They are breathtaking, lethal and a constant source of surprise. The stunning rings of Saturn have mesmerized countless scientists over the centuries. With particles the size of a house shooting at 53,000 miles per hour around the planet, any spacecraft passing through would meet an instant and catastrophic end. Inside the rings is like a NASCAR race - with bumping, jostling and frequent collisions that can cause a massive spin-out. Lesser known are the other planets that have rings - Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune, possibly Pluto and Mars. Even Earth has a ring. Comprised of some 200 satellites in a geosynchronous orbit, it is the only known man-made ring in the universe. But the most remarkable thing about rings is that they contain the story of the birth of our solar system, and entire distant galaxies. Rings are more than a wonder of the universe - they reveal the secrets of our own origins.

Episode Viewers and Ratings

Season 4 Episode 5 of The Universe resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

The Universe Season 4 Episodes...

• s04e01 - Death Stars
• s04e02 - The Day the Moon Was Gone
• s04e03 - It Fell From Space
• s04e04 - Biggest Blasts
• s04e05 - Ringed Planets
• s04e06 - 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth
• s04e07 - The Search for Cosmic Clusters
• s04e08 - Space Wars
• s04e09 - Liquid Universe
• s04e10 - Pulsars & Quasars
• s04e11 - Science Fiction, Science Fact
• s04e12 - Extreme Energy

The Universe Show Summary

From the planets to the stars and out to the edge of the unknown, history and science collide in this epic exploration of the Universe and its mysteries. It's a very old universe. Yet just 50 years since man first ventured into outer space, the heavens are yielding their greatest secrets. Robotic rovers give us eyes on the red rock of Mars - NASA probes slam into comets at hyper speed - deep-space telescopes capture unhappy images of the birth of stars and their collapse into black holes. All have significantly changed the way we see ourselves.

We wonder, is there anywhere else out there that that can support life? Using cutting-edge computer graphics, this series brings the universe down to earth to show what life would be like on other planets, and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres. Episodes examine how discoveries were made and the scientists and explorers who dared to venture into the uncharted territory of the universe.