We love talking about the weather - is it too hot or too cold, too wet or too windy? It's a national obsession. Now scientists have started looking to the heavens and wondering what the weather might be like on other planets. Today, we are witnessing the birth of extra-terrestrial meteorology, as technology is allowing astronomers to study other planets like never before. They began with our solar system, sending spacecraft to explore its furthest reaches, and now the latest telescopes are enabling astronomers to study planets beyond our solar system.

Our exploration of the universe is revealing alien worlds with weather stranger than anyone could ever have imagined - we've discovered gigantic storm systems that can encircle entire planets, supersonic winds, extreme temperatures and bizarre forms of rain. On some planets, the temperatures are so hot that the clouds and rain are believed to be made of liquid lava droplets, and on other planets it is thought to rain precious stones like diamonds and rubies.

We thought we had extreme weather on Earth, but it turns out that it is nothing compared to what's out there. The search for the weirdest weather in the universe is only just beginning.

Horizon Season 55 Episodes...

• s55e01 - The Immortalist
• s55e02 - Project Greenglow
• s55e03 - The Mystery of Dark Energy
• s55e04 - Oceans of the Solar System
• s55e05 - The End of The Solar System
• s55e06 - How to Find Love Online
• s55e07 - Ice Station Antarctica
• s55e08 - Curing Alzheimer's
• s55e09 - E-cigarettes: Miracle or Menace?
• s55e10 - Why Are We Getting So Fat?
• s55e11 - Doping
• s55e12 - Inside CERN
• s55e13 - My Amazing Twin
• s55e14 - Jimmy Carr And The Science Of Laughter
• s55e15 - The Lost Tribes of Humanity
• s55e16 - The Wildest Weather in the Universe

Horizon Show Summary

Horizon is BBC Two's flagship 50-minute science documentary series.

Recognised as the world leader in its field, it regularly wins a sweep of international science, medical and environmental film accolades, and has recently won the Royal Television Society Award and the Prix Italia.

In 2002, the British Academy of Film & Television Arts presented Horizon with the BAFTA Television Award for Best Factual Series or Strand.

In 2003 it won the prestigious Images et Science award for best medical documentary and the Carl von Linne Award at the Living Europe film festival in Sweden. That year, a Horizon co-production with WGBH Boston won the Emmy for best documentary.

In September 2014 it celebrated its 50th anniversary and it continues to enjoy outstanding critical acclaim.