Understanding the Sun: From Ancient Civilizations to New Technology | MEGA Episode Special | Nat Geo

What do we know about the sun? In this Mega Episode documentary special from National Geographic, experts from around the globe explore and investigate phenomenons related to Earth's nearest star. Learn about the tiny spacecraft defying the odds to undergo mission impossible to get closer to the sun than ever before. Join NASA scientists to study the surface of the sun, including mysterious dark spots, magnetic tornados, and violent eruptions, to better monitor and understand the effects of solar storms on Earth's surface. Finally, unearth the architectural magic of spots like Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple and India's Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, to dive into ancient civilization's knowledge of astronomy. Featuring three, full episodes: Mission to the Sun - 00:00 Almost 100 million miles from Earth, a tiny spacecraft the size of a small car hurtles closer to the sun than any man-made object has ever been, at a speed faster than any man-made object has ever traveled, defying the almost unimaginable heat and deadly radiation of our closest star. Dark Secrets of the Sun - 43:04 National Geographic reveals a bright new dawn in understanding our nearest star - one that might help keep our planet from going dark. Chasing the Equinox - 1:27:06 Ancient Civilizations hid the secrets of their incredible knowledge of astronomy in their temples and palaces, built to align with the sun, on the same day, all over the world. Revealing humankind’s obsession with the sun, across thousands of years and every continent, this is architectural magic on a cosmic scale. Explore the World with National Geographic subscriptions: https://natgeo.com/ytngmagazine ➡ Subscribe: https://on.natgeo.com/4p5A0D6 ➡ Get more Nat Geo Full Episodes: https://on.natgeo.com/3V5ZfHI ➡ Get wild with Nat Geo Animals Full Episodes: https://on.natgeo.com/3V2EOLO And check out more National Geographic series and specials here: ➡ Disney Plus: https://on.natgeo.com/3q6on5p ➡ Hulu: https://on.natgeo.com/3Qor0Ko ➡ NGTV: https://natgeo.com/tv ➡ ABC: https://abc.com #NationalGeographic #Sun #ancienthistory About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for critically acclaimed storytelling around science and exploration. Discover amazing wildlife, ancient civilizations, hidden worlds, and the incredible wonders of our Earth. Through world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore, and care about the world. Get More National Geographic: Official Site: https://nationalgeographic.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/natgeo Facebook: https://facebook.com/natgeo Threads: https://threads.com/@natgeo X: https://x.com/NatGeo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-geographic TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@natgeo Reddit: https://reddit.com/user/nationalgeographic Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/natgeo Inside the Secrets of the Sun | Documentary MEGA Episode SPECIAL | National Geographic https://youtu.be/ztAf6__j9YI National Geographic youtube.com/natgeo