The Story of the Solar System: A Visual Journey

'The nation's go-to woman for all things space... her joy for the subject is boundless' – The Guardian

Take a new look at the world around you.

What is a planet? Is there life on Mars? What makes Earth so special?

Questions about our Solar System have fascinated us for centuries. Based on the latest scientific research, The Story of the Solar System will help you see the planets around us in a whole new light. Using colourful and easy-to-follow infographics, each planet becomes a character with a story of its own to tell, from Jupiter the King of the Solar System to ice oddity Uranus and outlier planet-but-not-a-planet Pluto.

As space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock shows us, the story of Earth is best understood as part of its larger family, and The Story of the Solar System will bring that family to life.

Dame Maggie Aderin is a space scientist, author and broadcaster whose lifelong passion is making the wonders of the universe accessible to everyone. Over her career, she has created bespoke scientific instruments in both industrial and academic environments, including satellites that monitor climate change and contributing to the James Webb Space Telescope. In 2004, Maggie founded Science Innovation Ltd, a company dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds. She is a BAFTA-nominated TV presenter, working on documentaries, children’s factual television and comedy shows, and a bestselling author. She also co-hosts the world's longest-running science programme, The Sky at Night, and gave the 200th anniversary Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution. Her contributions to the field have also earned her an Institute of Physics Gold Medal, a Barbie doll in her likeness and roles as President of the British Science Association and Chancellor of the University of Leicester. In 2024, she was knighted in the New Year's Honours list for her services to science education and diversity.
Simon Guerrier is co-author of Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived and Whographica for BBC Books, and has written countless Doctor Who books, comics, audio plays and documentaries. He has been a guest on Front Row and The Infinite Monkey Cage on Radio 4 and, with his brother Thomas, makes films and documentaries – most recently Victorian Queens of Ancient Egypt for Radio 3.