Professor Robinson discovers that the planets orbit will bring immense heat on the spaceship. With that knowledge the Robinson's take off in the chariot and head south. However back at the Jupiter two, Dr Smith who stayed behind because he believed them to be lying, realises that the orbit is strange, bringing immense cold followed by extreme heat. He sends the Robot to tell them, and they then attempt to travel back to the Jupiter 2. However in their way is a huge in-land sea which previously had been frozen solid. The immense heat and cold make the vegetation charred. They survive the heat and return to the Jupiter Two where they are most safe.
