36,983 --> 00:13:40,785
STARTING WITH THREE ICE GIANTS.
261
00:13:40,787 --> 00:13:43,988
ONE SWINGS TOO CLOSE TO JUPITER.
262
00:13:43,990 --> 00:13:46,657
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM'S BULLY
THROWS ITS VICTIM CLEAN
263
00:13:46,659 --> 00:13:49,126
OUT OF THE PLAYGROUND.
264
00:13:49,128 --> 00:13:51,396
JUPITER IS PUSHED
INTO A NEW ORBIT
265
00:13:51,398 --> 00:13:53,998
BY THE ICE GIANT'S GRAVITY.
266
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:59,604
EARTH IS SAVED FROM JUPITER'S
DEADLY GRAVITATIONAL PULL,
267
00:13:59,606 --> 00:14:02,072
AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM
BECOMES THE SAFE
268
00:14:02,074 --> 00:14:05,809
AND ORDERLY PLACE WE SEE TODAY.
269
00:14:05,811 --> 00:14:07,211
SO WE HAVE A FUNNY STORY HERE.
270
00:14:07,213 --> 00:14:10,147
THIS ICE GIANT THAT MAY HAVE
EXISTED BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO
271
00:14:10,149 --> 00:14:12,550
YANKED JUPITER BACK INTO
THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM,
272
00:14:12,552 --> 00:14:14,618
PREVENTING IT
FROM DESTROYING THE EARTH,
273
00:14:14,620 --> 00:14:17,088
BUT IN THE MEANTIME,
IT SACRIFICED ITSELF FOR US,
274
00:14:17,090 --> 00:14:18,956
GETTING EJECTED FROM
THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
275
00:14:18,958 --> 00:14:20,625
WE HAVE TO THANK IT
FOR OUR EXISTENCE,
276
00:14:20,627 --> 00:14:24,028
BUT IT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE.
277
00:14:24,030 --> 00:14:25,830
Oluseyl:
WE HUMANS ARE REALLY LUCKY.
278
00:14:25,832 --> 00:14:28,966
HAD THE DINOSAURS NOT GONE
EXTINCT, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
279
00:14:28,968 --> 00:14:31,903
HAD THIS PLANET NOT BEEN EJECTED
OUT OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
280
00:14:31,905 --> 00:14:33,837
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
281
00:14:33,839 --> 00:14:38,242
Narrator: SO WHERE IS
THIS MISSING ICE GIANT NOW?
282
00:14:38,244 --> 00:14:39,978
Thaller:
THE ANSWER IS PRETTY AMAZING.
283
00:14:39,980 --> 00:14:42,313
IT COULD BE CLEAR ACROSS
THE OTHER SIDE
284
00:14:42,315 --> 00:14:43,648
OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
285
00:14:43,650 --> 00:14:45,716
THE SUN MOVES AROUND
THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
286
00:14:45,718 --> 00:14:48,052
AT ABOUT HALF A MILLION MILES
AN HOUR,
287
00:14:48,054 --> 00:14:49,453
AND IN THE HISTORY OF THE EARTH,
288
00:14:49,455 --> 00:14:50,921
WE'VE BEEN AROUND
ABOUT 20 TIMES.
289
00:14:50,923 --> 00:14:54,658
WE COULD'VE LOST THAT PLANET
ANYWHERE ACROSS THE MILKY WAY.
290
00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:56,994
♪♪
291
00:14:56,996 --> 00:15:00,265
Narrator:
BUT IS THIS THIRD ICE GIANT
292
00:15:00,267 --> 00:15:04,135
REALLY LOST OR JUST HIDING?
293
00:15:04,137 --> 00:15:07,205
♪♪
294
00:15:07,207 --> 00:15:11,609
JANUARY 2016 --
ASTRONOMERS AT CALTECH
295
00:15:11,611 --> 00:15:15,013
MAKE AN ASTONISHING
ANNOUNCEMENT.
296
00:15:15,015 --> 00:15:17,081
THEY CLAIM TO HAVE
FOUND EVIDENCE
297
00:15:17,083 --> 00:15:21,885
OF A MYSTERIOUS NINTH PLANET
DISRUPTING ICY BODIES
298
00:15:21,887 --> 00:15:25,556
FAR OUT IN THE KUIPER BELT.
299
00:15:25,558 --> 00:15:29,827
SIMULATIONS SUGGEST THAT IF THIS
SO-CALLED PLANET NINE EXISTS,
300
00:15:29,829 --> 00:15:33,364
IT IS SIMILAR IN SIZE
TO NEPTUNE AND URANUS.
301
00:15:33,366 --> 00:15:36,167
COULD THIS BE EARTH'S SAVIOR?
302
00:15:36,169 --> 00:15:39,303
COULD THE SOLAR SYSTEM'S
PRIMORDIAL MISSING
303
00:15:39,305 --> 00:15:43,040
SACRIFICIAL ICE GIANT
BE PLANET NINE?
304
00:15:43,042 --> 00:15:45,443
[ RUMBLING ]
305
00:15:45,445 --> 00:15:46,644
YES, IT COULD.
306
00:15:46,646 --> 00:15:48,980
Narrator:
PERHAPS THIS THIRD ICE GIANT
307
00:15:48,982 --> 00:15:52,516
WASN'T EJECTED FROM
THE SOLAR SYSTEM AFTER ALL.
308
00:15:52,518 --> 00:15:54,652
Batygin: ONE TYPE OF EJECTION IS
WHERE YOU JUST TAKE SOMETHING
309
00:15:54,654 --> 00:15:56,454
AND YOU THROW IT OUT
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
310
00:15:56,456 --> 00:15:57,789
BUT ANOTHER MORE GENTLE KIND
311
00:15:57,791 --> 00:16:00,658
IS WHEN YOU DON'T QUITE
MAKE IT ALL THE WAY OUT,
312
00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:04,328
AND INSTEAD YOU GO ON
A VERY, VERY LONG PERIOD ORBIT
313
00:16:04,330 --> 00:16:07,398
AROUND THE YOUNG SOLAR SYSTEM.
314
00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,268
Narrator: PLANET NINE IS THOUGHT
TO BE SO FAR OUT,
315
00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:15,206
IT TAKES UP TO 20,000 YEARS
FOR IT TO TRAVEL AROUND THE SUN.
316
00:16:15,208 --> 00:16:18,075
PERHAPS IT'S BEEN OBSERVING
THE DRAMATIC,
317
00:16:18,077 --> 00:16:19,811
DYNAMICAL EVOLUTION
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
318
00:16:19,813 --> 00:16:26,216
UNFOLD FROM ITS FRIGID
20,000-YEAR ORBIT.
319
00:16:26,218 --> 00:16:29,820
Narrator: WHETHER PLANET NINE
IS A LONG-LOST SIBLING OR NOT,
320
00:16:29,822 --> 00:16:33,891
ICE GIANTS PLAYED A HUGE ROLE
IN TAMING JUPITER.
321
00:16:33,893 --> 00:16:39,497
THEY MADE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
THE HAVEN IT IS TODAY.
322
00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:43,634
BUT THEY ARE NOT
PEACEFUL PLACES.
323
00:16:43,636 --> 00:16:45,837
SOMEHOW, OUT IN THE DEEP FREEZE,
324
00:16:45,839 --> 00:16:49,107
NEPTUNE IS TORMENTED
BY WILD WEATHER,
325
00:16:49,109 --> 00:16:55,646
MYSTERIOUS SUPERSTORMS
AND MAYBE EVEN DIAMOND RAIN.
326
00:17:02,188 --> 00:17:06,391
[ EXPLOSION ]
327
00:17:06,393 --> 00:17:07,991
♪♪
328
00:17:07,993 --> 00:17:11,529
Narrator: URANUS AND NEPTUNE --
329
00:17:11,531 --> 00:17:14,298
THEIR LOCATION AT THE EDGE
OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
330
00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:17,068
MAKES THEM VERY DIFFICULT
TO STUDY.
331
00:17:17,070 --> 00:17:19,070
THE ICE GIANTS URANUS
AND NEPTUNE
332
00:17:19,072 --> 00:17:20,738
ARE VERY MYSTERIOUS TO US.
333
00:17:20,740 --> 00:17:23,474
THEY'RE VERY FAR AWAY,
SO THEY'RE HARD TO OBSERVE
334
00:17:23,476 --> 00:17:27,478
WITH TELESCOPES
HERE AT THE EARTH.
335
00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:28,879
Narrator: AS A RESULT,
336
00:17:28,881 --> 00:17:33,017
THESE PLANETS
HAVE LONG BEEN OVERLOOKED.
337
00:17:33,019 --> 00:17:37,221
THE ONLY TIME WE'VE GLIMPSED
THESE DISTANT GIANTS UP CLOSE
338
00:17:37,223 --> 00:17:41,158
WAS WHEN VOYAGER 2
FLEW PAST THEM IN THE 1980s.
339
00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,294
♪♪
340
00:17:43,296 --> 00:17:46,964
THE RESULTS AMAZED HEIDI HAMMEL,
PART OF THE VOYAGER 2
341
00:17:46,966 --> 00:17:50,101
IMAGING TEAM AT THE TIME
OF THE NEPTUNE FLYBY.
342
00:17:50,103 --> 00:17:52,437
♪♪
343
00:17:52,439 --> 00:17:55,906
ONE OF THE MOST WONDROUS
AND FRUSTRATING THINGS
344
00:17:55,908 --> 00:18:00,711
ABOUT PLANETARY FLYBYS
IS THAT YOU LEARN SO MUCH
345
00:18:00,713 --> 00:18:06,250
THAT YOU OPEN A WHOLE
PANDORA'S BOX OF QUESTIONS.
346
00:18:06,252 --> 00:18:10,788
Narrator: ONE OBSERVATION
INSTANTLY INTRIGUED SCIENTISTS.
347
00:18:10,790 --> 00:18:12,489
[ WHOOSH ]
348
00:18:12,491 --> 00:18:16,927
NEPTUNE HAS THE FASTEST WINDS
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
349
00:18:16,929 --> 00:18:18,462
[ WIND HOWLING ]
350
00:18:18,464 --> 00:18:20,864
HERE ON EARTH, OUR WINDS
ARE ACTUALLY DRIVEN
351
00:18:20,866 --> 00:18:24,335
BY DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES
FROM SUNSHINE.
352
00:18:24,337 --> 00:18:26,270
NEPTUNE IS SO FAR AWAY
FROM THE SUN
353
00:18:26,272 --> 00:18:29,941
THAT IT RECEIVES ALMOST
NO ENERGY FROM OUR STAR.
354
00:18:29,943 --> 00:18:32,609
NEPTUNE IS 3 BILLION MILES
FROM THE SUN.
355
00:18:32,611 --> 00:18:37,948
IT'S REALLY COLD THERE, SO WHY
DOES IT HAVE SUCH FAST WINDS?
356
00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:40,952
Narrator: THE LESS ENERGY
A PLANET RECEIVES FROM THE SUN,
357
00:18:40,954 --> 00:18:44,021
THE QUIETER WE EXPECT
ITS WEATHER TO BE...
358
00:18:44,023 --> 00:18:46,090
♪♪
359
00:18:46,092 --> 00:18:50,494
BUT NEPTUNE ISN'T
TRANQUIL AT ALL.
360
00:18:50,496 --> 00:18:55,032
IT'S COVERED IN
MASSIVE VIOLENT STORMS.
361
00:18:55,034 --> 00:18:57,701
THERE ARE STORMS
THAT ARE RIVALING
362
00:18:57,703 --> 00:19:00,637
THE SIZE OF THE INNER PLANETS.
363
00:19:00,639 --> 00:19:02,507
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG STORM.
364
00:19:02,509 --> 00:19:05,242
Narrator: ONE OF THE LARGEST
EVER RECORDED ON NEPTUNE
365
00:19:05,244 --> 00:19:09,847
IS KNOWN AS THE 1989
GREAT DARK SPOT,
366
00:19:09,849 --> 00:19:12,183
A SINGLE VAST TEMPEST,
367
00:19:12,185 --> 00:19:15,253
LARGE ENOUGH TO SWALLOW
THE EARTH WHOLE,
368
00:19:15,255 --> 00:19:19,256
RIDING ON A JET STREAM
WITH A MIND-BLOWING WIND SPEED
369
00:19:19,258 --> 00:19:21,792
OF 1,500 MILES PER HOUR.
370
00:19:21,794 --> 00:19:23,794
HANDS DOWN,
NEPTUNE HOLDS THE RECORD
371
00:19:23,796 --> 00:19:27,198
FOR THE FASTEST WIND SPEEDS
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
372
00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,000
Plait: THE FASTEST TORNADO WINDS
ON EARTH
373
00:19:30,002 --> 00:19:32,069
ARE ONLY A FEW
HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR,
374
00:19:32,071 --> 00:19:34,538
AND THAT DOES
DEVASTATING DESTRUCTION,
375
00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:38,075
SO IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE
WHAT WINDS ON NEPTUNE WOULD DO.
376
00:19:38,077 --> 00:19:41,345
Narrator: A PROBE ENTERING
NEPTUNE'S UPPER ATMOSPHERE
377
00:19:41,347 --> 00:19:44,949
WOULD RECORD FREEZING
TEMPERATURES,
378
00:19:44,951 --> 00:19:47,884
MINUS-370 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT --
379
00:19:47,886 --> 00:19:51,689
TOO COLD
TO GENERATE THE WIND WE SEE.
380
00:19:51,691 --> 00:19:54,958
600 MILES DOWN,
THOUGH, THE PROBE IS SMASHED
381
00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,963
BY NEPTUNE'S RELENTLESS
JET STREAM WINDS.
382
00:19:58,965 --> 00:20:04,035
[ WINDS HOWLING ]
383
00:20:04,037 --> 00:20:09,440
AND THE DEEPER YOU GO,
THE WARMER IT BECOMES.
384
00:20:09,442 --> 00:20:11,709
NEPTUNE HAS ALMOST THREE TIMES
385
00:20:11,711 --> 00:20:14,311
AS MUCH HEAT COMING
FROM ITS INTERIOR
386
00:20:14,313 --> 00:20:17,048
THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT
FROM A BALL OF GAS
387
00:20:17,050 --> 00:20:20,318
OUT AT NEPTUNE'S DISTANCE.
388
00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,454
THE STRANGE THING ABOUT
THESE HIGH-SPEED NEPTUNE WINDS
389
00:20:23,456 --> 00:20:26,857
IS THAT THEY'RE NOT POWERED
BY HEAT ENERGY FROM THE SUN.
390
00:20:26,859 --> 00:20:29,259
IN FACT, THEY'RE POWERED
BY HEAT ENERGY
391
00:20:29,261 --> 00:20:31,996
FROM NEPTUNE'S OWN INTERIOR.
392
00:20:31,998 --> 00:20:33,998
[ BLOWING ]
393
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,402
Narrator: SO WHERE DOES THIS
INTERNAL HEAT COME FROM?
394
00:20:38,404 --> 00:20:42,205
WHEN PLANETS FORM, IT'S A VERY
VIOLENT, VERY ENERGETIC EVENT,
395
00:20:42,207 --> 00:20:44,608
AND THE PLANETS ARE
ACTUALLY EXTREMELY HOT,
396
00:20:44,610 --> 00:20:48,412
AND IT TAKES BILLIONS OF YEARS
FOR THAT HEAT TO LEAK AWAY,
397
00:20:48,414 --> 00:20:49,880
SO NEPTUNE, IT TURNS OUT,
398
00:20:49,882 --> 00:20:52,616
PROBABLY STILL HAS A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THAT HEAT
399
00:20:52,618 --> 00:20:55,820
THAT IS TRAPPED INSIDE OF IT,
AND AS THAT BUBBLES UP,
400
00:20:55,822 --> 00:20:57,688
THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY
HEATING THE ATMOSPHERE
401
00:20:57,690 --> 00:21:00,024
AND DRIVING THIS
TREMENDOUS WEATHER.
402
00:21:00,026 --> 00:21:01,558
[ WHOOSHING ]
403
00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:05,896
Narrator: SO HOW DOES NEPTUNE
RETAIN SO MUCH HEAT?
404
00:21:05,898 --> 00:21:10,368
THE SECRET LIES DEEP
BELOW THE ATMOSPHERE.
405
00:21:10,370 --> 00:21:12,303
Kipping: AS YOU GO DOWN
AND DOWN AND DOWN,
406
00:21:12,305 --> 00:21:14,305
YOU'LL JUST FIND THE PRESSURE
GETS MORE AND MORE INTENSE
407
00:21:14,307 --> 00:21:17,375
UNTIL YOU ARE EVENTUALLY
ESSENTIALLY CRUSHED.
408
00:21:17,377 --> 00:21:20,044
Lanza: THAT ATMOSPHERE WILL GET
THICKER AND THICKER LIKE A FOG
409
00:21:20,046 --> 00:21:23,047
UNTIL SUDDENLY YOU WOULD REALIZE
THAT INSTEAD OF AN ATMOSPHERE,
410
00:21:23,049 --> 00:21:26,249
YOU ARE IN AN OCEAN.
411
00:21:26,251 --> 00:21:30,921
Narrator: NEPTUNE HAS
A SUPER-DENSE FLUID MANTLE
412
00:21:30,923 --> 00:21:35,793
MADE UP OF METHANE,
AMMONIA, AND WATER.
413
00:21:35,795 --> 00:21:39,930
REALLY, AN ICE GIANT
IS NOT A SOLID BALL OF ICE,
414
00:21:39,932 --> 00:21:45,603
BUT RATHER A MOVING OCEAN
OF SWIRLING LIQUID MATERIAL.
415
00:21:45,605 --> 00:21:48,739
Narrator: THIS SWIRLING LIQUID
TRAPS THE HEAT,
416
00:21:48,741 --> 00:21:52,610
ACTING LIKE A BLANKET,
INSULATING THE CORE.
417
00:21:52,612 --> 00:21:57,081
THIS IS THE SECRET
TO NEPTUNE'S WILD WEATHER,
418
00:21:57,083 --> 00:21:59,016
AND THE INTENSE INTERIOR HEAT
419
00:21:59,018 --> 00:22:02,620
AND PRESSURE
IN NEPTUNE'S METHANE-RICH MANTLE
420
00:22:02,622 --> 00:22:07,224
MAY CREATE ANOTHER
EXTRAORDINARY EFFECT.
421
00:22:07,226 --> 00:22:09,093
Plait:
THE PRESSURE IS SO INTENSE
422
00:22:09,095 --> 00:22:10,627
THAT THE METHANE BREAKS UP,
423
00:22:10,629 --> 00:22:12,830
AND METHANE IS MADE
OF CARBON AND HYDROGEN,
424
00:22:12,832 --> 00:22:16,032
SO IF YOU TAKE CARBON
AND YOU COMPRESS IT A LOT,
425
00:22:16,034 --> 00:22:18,369
YOU COULD GET DIAMOND FORMATION,
426
00:22:18,371 --> 00:22:20,905
AND SO IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE
427
00:22:20,907 --> 00:22:24,307
THAT LITERAL DIAMONDS
ARE RAINING DOWN
428
00:22:24,309 --> 00:22:29,313
IN THIS OCEAN
OF THE MANTLE FLUID ON NEPTUNE.
429
00:22:29,315 --> 00:22:31,782
[ SATELLITE PINGING ]
430
00:22:31,784 --> 00:22:34,985
Narrator: FROM SUPERSTORMS TO
DIAMOND RAIN,
431
00:22:34,987 --> 00:22:40,057
NEPTUNE IS STRANGE,
DYNAMIC BEYOND EXPECTATION,
432
00:22:40,059 --> 00:22:43,060
BUT URANUS IS THE REAL MYSTERY,
433
00:22:43,062 --> 00:22:47,130
THE VICTIM OF A COSMIC
ONE-TWO PUNCH WITH SEASONS
434
00:22:47,132 --> 00:22:50,401
UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
435
00:22:58,677 --> 00:23:03,013
[ EXPLOSION ]
436
00:23:03,015 --> 00:23:05,215
♪♪
437
00:23:05,217 --> 00:23:09,353
Narrator: JANUARY 1986 --
438
00:23:09,355 --> 00:23:14,692
VOYAGER 2 APPROACHES URANUS
AT OVER 40,000 MILES PER HOUR.
439
00:23:14,694 --> 00:23:19,563
ASTRONOMERS HAVE BEEN WAITING
FOR THIS MOMENT FOR 8 YEARS,
440
00:23:19,565 --> 00:23:22,099
BUT ON VOYAGER'S ARRIVAL,
441
00:23:22,101 --> 00:23:26,903
ALL THAT'S REVEALED IS
A BLAND, PALE, BLUE BALL.
442
00:23:26,905 --> 00:23:28,572
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT
DISAPPOINTING
443
00:23:28,574 --> 00:23:30,307
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
444
00:23:30,309 --> 00:23:34,512
AS A SCIENTIST STUDYING
THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE PLANET.
445
00:23:34,514 --> 00:23:39,516
Narrator: 20 YEARS LATER,
EVERYTHING CHANGES.
446
00:23:39,518 --> 00:23:45,656
TELESCOPES REVEAL HUGE STORMS
RAGING ACROSS THE PLANET.
447
00:23:45,658 --> 00:23:47,858
WHY THE ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE?
448
00:23:47,860 --> 00:23:53,597
THE ANSWER LIES IN THE PLANET'S
EXTREME AXIAL TILT.
449
00:23:53,599 --> 00:23:56,934
IF NEPTUNE AND URANUS
ARE SIBLINGS,
450
00:23:56,936 --> 00:24:00,070
URANUS IS DEFINITELY
THE WONKY SIBLING.
451
00:24:00,072 --> 00:24:01,872
ALL THE PLANETS ARE TILTED WITH
RESPECT TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
452
00:24:01,874 --> 00:24:03,540
THE EARTH IS 23 DEGREES.
453
00:24:03,542 --> 00:24:05,475
JUPITER IS JUST
A HANDFUL OF DEGREES,
454
00:24:05,477 --> 00:24:07,878
BUT URANUS IS
ACTUALLY ON ITS SIDE.
455
00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,081
IT'S TIPPED 98 DEGREES.
456
00:24:11,083 --> 00:24:14,951
Narrator: URANUS' TILT IS ALMOST
FOUR TIMES MORE EXTREME
457
00:24:14,953 --> 00:24:17,621
THAN ANY OTHER PLANET
IN THE SYSTEM.
458
00:24:17,623 --> 00:24:21,024
IT'S LYING SO ITS POLES
ARE HORIZONTAL,
459
00:24:21,026 --> 00:24:24,561
AND ITS RINGS AND MOONS
ARE VERTICAL RELATIVE
460
00:24:24,563 --> 00:24:28,365
TO THE PLANE
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
461
00:24:28,367 --> 00:24:30,968
EARTH'S TILT GIVES IT SEASONS.
462
00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:36,640
URANUS' EXTREME TILT
GIVES IT EXTREME SEASONS.
463
00:24:36,642 --> 00:24:40,110
TWICE A YEAR, ITS POLES ARE
POINTED DIRECTLY TOWARDS
464
00:24:40,112 --> 00:24:43,513
OR AWAY FROM THE SUN,
465
00:24:43,515 --> 00:24:47,784
SO EACH POLE HAS A VERY
INTENSE PERIOD OF MIDNIGHT SUN
466
00:24:47,786 --> 00:24:51,789
AND A DARK, COLD POLAR NIGHT.
467
00:24:51,791 --> 00:24:55,325
IT TAKES URANUS 84 YEARS
TO ORBIT THE SUN,
468
00:24:55,327 --> 00:24:58,862
SO THOSE SEASONS LAST
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
469
00:24:58,864 --> 00:25:01,198
♪♪
470
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,066
YOU GET, LIKE,
20 YEARS OF SUNLIGHT
471
00:25:03,068 --> 00:25:05,802
IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
AS ITS GOING AROUND THE SUN
472
00:25:05,804 --> 00:25:08,738
AND 20 YEARS OF DARKNESS
IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
473
00:25:08,740 --> 00:25:13,811
♪♪
474
00:25:13,813 --> 00:25:15,946
URANUS IS KIND OF LIKE
"GAME OF THRONES."
475
00:25:15,948 --> 00:25:18,282
YOU'RE WAITING AGES
FOR WINTER TO COME,
476
00:25:18,284 --> 00:25:20,750
AND THEN WINTER LASTS 20 YEARS.
477
00:25:20,752 --> 00:25:22,953
♪♪
478
00:25:22,955 --> 00:25:25,956
Narrator: A WINTER'S NIGHT
OR A SUMMER'S DAY
479
00:25:25,958 --> 00:25:27,558
THAT LASTS FOR DECADES.
480
00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,694
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE INTERIM
WHEN THE ORBIT OF THE PLANET
481
00:25:30,696 --> 00:25:33,497
MEANS THE SUNLIGHT
HITS ITS SPINNING EQUATOR
482
00:25:33,499 --> 00:25:36,166
RATHER THAN ONE OF ITS POLES?
483
00:25:36,168 --> 00:25:40,904
WHEN IT'S OFF TO THE SIDE,
THE WHOLE PLANET'S LIT UP.
484
00:25:40,906 --> 00:25:46,243
AS IT SPINS, EVERY PIECE OF THE
PLANET IS EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT.
485
00:25:46,245 --> 00:25:49,113
Narrator: SUNLIGHT HITS THE
EQUATOR OF THE SPINNING PLANET,
486
00:25:49,115 --> 00:25:53,116
PUMPING ENERGY INTO THE SURFACE,
WARMING THE ATMOSPHERE
487
00:25:53,118 --> 00:25:56,720
AND DRIVING AIR CURRENTS
AROUND THE PLANET.
488
00:25:56,722 --> 00:26:02,258
THE RESULT --
SPRING AND AUTUMN STORMS.
489
00:26:02,260 --> 00:26:06,797
THAT EXTREME CHANGE IN HOW
MUCH SUNLIGHT IS DISTRIBUTED
490
00:26:06,799 --> 00:26:09,199
ACROSS THAT PLANET'S ATMOSPHERE
491
00:26:09,201 --> 00:26:12,269
PROBABLY HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE
492
00:26:12,271 --> 00:26:15,472
IN DRIVING THIS REMARKABLE
SEASONAL CHANGE
493
00:26:15,474 --> 00:26:19,677
WE SEE IN URANUS' ATMOSPHERE.
494
00:26:19,679 --> 00:26:22,746
Narrator: UNLIKE ITS ICE GIANT
SIBLING, NEPTUNE,
495
00:26:22,748 --> 00:26:28,018
URANUS HAS SEASONAL STORMS
RATHER THAN CONSTANT ONES,
496
00:26:28,020 --> 00:26:31,154
SO WHY DOES URANUS
ROLL AROUND THE SUN
497
00:26:31,156 --> 00:26:34,891
WHILE OTHER PLANETS
SPIN LIKE TOPS?
498
00:26:34,893 --> 00:26:40,163
IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING WE
KNOW ABOUT PLANETARY FORMATION.
499
00:26:40,165 --> 00:26:42,366
IN SOME WAYS, FORMING NEW
PLANETS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
500
00:26:42,368 --> 00:26:45,369
WAS A LOT LIKE
MAKING COTTON CANDY.
501
00:26:45,371 --> 00:26:49,105
THERE WAS A DIRECTION THAT
EVERYTHING WAS COMING TOGETHER.
502
00:26:49,107 --> 00:26:50,907
IF YOU PUT A STICK DOWN IN IT,
503
00:26:50,909 --> 00:26:52,575
THE MATERIAL WOULD
ACCUMULATE AROUND IT
504
00:26:52,577 --> 00:26:55,245
IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION,
SO THAT'S WHY ALL THE PLANETS
505
00:26:55,247 --> 00:26:57,914
HAVE ROUGHLY THE SAME
ORBITAL AXES.
506
00:26:57,916 --> 00:27:00,784
♪♪
507
00:27:00,786 --> 00:27:04,521
Narrator: IF URANUS STARTED OUT
WITH A VERTICAL ORBITAL AXIS,
508
00:27:04,523 --> 00:27:07,724
HOW DID IT END UP
FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE?
509
00:27:07,726 --> 00:27:10,594
♪♪
510
00:27:10,596 --> 00:27:12,796
[ EXPLOSION ]
511
00:27:12,798 --> 00:27:15,065
WE KNOW THERE WERE A LOT
OF COLLISIONS BETWEEN PLANETS
512
00:27:15,067 --> 00:27:18,802
OR PLANET-SIZED OBJECTS
IN THE EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM.
513
00:27:18,804 --> 00:27:25,208
♪♪
514
00:27:25,210 --> 00:27:28,679
IT'S NATURAL TO ASSUME
THAT URANUS PROBABLY GOT HIT
515
00:27:28,681 --> 00:27:31,281
AS A GRAZING IMPACT
FROM ANOTHER GIANT OBJECT,
516
00:27:31,283 --> 00:27:33,750
WHICH TIPPED IT
OVER ON ITS SIDE.
517
00:27:33,752 --> 00:27:35,819
♪♪
518
00:27:35,821 --> 00:27:38,622
Narrator: BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM
WITH THIS ASSUMPTION.
519
00:27:38,624 --> 00:27:41,291
IF YOU HIT URANUS WITH A SINGLE
IMPACT TO KNOCK IT OVER
520
00:27:41,293 --> 00:27:42,760
TO 98 DEGREES,
521
00:27:42,762 --> 00:27:45,295
THEN ACTUALLY WHAT YOU EXPECT
IS THAT THE RINGS LEFT OVER
522
00:27:45,297 --> 00:27:47,964
WOULD BE ORBITING IN
THE WRONG DIRECTION
523
00:27:47,966 --> 00:27:50,434
RELATIVE
TO THE SPIN OF THE PLANET.
524
00:27:50,436 --> 00:27:54,237
♪♪
525
00:27:54,239 --> 00:27:56,306
Narrator: WHAT EVENT COULD BE
POWERFUL ENOUGH
526
00:27:56,308 --> 00:27:57,708
TO FLIP A PLANET,
527
00:27:57,710 --> 00:28:02,112
BUT GENTLE ENOUGH TO BRING
EVERYTHING IN ORBIT AROUND IT
528
00:28:02,114 --> 00:28:05,048
ALONG FOR THE RIDE?
529
00:28:05,050 --> 00:28:07,250
A SINGLE BIG COLLISION
530
00:28:07,252 --> 00:28:09,186
IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT HAPPENED
TO URANUS
531
00:28:09,188 --> 00:28:11,521
BECAUSE THAT WOULD'VE
BEEN TOO DISRUPTIVE.
532
00:28:11,523 --> 00:28:13,189
♪♪
533
00:28:13,191 --> 00:28:14,591
IT'S KIND OF LIKE BOXING.
534
00:28:14,593 --> 00:28:18,395
INSTEAD OF ONE BIG KNOCKOUT
BLOW, IT WAS THE OLD ONE-TWO.
535
00:28:18,397 --> 00:28:20,731
♪♪
536
00:28:20,733 --> 00:28:22,800
Narrator:
ONE THEORY SUGGESTS THAT
537
00:28:22,802 --> 00:28:26,269
THE NEWLY FORMED URANUS IS HIT
BY A PROTOPLANET
538
00:28:26,271 --> 00:28:27,538
THE SIZE OF EARTH.
539
00:28:27,540 --> 00:28:29,606
♪♪
540
00:28:29,608 --> 00:28:33,343
THE BLOW IS ONLY GLANCING.
541
00:28:33,345 --> 00:28:37,548
URANUS IS KNOCKED PARTWAY
TOWARDS ITS CURRENT TILT.
542
00:28:37,550 --> 00:28:40,083
ITS RING SYSTEM
SURVIVES THE IMPACT
543
00:28:40,085 --> 00:28:42,486
AND STAYS IN ORBIT
AROUND THE EQUATOR.
544
00:28:42,488 --> 00:28:45,022
♪♪
545
00:28:45,024 --> 00:28:49,359
AS THE SECOND OBJECT HITS,
URANUS IS TIPPED ALL THE WAY,
546
00:28:49,361 --> 00:28:52,229
AND THE RINGS FOLLOW.
547
00:28:52,231 --> 00:28:56,099
URANUS GOT JABBED
AND THEN KNOCKED ON ITS SIDE.
548
00:28:56,101 --> 00:28:58,902
♪♪
549
00:28:58,904 --> 00:29:01,638
Narrator: URANUS MAY ORBIT
THE SUN SIDEWAYS,
550
00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:06,976
BUT NEPTUNE'S MOON, TRITON,
HAS AN EVEN STRANGER TRAJECTORY.
551
00:29:06,978 --> 00:29:10,380
IT TRAVELS AROUND NEPTUNE
IN REVERSE.
552
00:29:10,382 --> 00:29:14,651
BUT WEIRDER THAN THAT,
IT SEEMS TO BE ERUPTING,
553
00:29:14,653 --> 00:29:17,253
AND IT COULD EVEN HARBOR LIFE.
554
00:29:17,255 --> 00:29:20,357
♪♪
555
00:29:26,932 --> 00:29:31,067
[ EXPLOSION ]
556
00:29:31,069 --> 00:29:32,669
♪♪
557
00:29:32,671 --> 00:29:34,871
Narrator:
WHEREVER WE SEE PLANETS,
558
00:29:34,873 --> 00:29:37,207
WE EXPECT TO SEE MOONS.
559
00:29:37,209 --> 00:29:42,412
IT SEEMS THE LARGER THE PLANET,
THE MORE MOONS ORBIT AROUND IT.
560
00:29:42,414 --> 00:29:46,550
♪♪
561
00:29:46,552 --> 00:29:51,054
JUPITER HAS 69. SATURN, 61.
562
00:29:53,425 --> 00:29:56,226
NEXT COME THE ICE GIANTS.
563
00:29:56,228 --> 00:30:00,630
ASTRONOMERS HAVE SO FAR DETECTED
27 MOONS AROUND URANUS
564
00:30:00,632 --> 00:30:02,566
AND 13 AROUND NEPTUNE.
565
00:30:02,568 --> 00:30:04,500
♪♪
566
00:30:04,502 --> 00:30:09,039
BUT ONE STANDS OUT COMPLETELY...
567
00:30:09,041 --> 00:30:12,175
NEPTUNE'S MOON, TRITON.
568
00:30:12,177 --> 00:30:14,044
♪♪
569
00:30:14,046 --> 00:30:15,445
TRITON IS A BIT OF AN ODDBALL
570
00:30:15,447 --> 00:30:17,981
BECAUSE INSTEAD OF ORBITING
NEPTUNE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
571
00:30:17,983 --> 00:30:19,316
THAT NEPTUNE SPINS,
572
00:30:19,318 --> 00:30:21,317
IT ORBITS
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,
573
00:30:21,319 --> 00:30:24,922
WHAT WE CALL A RETROGRADE ORBIT.
574
00:30:24,924 --> 00:30:27,524
Narrator:
A GIANT PLANET AND ITS MOONS
575
00:30:27,526 --> 00:30:30,260
FORM OUT OF THE SAME SWIRLING
DISK OF GAS,
576
00:30:30,262 --> 00:30:33,664
DUST, AND ROCKY MATERIAL.
577
00:30:33,666 --> 00:30:36,532
THE LIGHTER GAS FALLS
INTO THE CENTER MORE EASILY,
578
00:30:36,534 --> 00:30:38,201
FORMING THE PLANET,
579
00:30:38,203 --> 00:30:40,737
WHILE SOME OF
THE HEAVIER ROCKY MATERIAL
580
00:30:40,739 --> 00:30:44,474
IS LEFT OVER IN THE DISK,
FORMING THE MOONS.
581
00:30:44,476 --> 00:30:46,409
♪♪
582
00:30:46,411 --> 00:30:48,946
TYPICALLY, THE MOON TRAVELS
IN THE SAME DIRECTION
583
00:30:48,948 --> 00:30:50,614
THAT THE PLANET IS ORBITING,
584
00:30:50,616 --> 00:30:52,816
BUT IN THE CASE
OF TRITON AND NEPTUNE,
585
00:30:52,818 --> 00:30:56,887
THAT'S THE COMPLETE
OPPOSITE CASE.
586
00:30:56,889 --> 00:30:58,488
Thaller:
WE KNOW IT COULDN'T HAVE FORMED
587
00:30:58,490 --> 00:30:59,690
IN THAT ORBIT AROUND NEPTUNE.
588
00:30:59,692 --> 00:31:01,825
IT HAD TO COME WERE
SOMEWHERE ELSE,
589
00:31:01,827 --> 00:31:04,227
AND A WONDERFUL CLUE
TO WHERE IT CAME FROM
590
00:31:04,229 --> 00:31:07,297
IS THE NEARBY NEIGHBOR, PLUTO.
591
00:31:07,299 --> 00:31:09,566
Narrator:
PLUTO IS A DWARF PLANET
592
00:31:09,568 --> 00:31:11,367
IN THE NEARBY KUIPER BELT.
593
00:31:11,369 --> 00:31:14,571
IT'S ONLY 200 MILES
SMALLER THAN TRITON,
594
00:31:14,573 --> 00:31:18,975
BUT IT'S NOT JUST SIZE THAT
MAKES THESE TWO BODIES SIMILAR.
595
00:31:18,977 --> 00:31:21,111
IT'S THEIR COMPOSITION.
596
00:31:21,113 --> 00:31:24,781
Spencer: TRITON IS ACTUALLY
MOST SIMILAR TO PLUTO.
597
00:31:24,783 --> 00:31:28,051
IT HAS A SIMILAR AMOUNT
OF ROCK IN ITS INTERIOR.
598
00:31:28,053 --> 00:31:29,786
IT HAS A SIMILAR
SURFACE COMPOSITION
599
00:31:29,788 --> 00:31:32,055
WITH A LOT OF NITROGEN
AND METHANE.
600
00:31:32,057 --> 00:31:34,391
IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE
A PLUTO-LIKE WORLD,
601
00:31:34,393 --> 00:31:36,393
BUT IT JUST HAPPENS
TO BE ORBITING A PLANET
602
00:31:36,395 --> 00:31:40,330
INSTEAD OF ORBITING THE SUN.
603
00:31:40,332 --> 00:31:42,599
Narrator:
IF TRITON IS LIKE PLUTO,
604
00:31:42,601 --> 00:31:47,604
MAYBE IT ALSO STARTED LIFE
IN THE KUIPER BELT.
605
00:31:47,606 --> 00:31:51,008
COULD IT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED
BY NEPTUNE'S GRAVITY,
606
00:31:51,010 --> 00:31:54,210
PULLED INTO
THE GAS GIANT'S ORBIT?
607
00:31:54,212 --> 00:31:55,812
♪♪
608
00:31:55,814 --> 00:31:59,415
IT'S NOT EASY TO CAPTURE A MOON
INTO ORBIT AROUND A PLANET.
609
00:31:59,417 --> 00:32:02,485
IT'S NOT NATURAL FOR A BODY
TO COME CLOSE TO ANOTHER WORLD
610
00:32:02,487 --> 00:32:04,087
AND JUST SPIRAL IN.
611
00:32:04,089 --> 00:32:07,858
YOU'VE SOMEHOW GOT TO PUT ON
THE BRAKES WHEN IT'S CLOSE IN.
612
00:32:09,694 --> 00:32:12,162
Narrator:
FOR NEPTUNE TO CAPTURE TRITON,
613
00:32:12,164 --> 00:32:17,634
TRITON HAD TO BE SLOWED DOWN,
BUT HOW?
614
00:32:17,636 --> 00:32:21,171
AGAIN, KUIPER BELT OBJECTS
HOLD A CLUE.
615
00:32:21,173 --> 00:32:24,240
MANY OF THE LARGEST
ARE BINARY PAIRS,
616
00:32:24,242 --> 00:32:26,376
TWO WORLDS ORBITING EACH OTHER,
617
00:32:26,378 --> 00:32:29,646
LIKE PLUTO
AND ITS LARGE MOON CHARON.
618
00:32:29,648 --> 00:32:34,518
PERHAPS TRITON WAS
ONE OF A PAIR AS WELL.
619
00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,787
IF TRITON WAS IN ORBIT
WITH A PARTNER,
620
00:32:37,789 --> 00:32:41,324
EACH OF THE PAIR WOULD
TRAVEL AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS.
621
00:32:41,326 --> 00:32:44,928
THIS SPEED DIFFERENCE IS KEY.
622
00:32:44,930 --> 00:32:47,530
TRITON'S VELOCITY IS JUST
A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
623
00:32:47,532 --> 00:32:50,801
AS IT'S ORBITING ITS COMPANION,
IT'S SLOW ENOUGH
624
00:32:50,803 --> 00:32:53,003
THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY
GET CAPTURED BY NEPTUNE,
625
00:32:53,005 --> 00:32:56,673
WHILE THAT OTHER ONE WOULD SPEED
OFF ACROSS THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
626
00:32:56,675 --> 00:33:00,744
♪♪
627
00:33:00,746 --> 00:33:03,479
Narrator:
TRITON'S ORIGINAL DANCE PARTNER
628
00:33:03,481 --> 00:33:04,881
IS FLUNG OUT AND AWAY.
629
00:33:04,883 --> 00:33:11,088
TRITON HAS A NEW, MUCH
BIGGER COMPANION, NEPTUNE.
630
00:33:11,090 --> 00:33:17,160
BUT THESE UNLIKELY PARTNERS
ARE DANCING OUT OF SYNC.
631
00:33:17,162 --> 00:33:21,365
CAPTURE EXPLAINS
THE BACKWARDS ORBIT,
632
00:33:21,367 --> 00:33:25,702
BUT THERE'S AN EVEN
STRANGER MYSTERY TO SOLVE.
633
00:33:25,704 --> 00:33:27,170
ON A MOON LIKE TRITON,
634
00:33:27,172 --> 00:33:30,173
WE'D EXPECT TO SEE
HEAVILY CRATERED TERRAIN,
635
00:33:30,175 --> 00:33:34,177
THE HALLMARK OF
GEOLOGICALLY DEAD WORLDS.
636
00:33:34,179 --> 00:33:41,118
INSTEAD, VOYAGER 2 REVEALS A
WORLD THAT'S STARTLINGLY ALIVE.
637
00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:42,853
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
AMAZING DISCOVERIES
638
00:33:42,855 --> 00:33:46,389
OF THE ENTIRE VOYAGER MISSION IS
THAT WHEN WE FLEW PAST TRITON,
639
00:33:46,391 --> 00:33:48,658
WE SAW THESE JETS
OF LIQUID NITROGEN
640
00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:50,193
COMING UP OUT OF THE SURFACE.
641
00:33:50,195 --> 00:33:53,397
WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS
TINY, LITTLE COLD WORLD
642
00:33:53,399 --> 00:33:56,133
OUT THERE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
643
00:33:56,135 --> 00:33:59,936
Narrator: SMOOTH, ICY PLANES
COVER THE SURFACE.
644
00:33:59,938 --> 00:34:02,939
GEYSERS OF NITROGEN
PUNCH UP THROUGH THE CRUST
645
00:34:02,941 --> 00:34:07,477
AND SPEW BLACK DUST
5 MILES INTO THE SKY.
646
00:34:07,479 --> 00:34:11,748
WE THOUGHT IT WAS TOO FAR FROM
THE SUN, TOO COLD, TOO DEAD.
647
00:34:11,750 --> 00:34:13,884
IT WAS JUST GOING
TO BE AN ICE BALL
648
00:34:13,886 --> 00:34:18,822
LIKE ALL THE OTHER MOONS
THAT HAD TENDED TO BE, BUT, NO.
649
00:34:18,824 --> 00:34:21,691
IT'S A FRESH, YOUNG SURFACE.
650
00:34:21,693 --> 00:34:24,828
♪♪
651
00:34:24,830 --> 00:34:26,496
NARRATOR: TRITON'S SURFACE IS
652
00:34:26,498 --> 00:34:29,232
A FROSTY 200 DEGREES
BELOW FREEZING.
653
00:34:29,234 --> 00:34:31,368
♪♪
654
00:34:31,370 --> 00:34:36,506
WHERE'S THE HEAT COMING FROM
TO DRIVE THESE SURFACE FEATURES?
655
00:34:36,508 --> 00:34:42,045
THE ANSWER LIES WITH
NEPTUNE'S CAPTURE OF TRITON.
656
00:34:42,047 --> 00:34:46,783
TRITON'S ORBIT IS CIRCULAR,
BUT IT WAS ONCE ELLIPTICAL.
657
00:34:46,785 --> 00:34:50,053
♪♪
658
00:34:50,055 --> 00:34:53,389
AS TRITON MOVED CLOSER IN
AND FARTHER AWAY,
659
00:34:53,391 --> 00:34:55,325
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
REPEATEDLY SQUASHED
660
00:34:55,327 --> 00:34:58,394
AND STRETCHED
BY NEPTUNE'S GRAVITY.
661
00:34:58,396 --> 00:35:00,463
THAT WOULD GENERATE MASSIVE
AMOUNTS OF FRICTION
662
00:35:00,465 --> 00:35:01,731
INSIDE OF TRITON.
663
00:35:01,733 --> 00:35:04,267
MIGHT WELL HAVE COMPLETELY
MELTED TRITON
664
00:35:04,269 --> 00:35:05,668
DUE TO THOSE FORCES,
665
00:35:05,670 --> 00:35:08,605
AND AS THAT HAPPENED,
IT WOULD HAVE ACTED AS A BRAKE.
666
00:35:08,607 --> 00:35:12,475
ALL THAT FRICTION WOULD HAVE
CIRCULARIZED TRITON'S ORBIT
667
00:35:12,477 --> 00:35:14,611
AND LEFT IT IN THE ORBIT
THAT WE SEE TODAY.
668
00:35:14,613 --> 00:35:16,812
♪♪
669
00:35:16,814 --> 00:35:21,884
Narrator: THIS CHANGE IN ORBIT
IS WHAT GIVES TRITON ITS HEAT.
670
00:35:21,886 --> 00:35:24,087
THE SURFACE OF TRITON
FROZE OVER,
671
00:35:24,089 --> 00:35:27,224
BUT THE MOON STILL RETAINS
SOME OF THIS WARMTH
672
00:35:27,226 --> 00:35:29,692
DEEP BELOW THE ICY SHELL.
673
00:35:29,694 --> 00:35:32,295
♪♪
674
00:35:32,297 --> 00:35:37,099
ASTRONOMERS THINK THERE'S ENOUGH
HEAT TO MELT ICE INTO WATER,
675
00:35:37,101 --> 00:35:40,370
FORMING AN UNDERGROUND
LIQUID OCEAN
676
00:35:40,372 --> 00:35:44,241
ON A WORLD 3 BILLION MILES
FROM THE SUN.
677
00:35:44,243 --> 00:35:48,844
LIQUID WATER, HEAT...
THERE IS ONLY ONE QUESTION,
678
00:35:48,846 --> 00:35:52,048
AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
NOT TO ASK IT.
679
00:35:52,050 --> 00:35:54,651
COULD THERE BE LIFE?
680
00:35:54,653 --> 00:35:56,619
IF THERE'S A SOURCE
OF ENERGY ON TRITON,
681
00:35:56,621 --> 00:35:59,655
THEN PERHAPS THERE'S A FORM
OF LIFE THAT FIGURED OUT
682
00:35:59,657 --> 00:36:01,992
HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT ENERGY SOURCE.
683
00:36:01,994 --> 00:36:05,528
♪♪
684
00:36:05,530 --> 00:36:07,063
Narrator: AN INCREDIBLE THOUGHT.
685
00:36:07,065 --> 00:36:10,800
IF LIFE HAS CARVED OUT A NICHE,
THIS FROZEN BALL
686
00:36:10,802 --> 00:36:14,737
COULD BE THE MOST DISTANT
HABITABLE WORLD FROM THE SUN.
687
00:36:14,739 --> 00:36:17,073
♪♪
688
00:36:17,075 --> 00:36:20,009
NEPTUNE'S MOON, TRITON,
MIGHT BE ALIVE,
689
00:36:20,011 --> 00:36:23,346
BUT URANUS' MOONS
ARE EVEN STRANGER.
690
00:36:23,348 --> 00:36:27,416
THEY HAVE A NEAT TRICK
TO CHEAT DEATH ENTIRELY.
691
00:36:27,418 --> 00:36:31,922
♪♪
692
00:36:38,430 --> 00:36:40,096
[ EXPLOSION ]
693
00:36:40,098 --> 00:36:45,501
Narrator: URANUS --
AN ICE GIANT WITH BEAUTIFUL,
694
00:36:45,503 --> 00:36:48,771
SHIMMERING RINGS AND 27 MOONS...
695
00:36:48,773 --> 00:36:51,041
♪♪
696
00:36:51,043 --> 00:36:54,777
AND THEIR POSITION IS A MYSTERY.
697
00:36:54,779 --> 00:36:58,982
HALF EXIST WITHIN
A TIGHTLY PACKED ORBIT.
698
00:36:58,984 --> 00:37:01,450
IT SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE
FOR THIS MANY MOONS
699
00:37:01,452 --> 00:37:06,056
TO BE IN SUCH CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER.
700
00:37:06,058 --> 00:37:08,658
THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND URANUS
IS VERY BUSY,
701
00:37:08,660 --> 00:37:10,727
AND THE SYSTEM
APPEARS UNSTABLE,
702
00:37:10,729 --> 00:37:12,528
AND THE MOONS
SHOULD BE COLLIDING,
703
00:37:12,530 --> 00:37:15,532
BUT YET, WE SEE THESE NICE,
WELL-FORMED MOONS.
704
00:37:15,534 --> 00:37:18,201
♪♪
705
00:37:18,203 --> 00:37:21,203
AND WHAT'S EVEN MORE
SURPRISING IS THAT IN 2003,
706
00:37:21,205 --> 00:37:23,073
THE HUBBLE SPACE
TELESCOPE REVEALED
707
00:37:23,075 --> 00:37:26,542
TWO NEW RINGS
AND TWO NEW MOONS --
708
00:37:26,544 --> 00:37:29,879
CUPID AND MAB.
709
00:37:29,881 --> 00:37:34,751
QUESTION IS, WHERE DID
THESE MOONS COME FROM?
710
00:37:34,753 --> 00:37:39,823
A CLUE LIES IN URANUS' RINGS.
711
00:37:39,825 --> 00:37:41,891
IN ADDITION TO THE VERY PACKED
MOON SYSTEM,
712
00:37:41,893 --> 00:37:43,893
YOU ALSO HAVE RINGS
AROUND URANUS,
713
00:37:43,895 --> 00:37:46,028
WHICH IS ALSO
SOMEWHAT UNEXPECTED,
714
00:37:46,030 --> 00:37:48,231
BUT THESE TWO
UNEXPECTED QUALITIES
715
00:37:48,233 --> 00:37:51,901
MIGHT ACTUALLY
EXPLAIN ONE ANOTHER.
716
00:37:51,903 --> 00:37:56,105
ANYTIME YOU SEE A RING SYSTEM,
YOU'RE SEEING PART OF A PROCESS.
717
00:37:56,107 --> 00:38:03,179
♪♪
718
00:38:03,181 --> 00:38:04,781
THERE WAS PROBABLY A TIME
IN EARTH'S HISTORY
719
00:38:04,783 --> 00:38:08,384
WHEN IT HAD A RING, YOU KNOW,
WHEN OUR MOON WAS BEING FORMED.
720
00:38:08,386 --> 00:38:11,788
Narrator: IT SEEMS THAT THE NEW
MOONS ARE MADE UP OF MATERIAL
721
00:38:11,790 --> 00:38:15,325
FROM A PREVIOUS RING SYSTEM.
722
00:38:15,327 --> 00:38:18,795
BUT WHEN SCIENTISTS
MODEL CUPID'S FUTURE,
723
00:38:18,797 --> 00:38:24,667
THEY DISCOVER IT'S DANGEROUSLY
CLOSE TO ANOTHER MOON, BELINDA.
724
00:38:24,669 --> 00:38:27,603
IN A FEW THOUSAND YEARS,
TWO OF THE MOONS IN PARTICULAR,
725
00:38:27,605 --> 00:38:30,540
CUPID AND BELINDA,
ARE LIKELY TO COLLIDE TOGETHER
726
00:38:30,542 --> 00:38:33,343
AS THEIR TRAJECTORIES INTERSECT.
727
00:38:33,345 --> 00:38:38,014
Narrator: AND THIS COLLISION
WILL CREATE A DOMINO EFFECT.
728
00:38:38,016 --> 00:38:39,349
WHEN THERE IS A MOON COLLISION,
729
00:38:39,351 --> 00:38:42,685
THAT SETS UP A VERY DELICATE
GRAVITATIONAL BALANCE,
730
00:38:42,687 --> 00:38:44,621
AND IT ALSO CREATES
A LOT OF DEBRIS,
731
00:38:44,623 --> 00:38:48,891
SO ONE COLLISION SETS OFF
A STRING OF COLLISIONS.
732
00:38:48,893 --> 00:38:51,361
Narrator:
WE THINK CUPID AND BELINDA
733
00:38:51,363 --> 00:38:53,563
WILL DESTROY
NOT ONLY EACH OTHER,
734
00:38:53,565 --> 00:38:56,566
BUT ALL OF URANUS' INNER MOONS.
735
00:38:56,568 --> 00:39:03,106
A RUNAWAY CASCADE OF DESTRUCTION
GRINDS URANUS' MOONS TO PEBBLES.
736
00:39:03,108 --> 00:39:08,178
ALL OF THIS WILL HAPPEN
IN ONLY A FEW THOUSAND YEARS.
737
00:39:08,180 --> 00:39:10,180
THE FACT THAT WE ARE PREDICTING
TO HAVE A COLLISION
738
00:39:10,182 --> 00:39:12,582
WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND YEARS
FEELS KIND OF CONTRARY
739
00:39:12,584 --> 00:39:15,518
BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN
HERE FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS,
740
00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,521
SO IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT LUCKY
THAT WE'RE LOOKING JUST NOW,
741
00:39:18,523 --> 00:39:22,124
AND WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE
A COLLISION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
742
00:39:22,126 --> 00:39:23,993
♪♪
743
00:39:23,995 --> 00:39:26,462
Narrator: WHAT IF THIS CYCLE
OF DESTRUCTION
744
00:39:26,464 --> 00:39:31,000
IS A CASE OF
URANIAN GROUNDHOG DAY?
745
00:39:31,002 --> 00:39:34,003
[ CLANKING ]
746
00:39:37,809 --> 00:39:39,875
WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE URANIAN SYSTEM,
747
00:39:39,877 --> 00:39:42,846
I LIKE TO THINK OF IT SORT OF
LIKE A VIOLENT HOCKEY GAME.
748
00:39:46,684 --> 00:39:48,651
GUYS ARE TAKING BIG HITS.
749
00:39:52,090 --> 00:39:54,023
THEY CAN'T CONTINUE,
SO WHAT MUST YOU DO?
750
00:39:54,025 --> 00:39:57,494
[ MEN SHOUT INDISTINCTLY ]
751
00:39:57,496 --> 00:39:59,629
YOU HAVE TO SUB THEM IN AND OUT.
752
00:39:59,631 --> 00:40:02,098
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS GAME
THAT'S THAT VIOLENT,
753
00:40:02,100 --> 00:40:04,167
YOU KNOW THAT THE GUYS
YOU SEE ON THE ICE
754
00:40:04,169 --> 00:40:07,236
ARE NOT THE GUYS
THAT STARTED THE GAME.
755
00:40:07,238 --> 00:40:08,238
WHOO!
756
00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:11,240
IT'S A WHOLE NEW SET OF PLAYERS.
757
00:40:11,242 --> 00:40:12,508
Narrator: LIKE HOCKEY SUBS,
758
00:40:12,510 --> 00:40:17,313
URANUS KEEPS ITS MOONS
FRESH BY RECYCLING THEM.
759
00:40:17,315 --> 00:40:18,515
[ BUZZER ]
760
00:40:18,517 --> 00:40:19,849
EVERY TIME THESE MOONS COLLIDE,
761
00:40:19,851 --> 00:40:22,585
THE DEBRIS FORMS
A RING SYSTEM AROUND URANUS,
762
00:40:22,587 --> 00:40:23,786
AND THEN OVER TIME,
763
00:40:23,788 --> 00:40:28,190
THAT RING SYSTEM STARTS
TO SPAWN NEW MOONS.
764
00:40:28,192 --> 00:40:30,260
Narrator:
OVER TIME, THE RINGS OF DEBRIS
765
00:40:30,262 --> 00:40:34,330
THAT SURROUND URANUS
FORM INTO NEW MOONS,
766
00:40:34,332 --> 00:40:39,401
WHICH IN TURN COLLIDE
AND GRIND EACH OTHER TO DUST.
767
00:40:39,403 --> 00:40:42,071
URANUS, IT TURNS OUT,
IS ACTUALLY VERY ECO-CONSCIOUS.
768
00:40:42,073 --> 00:40:43,339
ITS MOONS SHATTER.
769
00:40:43,341 --> 00:40:45,741
THEY HIT EACH OTHER,
FORM ALL THIS DEBRIS,
770
00:40:45,743 --> 00:40:48,745
AND THEN THE MOONS REFORM
FROM THAT MATERIAL,
771
00:40:48,747 --> 00:40:52,081
AND THEN THE WHOLE PATTERN,
THE WHOLE CYCLE STARTS UP AGAIN,
772
00:40:52,083 --> 00:40:56,619
AND THE MOONS HIT, SHATTER, AND
NEW MOONS FORM ALL OVER AGAIN.
773
00:40:56,621 --> 00:40:59,489
ULTIMATELY, THIS ETERNAL
CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
774
00:40:59,491 --> 00:41:01,624
THAT WE SEE WITH THESE MOONS
MIGHT BE A STORY
775
00:41:01,626 --> 00:41:04,694
THAT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF TRUE
OF MANY THINGS IN THE UNIVERSE,
776
00:41:04,696 --> 00:41:06,496
WHEN IT COMES TO STARS, PLANETS,
777
00:41:06,498 --> 00:41:10,433
AND MAYBE EVEN
THE UNIVERSE ITSELF.
778
00:41:10,435 --> 00:41:13,837
Narrator: URANUS AND NEPTUNE,
779
00:41:13,839 --> 00:41:17,707
NO LONGER FORGOTTEN OUTPOSTS
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
780
00:41:17,709 --> 00:41:23,847
SUDDENLY, THESE PLANETS
ARE REVEALED TO YOU AS WORLDS.
781
00:41:23,849 --> 00:41:27,383
IT'S BREATHTAKING.
IT'S -- IT'S AWE-INSPIRING.
782
00:41:27,385 --> 00:41:31,521
IT'S HUMBLING,
AND IT MAKES YOU PROUD
783
00:41:31,523 --> 00:41:33,055
THAT YOU'RE PART OF A SPECIES
784
00:41:33,057 --> 00:41:34,924
THAT COULD ACTUALLY DO THAT,
785
00:41:34,926 --> 00:41:38,661
TO GET OUT THERE
AND TO SEE THESE PLACES.
786
00:41:38,663 --> 00:41:40,930
Narrator:
DYNAMIC WORLDS WITH DRAMATIC,
787
00:41:40,932 --> 00:41:45,734
OFTEN VIOLENT HISTORIES,
STOLEN MOONS,
788
00:41:45,736 --> 00:41:48,338
GIANTS FLUNG OUT INTO THE COLD,
789
00:41:48,340 --> 00:41:52,675
SAVING THE EARTH
FROM DESTRUCTION.
790
00:41:52,677 --> 00:41:55,811
URANUS AND NEPTUNE ARE PUZZLE
PIECES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
791
00:41:55,813 --> 00:41:59,015
THEY ARE GIANT PLANETS.
792
00:41:59,017 --> 00:42:02,352
THEY HAVE A LOT TO TELL US,
NOT JUST ABOUT THEMSELVES
793
00:42:02,354 --> 00:42:04,220
BUT ABOUT EVERYTHING
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
794
00:42:04,222 --> 00:42:07,222
INCLUDING OUR OWN PLANET, EARTH.
795
00:42:07,224 --> 00:42:09,692
SOMEWHERE IN THE STORY
OF THE ICE GIANTS
796
00:42:09,694 --> 00:42:11,427
IS THE REASON YOU AND I
ARE ACTUALLY HERE
797
00:42:11,429 --> 00:42:12,762
TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL,
798
00:42:12,764 --> 00:42:15,298
THE REASON THE EARTH WAS
ABLE TO FORM AND STABILIZE
799
00:42:15,300 --> 00:42:17,499
AND BECOME AN
ENVIRONMENT FOR LIFE.
800
00:42:17,501 --> 00:42:19,835
IT WOULD NOT BE
AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY
801
00:42:19,837 --> 00:42:22,037
THAT THE ICE GIANTS
ARE THE COOLEST PLANETS
802
00:42:22,039 --> 00:42:23,973
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
803
00:42:23,975 --> 00:42:28,611
♪♪
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