1
00:00:01,202 --> 00:00:03,569
Narrator:
A MYSTERIOUS OBJECT
2
00:00:03,571 --> 00:00:06,538
THE SIZE AND SHAPE
OF A SKYSCRAPER
3
00:00:06,540 --> 00:00:08,607
HURTLING THROUGH
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
4
00:00:08,609 --> 00:00:11,977
AT OVER 100,000 MILES PER HOUR,
5
00:00:11,979 --> 00:00:15,781
FAST ENOUGH TO LEVEL A
CITY IF IT HITS THE EARTH.
6
00:00:15,783 --> 00:00:19,885
AS THE DATA CAME IN,
EVERYBODY'S JAWS BEGAN TO DROP
7
00:00:19,887 --> 00:00:21,854
AND YOU REALIZE, NO,
THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
8
00:00:21,856 --> 00:00:24,490
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
9
00:00:24,492 --> 00:00:25,891
Narrator:
THIS BIZARRE OBJECT
10
00:00:25,893 --> 00:00:28,827
COMES FROM OUTSIDE
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
11
00:00:28,829 --> 00:00:31,697
IT'S OUR FIRST
INTERSTELLAR VISITOR.
12
00:00:31,699 --> 00:00:36,835
ASTRONOMERS CALL IT "'OUMUAMUA,"
THE MESSENGER FROM AFAR.
13
00:00:36,837 --> 00:00:40,105
'OUMUAMUA IS OUR GALAXY
COMING TO US.
14
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Thaller: THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME IN HISTORY
15
00:00:42,276 --> 00:00:45,110
WE ENCOUNTERED
SOMETHING LEGIT ALIEN.
16
00:00:45,112 --> 00:00:47,212
Narrator:
ASTRONOMERS AROUND THE WORLD
17
00:00:47,214 --> 00:00:50,582
SCRAMBLE TO UNLOCK
ITS DEEPEST SECRETS.
18
00:00:50,584 --> 00:00:52,618
HOW DID 'OUMUAMUA GET HERE?
19
00:00:52,620 --> 00:00:54,920
DOES IT POSE A THREAT
TO THE EARTH?
20
00:00:54,922 --> 00:00:58,157
COULD IT EVEN BE
AN ALIEN SPACESHIP?
21
00:00:58,159 --> 00:01:01,193
♪
22
00:01:01,195 --> 00:01:04,430
'OUMUAMUA WAS SO STRANGE,
SO DIFFERENT,
23
00:01:04,432 --> 00:01:06,732
THAT EVERYTHING
WAS ON THE TABLE.
24
00:01:06,734 --> 00:01:09,134
WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS.
25
00:01:09,136 --> 00:01:11,470
Narrator:
THIS IS THE INSIDE STORY
26
00:01:11,472 --> 00:01:16,275
OF THE RACE TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY
OF THE ALIEN ASTEROID.
27
00:01:16,277 --> 00:01:19,278
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
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CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
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♪
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THE SUMMIT OF MAUNAKEA,
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THE GIANT VOLCANO
ON HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND.
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HOME TO SOME OF THE EARTH'S
MOST POWERFUL TELESCOPES.
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THIS IS WHERE ASTRONOMERS
KEEP WATCH ON THE NIGHT SKIES
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00:01:43,637 --> 00:01:47,439
LOOKING FOR ASTEROIDS AND COMETS
THAT THREATEN THE EARTH.
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ASTRONOMER ROB WERYK
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00:01:50,077 --> 00:01:52,811
IS PART OF THIS VITALLY
IMPORTANT SEARCH.
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Weryk: AT THE END
OF MY E-MAIL SIGNATURE,
38
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I JUST WRITE
"GUARDIAN OF EARTH."
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IT'S KIND OF A JOKE
BETWEEN MY COLLEAGUES AND ME.
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MY OFFICIAL TITLE IS
PLANETARY DEFENSE RESEARCHER.
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00:02:00,754 --> 00:02:02,754
BUT WE'RE BASICALLY LOOKING
TO PROTECT THE PLANET
42
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FROM HAZARDOUS
ASTEROIDS AND COMETS.
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Narrator:
ON OCTOBER 19th, 2017,
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ROB SPOTS A MYSTERIOUS OBJECT
45
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STREAKING THROUGH SPACE
LIKE A ROGUE MISSILE.
46
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Weryk: WE ACTUALLY HAD A NEW
CANDIDATE DETECTION.
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IT WAS MOVING VERY FAST.
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IT APPEARED AS A STREAK
IN THE IMAGE.
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Narrator:
THE OBJECT IS MOVING SO FAST,
50
00:02:26,981 --> 00:02:31,216
THAT IT APPEARS AS
A FAINT, GRAY LINE.
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AT THIS SPEED,
IT WILL HIT THE EARTH
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WITH MORE FORCE
THAN A NUCLEAR BOMB --
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POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO DESTROY A CITY.
54
00:02:39,293 --> 00:02:41,326
ROB AND THE TEAM SET UP CAMP
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00:02:41,328 --> 00:02:43,929
AT THE CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII
TELESCOPE,
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00:02:43,931 --> 00:02:46,832
TO PLOT THE OBJECT'S TRAJECTORY.
57
00:02:46,834 --> 00:02:48,834
THE DATA THEY CAPTURE CONFIRMS
58
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THAT THIS OBJECT IS HEADING
AWAY FROM OUR PLANET.
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THE EARTH IS SAFE...FOR NOW.
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00:02:55,476 --> 00:02:56,875
BUT THE OBJECT'S ORBIT
61
00:02:56,877 --> 00:03:01,146
IS UNLIKE ANYTHING
ROB HAS SEEN BEFORE.
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00:03:01,148 --> 00:03:03,949
EVERYTHING THAT BELONGS
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
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00:03:03,951 --> 00:03:08,220
TRAVELS IN CLOSED
LOOPS AROUND THE SUN.
64
00:03:08,222 --> 00:03:13,559
THE SUN HOLDS THE PLANETS
IN NEAR CIRCULAR ORBITS.
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00:03:13,561 --> 00:03:17,696
SMALLER BODIES, LIKE COMETS,
MOVE IN VAST, ELLIPTICAL ORBITS
66
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THAT TAKE THEM TO THE
EDGES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
67
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BEFORE LOOPING BACK
TOWARDS THE SUN.
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BUT ROB'S DATA REVEALS
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00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,708
THAT THIS MYSTERIOUS OBJECT
IS DIFFERENT.
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ITS ORBIT IS OPEN, NOT CLOSED.
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00:03:34,248 --> 00:03:38,350
THIS MEANS THAT IT MUST COME
FROM OUTSIDE THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
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00:03:38,352 --> 00:03:40,586
FROM INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
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00:03:40,588 --> 00:03:46,792
IT'S OUR FIRST
CONFIRMED ALIEN VISITOR.
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ASTRONOMERS NAMED IT
"'OUMUAMUA,"
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HAWAIIAN FOR "MESSENGER."
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IT'S AN INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY.
77
00:03:55,436 --> 00:03:57,135
AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY
TOLD US, RIGHT THEN,
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00:03:57,137 --> 00:04:00,405
THAT THIS OBJECT CAME FROM
OUTSIDE THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
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00:04:00,407 --> 00:04:03,375
Thaller: 'OUMUAMUA WAS LIKE
NOTHING WE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.
80
00:04:03,377 --> 00:04:05,477
AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S LITERALLY TRUE.
81
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THIS WAS ACTUALLY
A COMPLETELY ALIEN OBJECT.
82
00:04:08,315 --> 00:04:11,283
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT DAY,
I KIND OF GOT SHIVERS, RIGHT?
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Narrator:
BUT 'OUMUAMUA TRAVELS SO FAST,
84
00:04:14,154 --> 00:04:16,922
THAT ASTRONOMERS HAVE
JUST WEEKS TO STUDY IT
85
00:04:16,924 --> 00:04:21,960
BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS BEYOND
THE REACH OF EARTH'S TELESCOPES.
86
00:04:21,962 --> 00:04:23,395
Weryk:
THE BEST ASSESSMENT WE HAD,
87
00:04:23,397 --> 00:04:24,896
WE WOULD SEE IT FOR
ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS,
88
00:04:24,898 --> 00:04:26,531
SO WE HAD TO GET AS
MUCH DATA AS WE COULD
89
00:04:26,533 --> 00:04:29,868
AS SOON AS WE COULD ON AS
MANY TELESCOPES AS WE COULD.
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00:04:29,870 --> 00:04:32,304
Narrator:
IT'S NOW A RACE AGAINST TIME,
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00:04:32,306 --> 00:04:36,508
TO LEARN AS MUCH ABOUT
'OUMUAMUA AS POSSIBLE.
92
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ASTRONOMERS START WITH
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION.
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00:04:39,513 --> 00:04:42,381
WHAT IS 'OUMUAMUA?
94
00:04:42,383 --> 00:04:45,517
THE MAIN CANDIDATES ARE
TWO FORMS OF SPACE DEBRIS
95
00:04:45,519 --> 00:04:49,021
ROUTINELY HURLED OUT OF
DEVELOPING SOLAR SYSTEMS.
96
00:04:49,023 --> 00:04:51,023
WHEN OUR SOLAR
SYSTEM FIRST FORMED,
97
00:04:51,025 --> 00:04:54,526
WE THINK THAT A HUGE NUMBER
OF COMETS AND ASTEROIDS
98
00:04:54,528 --> 00:04:58,130
WERE EJECTED AWAY BY JUPITER,
ITS GRAVITY.
99
00:04:58,132 --> 00:05:00,966
THIS MUST'VE HAPPENED
AROUND OTHER STARS, AS WELL.
100
00:05:00,968 --> 00:05:02,768
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD,
101
00:05:02,770 --> 00:05:06,471
'OUMUAMUA IS AN INTERSTELLAR
ASTEROID OR A COMET.
102
00:05:06,473 --> 00:05:09,007
Narrator: COULD 'OUMUAMUA BE
AN ASTEROID OR COMET,
103
00:05:09,009 --> 00:05:11,009
TOSSED INTO INTERSTELLAR SPACE
104
00:05:11,011 --> 00:05:13,945
DURING THE BIRTH OF
AN ALIEN SOLAR SYSTEM?
105
00:05:13,947 --> 00:05:18,550
♪
106
00:05:18,552 --> 00:05:21,887
ASTRONOMER MEG SCHWAMB
STUDIES ASTEROIDS AND COMETS
107
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IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
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SHE AND HER TEAM RACE
TO OBSERVE THE OBJECT
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00:05:26,694 --> 00:05:30,429
USING THE GEMINI NORTH
TELESCOPE IN HAWAII.
110
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ASTRONOMERS HOPE TO GET AN IDEA
111
00:05:32,166 --> 00:05:34,566
OF 'OUMUAMUA'S SHAPE AND SIZE,
112
00:05:34,568 --> 00:05:36,902
A VITAL CLUE AS TO WHAT IT IS.
113
00:05:36,904 --> 00:05:38,570
IT WAS EXCITING.
114
00:05:38,572 --> 00:05:39,504
I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW
WHERE IT WOULD FIT IN.
115
00:05:39,506 --> 00:05:41,406
WOULD IT LOOK LIKE AN ASTEROID?
116
00:05:41,408 --> 00:05:42,507
WOULD IT LOOK LIKE A COMET?
117
00:05:42,509 --> 00:05:44,776
BUT IT LOOKED
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
118
00:05:44,778 --> 00:05:47,579
Narrator: THERE ARE
NO TELESCOPES POWERFUL ENOUGH
119
00:05:47,581 --> 00:05:50,882
TO DETERMINE THE SIZE
AND SHAPE DIRECTLY.
120
00:05:50,884 --> 00:05:52,918
ALL THEY HAVE TO
GO ON IS THE FACT
121
00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,720
THAT 'OUMUAMUA'S DIMENSIONS
122
00:05:54,722 --> 00:06:00,025
AFFECT HOW MUCH LIGHT IT
REFLECTS BACK TOWARDS EARTH.
123
00:06:00,027 --> 00:06:02,728
Schwamb: THIS IS ACTUALLY DATA
FROM MANY, MANY TELESCOPES
124
00:06:02,730 --> 00:06:05,230
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
WATCHING 'OUMUAMUA.
125
00:06:05,232 --> 00:06:07,799
SO, THIS IS BRIGHTNESS
OVER TIME.
126
00:06:07,801 --> 00:06:11,269
IT GETS BRIGHTER AND FAINTER
AND BRIGHTER AGAIN.
127
00:06:11,271 --> 00:06:16,341
Narrator:
WHAT COULD MAKE THE LIGHT
FROM 'OUMUAMUA BRIGHTEN AND DIM?
128
00:06:16,343 --> 00:06:18,777
ROB THINKS IT'S BECAUSE
OF THE OBJECT'S SHAPE,
129
00:06:18,779 --> 00:06:21,713
AND THE WAY IT'S MOVING.
130
00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:23,615
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE
THIS SHAPE HERE,
131
00:06:23,617 --> 00:06:25,217
YOU'RE LOOKING
ON THE LONGEST EDGE,
132
00:06:25,219 --> 00:06:26,985
IT HAS THE GREATER SURFACE AREA.
133
00:06:26,987 --> 00:06:28,620
THIS REFLECTS MORE LIGHT.
134
00:06:28,622 --> 00:06:30,122
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE SMALLER END,
135
00:06:30,124 --> 00:06:31,556
IT DOESN'T REFLECT
AS MUCH LIGHT,
136
00:06:31,558 --> 00:06:33,859
THEREFORE IT'S NOT
GONNA APPEAR AS BRIGHT.
137
00:06:33,861 --> 00:06:35,127
SO, THIS IS SIMILAR
TO 'OUMUAMUA,
138
00:06:35,129 --> 00:06:37,662
WHERE WE THINK IT'S
A VERY ELONGATED OBJECT.
139
00:06:37,664 --> 00:06:39,798
AND AS IT'S TUMBLING
THROUGH SPACE,
140
00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,868
THE DIFFERENT SIZE
OF THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE
141
00:06:42,870 --> 00:06:46,304
GIVES YOU THE VARIATION
OF BRIGHTNESS YOU SEE.
142
00:06:46,306 --> 00:06:49,141
Narrator: ASTRONOMERS USE
THIS DIFFERENCE IN LIGHT
143
00:06:49,143 --> 00:06:51,843
TO DETERMINE EXACTLY
HOW ELONGATED
144
00:06:51,845 --> 00:06:54,279
AND HOW BIG 'OUMUAMUA IS.
145
00:06:54,281 --> 00:06:56,982
BASED ON THE VARIATION
IN THE LIGHT CURVE OF 'OUMUAMUA,
146
00:06:56,984 --> 00:06:59,618
WE KNOW THAT IT'S APPROXIMATELY
A LENGTH-TO-WIDTH RATIO
147
00:06:59,620 --> 00:07:01,486
OF 6 TO 1.
148
00:07:01,488 --> 00:07:05,957
Narrator: 'OUMUAMUA IS SIX TIMES
LONGER THAN IT IS WIDE.
149
00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:10,362
THIS MAKES IT EXCEPTIONALLY
TALL AND THIN.
150
00:07:10,364 --> 00:07:15,400
IT SOARS BETWEEN 650
TO 785 FEET HIGH.
151
00:07:15,402 --> 00:07:18,136
IT'S A SKYSCRAPER
THAT COULD BE AS BIG
152
00:07:18,138 --> 00:07:20,071
AS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING,
153
00:07:20,073 --> 00:07:22,474
TUMBLING THROUGH
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
154
00:07:22,476 --> 00:07:24,576
DETERMINING 'OUMUAMUA'S SHAPE
155
00:07:24,578 --> 00:07:27,279
IS A FANTASTIC BIT
OF DETECTIVE WORK,
156
00:07:27,281 --> 00:07:29,648
BUT ASTRONOMERS ARE
NO CLOSER TO SAYING
157
00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:34,019
WHETHER THE ALIEN VISITOR
IS AN ASTEROID OR A COMET
158
00:07:34,021 --> 00:07:38,990
BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING WITH THIS SHAPE BEFORE.
159
00:07:38,992 --> 00:07:43,662
ASTRONOMERS SCRAMBLE
TO EXPLAIN WHAT 'OUMUAMUA IS.
160
00:07:43,664 --> 00:07:47,265
FIRST UP,
COULD IT BE AN ASTEROID?
161
00:07:47,267 --> 00:07:49,801
INVESTIGATORS TURN
TO LAB EXPERIMENTS
162
00:07:49,803 --> 00:07:52,704
TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS MYSTERY.
163
00:07:52,706 --> 00:07:54,806
IF IT IS A ROCKY ASTEROID,
164
00:07:54,808 --> 00:07:57,509
WHAT KIND OF COSMIC PROCESS
COULD CARVE OUT
165
00:07:57,511 --> 00:08:00,512
SUCH A LONG AND
THIN SHARD OF ROCK?
166
00:08:00,514 --> 00:08:03,915
♪
167
00:08:03,917 --> 00:08:06,218
PLANETARY SCIENTIST
PETER SCHULTZ
168
00:08:06,220 --> 00:08:10,822
HAS SPENT HIS CAREER RECREATING
VIOLENT COLLISIONS IN SPACE.
169
00:08:10,824 --> 00:08:13,959
HE WANTS TO KNOW IF
AN ALMIGHTY COLLISION
170
00:08:13,961 --> 00:08:19,698
CAN MAKE A ROCKY SPLINTER
THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF 'OUMUAMUA.
171
00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:21,166
'OUMUAMUA IS REALLY INTERESTING,
172
00:08:21,168 --> 00:08:23,969
'CAUSE WE'VE NEVER SEEN
AN ASTEROID THAT IS SHAPED
173
00:08:23,971 --> 00:08:25,570
LIKE A CIGAR.
174
00:08:25,572 --> 00:08:27,506
THAT'S JUST STRANGE.
175
00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:29,407
AND SO, WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT WHY.
176
00:08:29,409 --> 00:08:33,578
Narrator:
COULD AN EPIC COLLISION
CREATE A SIMILAR ASTEROID?
177
00:08:33,580 --> 00:08:37,082
OR IS THERE AN EVEN MORE
INCREDIBLE EXPLANATION
178
00:08:37,084 --> 00:08:39,851
BEHIND 'OUMUAMUA'S
STRANGE SHAPE?
179
00:08:39,853 --> 00:08:44,890
COULD THIS INTERSTELLAR
VISITOR BE AN ALIEN SPACESHIP?
180
00:08:56,336 --> 00:09:00,705
♪
181
00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:03,808
Narrator: AT THE NASA AMES
VERTICAL GUN RANGE,
182
00:09:03,810 --> 00:09:06,344
PLANETARY SCIENTIST
PETER SCHULTZ
183
00:09:06,346 --> 00:09:09,948
USES A GIANT, HYPERVELOCITY GUN
TO RECREATE
184
00:09:09,950 --> 00:09:13,251
SOME OF THE MOST VIOLENT
COLLISIONS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
185
00:09:13,253 --> 00:09:16,154
TO UNDERSTAND THE
FORCES AT WORK.
186
00:09:16,156 --> 00:09:19,558
HERE WE ARE, AT THE NASA
AMES VERTICAL GUN RANGE.
187
00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:22,193
THIS ALLOWS US
TO FIRE PROJECTILES
188
00:09:22,195 --> 00:09:25,463
AT 22 TIMES THE SPEEDS OF SOUND.
189
00:09:25,465 --> 00:09:27,299
OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS,
190
00:09:27,301 --> 00:09:29,034
PETER'S INVESTIGATED EVERYTHING
191
00:09:29,036 --> 00:09:32,904
FROM MOON SHAPING COLLISIONS...
192
00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:37,042
TO DETERMINING WHAT TYPE
OF IMPACT KILLED THE DINOSAURS.
193
00:09:37,044 --> 00:09:40,378
♪
194
00:09:40,380 --> 00:09:42,247
MOST OF PETER'S EPIC COLLISIONS
195
00:09:42,249 --> 00:09:46,284
CREATE SHORT AND LUMPY DEBRIS,
SHAPED LIKE
196
00:09:46,286 --> 00:09:50,388
MOST OF THE ASTEROIDS SEEN
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
197
00:09:50,390 --> 00:09:53,558
BUT DRAWING ON HIS
EXPERIENCE, PETER BELIEVES
198
00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:56,528
THAT ONE VERY SPECIFIC
TYPE OF COLLISION
199
00:09:56,530 --> 00:09:58,196
MIGHT JUST GENERATE SOMETHING
200
00:09:58,198 --> 00:10:01,199
THAT LOOKS LONG
AND THIN LIKE 'OUMUAMUA,
201
00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:04,269
THE FIRST INTERSTELLAR
VISITOR TO OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
202
00:10:04,271 --> 00:10:07,105
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN
THE IMPACT CHAMBER.
203
00:10:07,107 --> 00:10:09,574
THIS IS WHERE WE
SLAM INTO THINGS.
204
00:10:09,576 --> 00:10:13,678
THIS IS OUR PROJECTILE,
WHICH REPRESENTS AN ASTEROID.
205
00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:16,881
AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE
SLAMMING INTO THIS CYLINDER.
206
00:10:16,883 --> 00:10:21,686
NOW, IMAGINE THAT THIS IS A
PLANET OR ANOTHER ASTEROID.
207
00:10:21,688 --> 00:10:24,689
IT WILL BE COMING IN,
SLAMMING IN AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE,
208
00:10:24,691 --> 00:10:25,957
AND WE WANT TO FIND OUT
209
00:10:25,959 --> 00:10:29,127
DOES IT BREAK INTO
MILLIONS OF PIECES,
210
00:10:29,129 --> 00:10:31,229
OR ARE THERE SOME BIGGER CHUNKS
211
00:10:31,231 --> 00:10:34,032
THAT IT MIGHT END UP
LOOKING LIKE A CIGAR --
212
00:10:34,034 --> 00:10:38,203
SOMETHING LIKE 'OUMUAMUA.
213
00:10:38,205 --> 00:10:40,238
CHARGE IS LOADED,
THAT'S GOOD TO GO.
214
00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,641
WE'RE READY
TO BRING THE GUN UP.
215
00:10:42,643 --> 00:10:45,076
Narrator: PETER BELIEVES
THAT AS THE SMALL BODY
216
00:10:45,078 --> 00:10:48,213
SMASHES INTO THE LARGER
OBJECT AT AN ANGLE,
217
00:10:48,215 --> 00:10:50,649
THE GLANCING BLOW
COULD CREATE SOMETHING
218
00:10:50,651 --> 00:10:52,617
THE SHAPE OF 'OUMUAMUA.
219
00:10:52,619 --> 00:10:56,287
BUT THE SHOT HAS TO BE
INCREDIBLY PRECISE TO WORK.
220
00:10:56,289 --> 00:10:58,957
♪
221
00:10:58,959 --> 00:11:01,926
YEAH, IF WE'RE OFF
BY ONE MILLIMETER.
222
00:11:01,928 --> 00:11:05,463
♪
223
00:11:05,465 --> 00:11:08,133
Man: OKAY, WE ARE
ARMED IN AND RESET.
224
00:11:08,135 --> 00:11:09,968
HIGH VOLTAGE IS ON.
225
00:11:09,970 --> 00:11:13,071
IRON PADDLES IN.
HERE WE GO.
226
00:11:13,073 --> 00:11:14,339
ROLLING.
227
00:11:14,341 --> 00:11:17,375
[ SHATTER ]
228
00:11:17,377 --> 00:11:18,843
WHOA! OKAY.
229
00:11:18,845 --> 00:11:19,911
YEP, WE HIT IT OKAY.
230
00:11:19,913 --> 00:11:22,514
THIS WENT WELL.
231
00:11:22,516 --> 00:11:25,583
Narrator: THE PROJECTILE
SUCCESSFULLY SLAMS
232
00:11:25,585 --> 00:11:30,422
INTO THE CYLINDER
AT 22 TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND.
233
00:11:30,424 --> 00:11:32,390
BUT HAS THE FEROCIOUS IMPACT
234
00:11:32,392 --> 00:11:36,194
GENERATED ANY FRAGMENTS
THE SHAPE OF 'OUMUAMUA?
235
00:11:36,196 --> 00:11:38,396
♪
236
00:11:38,398 --> 00:11:41,232
PETER EXAMINES
THE HIGH-SPEED FOOTAGE.
237
00:11:41,234 --> 00:11:43,334
♪
238
00:11:43,336 --> 00:11:46,838
Schultz:
THESE ARE ACTUAL FRAGMENTS
OF THE PROJECTILE ITSELF.
239
00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,240
Narrator:
THESE BLACK SHAPES ARE PIECES
240
00:11:49,242 --> 00:11:52,277
OF THE NOW SHATTERED
BALL BEARING.
241
00:11:52,279 --> 00:11:54,446
THERE'S A FRAGMENT
HERE THAT'S ELONGATED,
242
00:11:54,448 --> 00:11:56,214
A FRAGMENT HERE IS ELONGATED.
243
00:11:56,216 --> 00:11:58,750
THAT'S ALMOST
A 5-TO-1 RATIO.
244
00:11:58,752 --> 00:12:02,520
SO, THIS IS A FRAGMENT THAT
LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE 'OUMUAMUA.
245
00:12:02,522 --> 00:12:05,356
Narrator:
AS IT SLAMS INTO THE CYLINDER,
246
00:12:05,358 --> 00:12:08,293
THE TOP HALF OF THE
SMALL BALL SHEARS OFF,
247
00:12:08,295 --> 00:12:11,529
AND BREAKS INTO
LONG, THIN SHARDS,
248
00:12:11,531 --> 00:12:15,567
A SIMILAR SHAPE TO 'OUMUAMUA.
249
00:12:15,569 --> 00:12:18,903
WE'VE BASICALLY SHOWN HERE...
250
00:12:18,905 --> 00:12:23,875
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE
AN ELONGATE FRAGMENT,
251
00:12:23,877 --> 00:12:28,079
FROM AN IMPACT
BETWEEN TWO BODIES.
252
00:12:28,081 --> 00:12:30,047
[ SHATTER ]
253
00:12:30,049 --> 00:12:33,118
Narrator: THESE SORTS OF
'OUMUAMUA-FORMING COLLISIONS
254
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,787
ARE THOUGHT TO HAPPEN
IN THE VIOLENT CONDITIONS
255
00:12:35,789 --> 00:12:38,723
THAT EXIST WHEN
A SOLAR SYSTEM IS BORN.
256
00:12:38,725 --> 00:12:44,496
♪
257
00:12:44,498 --> 00:12:48,199
AS A SOLAR SYSTEM FORMS,
A DENSE CLOUD OF MATERIAL
258
00:12:48,201 --> 00:12:51,636
SWIRLS AROUND A YOUNG STAR.
259
00:12:51,638 --> 00:12:54,472
INSIDE THE CLOUD,
ASTEROIDS COLLIDE...
260
00:12:54,474 --> 00:12:56,674
♪
261
00:12:56,676 --> 00:13:00,812
...DRAWING OUT A BARRAGE
OF ROCKY FRAGMENTS.
262
00:13:00,814 --> 00:13:06,084
SOME OF THEM ARE LONG AND THIN,
JUST LIKE 'OUMUAMUA.
263
00:13:06,086 --> 00:13:08,620
BUT IN THE MAELSTROM
OF A YOUNG SOLAR SYSTEM,
264
00:13:08,622 --> 00:13:12,223
THEY DON'T LAST LONG.
265
00:13:12,225 --> 00:13:15,460
AFTER MULTIPLE COLLISIONS,
ONLY A SMALL FRACTION
266
00:13:15,462 --> 00:13:19,631
OF THE THIN FRAGMENTS SURVIVE,
267
00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:23,067
AND EVEN FEWER ESCAPE
INTO INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
268
00:13:23,069 --> 00:13:25,270
♪
269
00:13:25,272 --> 00:13:27,539
IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE
THAT AN ASTEROID
270
00:13:27,541 --> 00:13:29,774
THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF 'OUMUAMUA,
271
00:13:29,776 --> 00:13:33,077
CAN ESCAPE FROM
A DEVELOPING SOLAR SYSTEM.
272
00:13:33,079 --> 00:13:36,181
BUT THESE SHARDS
SURVIVE SO RARELY
273
00:13:36,183 --> 00:13:38,716
THAT ASTRONOMERS
CAN'T SAY FOR SURE
274
00:13:38,718 --> 00:13:41,753
IF 'OUMUAMUA IS AN ASTEROID.
275
00:13:41,755 --> 00:13:45,123
WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,
ASTRONOMERS MUST INVESTIGATE
276
00:13:45,125 --> 00:13:47,091
THE OTHER OPTIONS.
277
00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:49,861
'OUMUAMUA IS GETTING
FAINTER EVERY SINGLE DAY,
278
00:13:49,863 --> 00:13:51,362
EVERY SINGLE HOUR.
279
00:13:51,364 --> 00:13:55,200
SO, THE RACE IS ON TO COLLECT
AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN
280
00:13:55,202 --> 00:13:58,102
BEFORE IT FADES FOREVER
INTO NOTHINGNESS.
281
00:13:58,104 --> 00:14:01,272
Narrator: AS THE ALIEN
VISITOR SPEEDS AWAY,
282
00:14:01,274 --> 00:14:05,310
IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE
THAT IT COULD BE AN ICY COMET
283
00:14:05,312 --> 00:14:07,812
OR PERHAPS AN ALIEN SPACESHIP
284
00:14:07,814 --> 00:14:11,482
ON A MISSION
TO EXPLORE OTHER WORLDS.
285
00:14:23,029 --> 00:14:27,265
♪
286
00:14:27,267 --> 00:14:31,135
Narrator: 'OUMUAMUA,
THE FIRST INTERSTELLAR VISITOR
287
00:14:31,137 --> 00:14:33,104
TO OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
288
00:14:33,106 --> 00:14:35,440
INVESTIGATORS ARE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME
289
00:14:35,442 --> 00:14:38,810
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THIS MYSTERIOUS OBJECT IS.
290
00:14:38,812 --> 00:14:43,815
THEY KNOW THAT 'OUMUAMUA IS
SHAPED LIKE A LONG, THIN CIGAR.
291
00:14:43,817 --> 00:14:47,552
BUT IS IT A COMET MADE FROM ICE?
292
00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:50,521
THERE ARE GOOD REASONS
WHY THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE.
293
00:14:50,523 --> 00:14:53,191
♪
294
00:14:53,193 --> 00:14:56,027
WE THINK A LOT MORE
COMETS GET THROWN OUT,
295
00:14:56,029 --> 00:14:59,898
AWAY FROM THE STAR SYSTEM
ENTIRELY, THAN ASTEROIDS.
296
00:14:59,900 --> 00:15:03,067
Narrator: COMETS ARE A MIX
OF ROCK AND ICE,
297
00:15:03,069 --> 00:15:04,669
LIKE DIRTY SNOWBALLS.
298
00:15:04,671 --> 00:15:08,239
THEY FORM FURTHER OUT
IN SOLAR SYSTEMS,
299
00:15:08,241 --> 00:15:09,707
AND THIS MAKES IT
EASIER FOR THEM
300
00:15:09,709 --> 00:15:13,478
TO BREAK FREE AND HEAD
INTO INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
301
00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:18,383
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A COMET
TO BE THIS SHAPE OF 'OUMUAMUA?
302
00:15:18,385 --> 00:15:21,219
THERE IS NO SUCH THING
AS A TYPICAL COMET.
303
00:15:21,221 --> 00:15:24,322
THE ONES THAT WE'VE
ACTUALLY SEEN UP CLOSE,
304
00:15:24,324 --> 00:15:26,291
THEY ALL LOOK KIND OF DIFFERENT.
305
00:15:26,293 --> 00:15:31,729
Narrator:
SOME COMETS STICK TOGETHER,
CREATING RUBBER DUCK SHAPES.
306
00:15:31,731 --> 00:15:35,867
OTHERS ARE ROUNDED
AND FLY ALONE.
307
00:15:35,869 --> 00:15:37,568
BUT NOTHING WE'VE SEEN BEFORE
308
00:15:37,570 --> 00:15:42,073
HAS THE SKYSCRAPER PROFILE
OF 'OUMUAMUA.
309
00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:44,976
SO, HOW DID IT FORM?
310
00:15:44,978 --> 00:15:48,546
ONE POTENTIAL SOLUTION LIES
FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES
311
00:15:48,548 --> 00:15:52,417
OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
OUT IN INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
312
00:15:52,419 --> 00:15:54,585
♪
313
00:15:54,587 --> 00:15:57,689
'OUMUAMUA, IT'S BEEN OUT
IN THE SPACE BETWEEN STARS,
314
00:15:57,691 --> 00:16:00,425
FOR MILLIONS,
TENS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS.
315
00:16:00,427 --> 00:16:03,194
AND SO, THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
316
00:16:03,196 --> 00:16:06,130
THAN THE OBJECTS
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
317
00:16:06,132 --> 00:16:08,399
IT COULD'VE BEEN THAT
'OUMUAMUA LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT
318
00:16:08,401 --> 00:16:11,903
AT THE BEGINNING OF ITS JOURNEY,
TO WHEN IT PASSED BY THE EARTH.
319
00:16:11,905 --> 00:16:15,506
Narrator: IF 'OUMUAMUA
REALLY IS AN ICY COMET,
320
00:16:15,508 --> 00:16:17,575
THE RAVAGES OF
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
321
00:16:17,577 --> 00:16:20,244
COULD'VE DRAMATICALLY
ALTERED ITS SHAPE.
322
00:16:20,246 --> 00:16:22,780
♪
323
00:16:22,782 --> 00:16:27,151
'OUMUAMUA MAY HAVE STARTED LIFE
AS A LUMPY COMET.
324
00:16:27,153 --> 00:16:30,688
ON ITS LONG JOURNEY,
IT ENCOUNTERS POCKETS OF DUST
325
00:16:30,690 --> 00:16:38,062
AND TINY ABRASIVE
MICRO-METEOROIDS.
326
00:16:38,064 --> 00:16:40,164
AS THEY STRIKE THE
COMET'S SURFACE,
327
00:16:40,166 --> 00:16:44,902
THEY SANDBLAST AWAY
THE ICE AND ROCK...
328
00:16:44,904 --> 00:16:46,471
AND OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS,
329
00:16:46,473 --> 00:16:49,974
WHITTLE AWAY
THE LUMPS AND BUMPS.
330
00:16:49,976 --> 00:16:53,611
THE COMET GETS THINNER
AND THINNER...
331
00:16:53,613 --> 00:16:57,148
UNTIL, EVENTUALLY,
IT LOOKS LIKE A SKYSCRAPER.
332
00:16:57,150 --> 00:17:03,421
♪
333
00:17:03,423 --> 00:17:05,123
IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR A COMET
334
00:17:05,125 --> 00:17:08,793
TO BE THE SAME
SHAPE AS 'OUMUAMUA.
335
00:17:08,795 --> 00:17:11,762
BUT IS THERE ANY HARD EVIDENCE
IN THE OBSERVATIONS
336
00:17:11,764 --> 00:17:14,332
THAT CONFIRMS IF IT IS A COMET?
337
00:17:14,334 --> 00:17:17,468
SO, THE FIRST THOUGHT IS THAT
IF IT WAS ICY IN COMING IN,
338
00:17:17,470 --> 00:17:19,003
IT WOULD START BEHAVING
EXACTLY LIKE A COMET,
339
00:17:19,005 --> 00:17:20,538
AND THEN ONCE
IT GOT CLOSE ENOUGH,
340
00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:22,840
WE WOULD START SEEING
IT SHEDS ITS LAYERS,
341
00:17:22,842 --> 00:17:24,809
AND THAT WE MIGHT SEE
A TAIL COMING FROM IT,
342
00:17:24,811 --> 00:17:26,711
JUST LIKE WE DO
WHEN WE SEE A COMET
343
00:17:26,713 --> 00:17:29,313
COMING IN FROM OUR
DISTANT SOLAR SYSTEM.
344
00:17:29,315 --> 00:17:32,316
Narrator: AS COMETS COME CLOSE
TO THE HEAT OF A STAR,
345
00:17:32,318 --> 00:17:36,354
LIKE THE SUN, THE ICES
ON THEM FLASH INTO GAS.
346
00:17:36,356 --> 00:17:38,623
♪
347
00:17:38,625 --> 00:17:42,360
THIS CREATES AN EXTENDED
CLOUD OF GAS AND DUST,
348
00:17:42,362 --> 00:17:44,562
A COMA AND TAIL.
349
00:17:44,564 --> 00:17:47,231
♪
350
00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:52,203
THE SAME SHOULD HAPPEN
TO 'OUMUAMUA IF IT'S A COMET.
351
00:17:52,205 --> 00:17:54,705
Schwamb: WHAT WE EXPECTED TO SEE
WAS THAT WE WOULD SEE A COMA.
352
00:17:54,707 --> 00:17:57,542
THIS IS AN IMAGE FROM
THE VERY LARGE TELESCOPE,
353
00:17:57,544 --> 00:17:59,644
AND SO THE DOT
THERE IS 'OUMUAMUA,
354
00:17:59,646 --> 00:18:01,112
AND IT'S JUST A DOT.
355
00:18:01,114 --> 00:18:04,315
IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A POINT
SOURCE, NO FUZZINESS AT ALL.
356
00:18:04,317 --> 00:18:06,350
SO, WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF
THE COMA WE WERE EXPECTING,
357
00:18:06,352 --> 00:18:08,152
SO IT WASN'T A COMET.
358
00:18:08,154 --> 00:18:11,022
♪
359
00:18:11,024 --> 00:18:13,491
'OUMUAMUA IS THE FIRST OBJECT
TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A COMET
360
00:18:13,493 --> 00:18:17,328
AND THEN DECLASSIFIED
TO NOT BE A COMET.
361
00:18:17,330 --> 00:18:21,265
Narrator:
SO, WHAT IS 'OUMUAMUA?
362
00:18:21,267 --> 00:18:27,105
MANY THOUGHT IT MUST BE A COMET.
363
00:18:27,107 --> 00:18:30,441
BUT THEN WHY DOES
IT NOT HAVE A TAIL?
364
00:18:30,443 --> 00:18:32,443
AND IT'S UNLIKELY TO
BE A ROCKY ASTEROID,
365
00:18:32,445 --> 00:18:37,448
BECAUSE WE SO RARELY SEE ONE
SHAPED LIKE A SKYSCRAPER.
366
00:18:37,450 --> 00:18:38,950
WITH QUESTION MARKS HANGING OVER
367
00:18:38,952 --> 00:18:41,552
THE TWO MOST LIKELY
EXPLANATIONS,
368
00:18:41,554 --> 00:18:45,857
SOME BEGIN TO CONSIDER AN
EXTRAORDINARY THIRD ALTERNATIVE.
369
00:18:45,859 --> 00:18:48,326
IS 'OUMUAMUA SO LONG AND THIN
370
00:18:48,328 --> 00:18:52,363
BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY
AN ALIEN SPACESHIP
371
00:18:52,365 --> 00:18:55,566
ON A MISSION TO
EXPLORE OTHER WORLDS?
372
00:18:55,568 --> 00:18:58,169
♪
373
00:18:58,171 --> 00:19:01,272
THIS MAY SOUND LIKE
AN ASTONISHING IDEA,
374
00:19:01,274 --> 00:19:04,876
BUT THERE IS OTHER EVIDENCE
THAT SUPPORTS THIS THEORY.
375
00:19:04,878 --> 00:19:06,811
Oluseyi: ONE THING
THAT WAS REALLY SUSPICIOUS
376
00:19:06,813 --> 00:19:08,846
ABOUT 'OUMUAMUA
WAS ITS TRAJECTORY
377
00:19:08,848 --> 00:19:11,082
AND THIS IS KIND OF WHAT GAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF CREDENCE
378
00:19:11,084 --> 00:19:15,520
TO THE NOTION THAT IT WAS
SOME KIND OF ALIEN VISITATION.
379
00:19:15,522 --> 00:19:18,756
Narrator: 'OUMUAMUA'S TRAJECTORY
SENDS IT FLASHING
380
00:19:18,758 --> 00:19:21,292
BETWEEN THE ORBITS
OF MARS AND EARTH.
381
00:19:21,294 --> 00:19:26,164
ASTRONOMERS CALL THIS
THE HABITABLE ZONE...
382
00:19:26,166 --> 00:19:28,032
THE ONE PLACE IN
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
383
00:19:28,034 --> 00:19:32,303
WHERE 'OUMUAMUA COULD
ENCOUNTER INTELLIGENT LIFE.
384
00:19:32,305 --> 00:19:35,173
SO, IS 'OUMUAMUA A SPACESHIP
385
00:19:35,175 --> 00:19:40,144
SENT HERE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH US?
386
00:19:40,146 --> 00:19:42,947
SETH SHOSTAK IS PART OF SETI,
387
00:19:42,949 --> 00:19:46,317
THE SEARCH FOR
EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE.
388
00:19:46,319 --> 00:19:49,954
IF 'OUMUAMUA IS
AN ALIEN SPACECRAFT,
389
00:19:49,956 --> 00:19:53,824
IT COULD BE BROADCASTING
SOME SORT OF RADIO SIGNAL.
390
00:19:53,826 --> 00:19:57,328
SETH'S PLAN IS TO LISTEN
IN BEFORE THIS VISITOR
391
00:19:57,330 --> 00:20:00,031
VANISHES FROM THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
392
00:20:00,033 --> 00:20:03,935
COMMUNICATION IS SOMETHING
THAT ALL SPACECRAFT HAVE TO DO.
393
00:20:03,937 --> 00:20:06,571
THEY'D HAVE TO COMMUNICATE
BACK TO THE MOTHERSHIP,
394
00:20:06,573 --> 00:20:09,240
OR THE MOTHER PLANET
OR SOMEBODY ELSE.
395
00:20:09,242 --> 00:20:13,211
SO, IF THEY WERE DOING THAT,
THEN WE COULD'VE DETECTED
396
00:20:13,213 --> 00:20:15,980
SOME RADIO SIGNALS
COMING OFF THIS THING.
397
00:20:15,982 --> 00:20:19,283
Narrator: IF ALIENS ARE
COMMUNICATING OUT IN SPACE,
398
00:20:19,285 --> 00:20:22,453
IT'S A GOOD BET THEY'LL
BE USING RADIO WAVES.
399
00:20:22,455 --> 00:20:25,356
THIS IS THE ALLEN
RADIO TELESCOPE ARRAY.
400
00:20:25,358 --> 00:20:28,526
IT'S DESIGNED TO PROVE
THE EXISTENCE OF ALIENS
401
00:20:28,528 --> 00:20:31,729
BY EAVESDROPPING ON
THEIR CONVERSATIONS.
402
00:20:31,731 --> 00:20:34,131
♪
403
00:20:34,133 --> 00:20:36,734
RADIO WAVES ESSENTIALLY
CAN GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT
404
00:20:36,736 --> 00:20:39,103
IN THE UNIVERSE
WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM
405
00:20:39,105 --> 00:20:41,472
IN TERMS OF THEM BEING
BLOCKED BY STUFF.
406
00:20:41,474 --> 00:20:43,674
IF THERE'S ANY
COMMUNICATION GOING ON,
407
00:20:43,676 --> 00:20:48,045
OUT THERE IN THE COSMOS,
RADIO IS GONNA BE PART OF THAT.
408
00:20:48,047 --> 00:20:49,814
Narrator:
SETH'S WORK FOCUSES ON
409
00:20:49,816 --> 00:20:53,651
LISTENING FOR COMMUNICATIONS,
COMING FROM DISTANT STARS,
410
00:20:53,653 --> 00:20:58,422
BUT 'OUMUAMUA PROVES TOO GOOD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS UP.
411
00:20:58,424 --> 00:21:01,192
IF THERE'S ONLY A 1% CHANCE
THAT IT WAS A SPACECRAFT,
412
00:21:01,194 --> 00:21:04,695
IT'S STILL WORTH POINTING THESE
ANTENNAS IN THAT DIRECTION
413
00:21:04,697 --> 00:21:07,798
AND CHECKING IT OUT.
414
00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:13,204
Narrator: SETH WORKS WITH
FELLOW ASTRONOMER JOHN RICHARDS.
415
00:21:13,206 --> 00:21:17,708
IS 'OUMUAMUA
BROADCASTING A SIGNAL?
416
00:21:17,710 --> 00:21:20,878
UNFORTUNATELY,
NOTHING YET.
417
00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,147
THERE'S NO TRANSMITTER
THAT'S BROADCASTING
418
00:21:23,149 --> 00:21:26,751
AS 'OUMUAMUA SLIDES BY US HERE
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
419
00:21:26,753 --> 00:21:30,021
SO, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S
REALLY AN ALIEN SPACECRAFT,
420
00:21:30,023 --> 00:21:33,758
THEY'RE IN STEALTH MODE, RIGHT?
[ LAUGHS ]
421
00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,560
IF 'OUMUAMUA IS
AN ALIEN SPACESHIP,
422
00:21:36,562 --> 00:21:40,731
IT'S NOT BROADCASTING
SIGNALS...YET.
423
00:21:40,733 --> 00:21:43,634
'OUMUAMUA IS PROVING
FAR MORE MYSTERIOUS
424
00:21:43,636 --> 00:21:45,636
THAN ANYONE EXPECTED.
425
00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:48,039
Plait: WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF
REALLY WEIRD STUFF
426
00:21:48,041 --> 00:21:49,507
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
427
00:21:49,509 --> 00:21:54,345
BUT EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT,
'OUMUAMUA MIGHT BE THE WEIRDEST.
428
00:21:54,347 --> 00:21:56,781
Narrator:
TWO WEEKS AFTER FIRST SPOTTING
429
00:21:56,783 --> 00:21:59,350
THIS STRANGE,
INTERSTELLAR VISITOR,
430
00:21:59,352 --> 00:22:02,219
INVESTIGATORS HAVE
ONE FINAL CHANCE
431
00:22:02,221 --> 00:22:05,389
TO DECODE ITS IDENTITY.
432
00:22:05,391 --> 00:22:08,592
ASTRONOMERS AROUND THE WORLD
RUSH TO TRY AND CAPTURE
433
00:22:08,594 --> 00:22:12,897
ONE LAST CLUE,
'OUMUAMUA'S COLOR.
434
00:22:12,899 --> 00:22:18,469
CAN THIS FINALLY SOLVE THE
MYSTERY OF WHAT THIS OBJECT IS?
435
00:22:18,471 --> 00:22:20,905
AND CAN 'OUMUAMUA
REVEAL ANYTHING
436
00:22:20,907 --> 00:22:23,607
ABOUT WHERE IT CAME FROM
437
00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:26,410
AND CLUES AS TO
WHETHER LIFE EXISTS
438
00:22:26,412 --> 00:22:29,347
IN A DISTANT ALIEN SOLAR SYSTEM?
439
00:22:40,326 --> 00:22:46,430
♪
440
00:22:46,432 --> 00:22:49,333
Narrator: 'OUMUAMUA,
THE FIRST INTERSTELLAR VISITOR
441
00:22:49,335 --> 00:22:51,435
EVER DISCOVERED, IS RACING
442
00:22:51,437 --> 00:22:53,938
TOWARDS THE EDGE
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
443
00:22:53,940 --> 00:23:00,544
AT NEARLY 100,000
MILES PER HOUR.
444
00:23:00,546 --> 00:23:02,813
IT WILL SOON BE IMPOSSIBLE
FOR EVEN THE WORLD'S
445
00:23:02,815 --> 00:23:05,950
MOST POWERFUL TELESCOPES
TO OBSERVE IT.
446
00:23:05,952 --> 00:23:07,885
BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS FOR GOOD,
447
00:23:07,887 --> 00:23:10,054
INVESTIGATORS HAVE
ONE LAST CHANCE
448
00:23:10,056 --> 00:23:12,089
TO PROBE ITS DEEPEST SECRETS
449
00:23:12,091 --> 00:23:14,425
TO CONFIRM IF IT'S AN ASTEROID,
450
00:23:14,427 --> 00:23:18,229
A COMET, OR AN ALIEN SPACESHIP.
451
00:23:18,231 --> 00:23:22,633
♪
452
00:23:22,635 --> 00:23:25,536
MEG SCHWAMB IS PART OF
THE GROUP RACING TO CAPTURE
453
00:23:25,538 --> 00:23:27,538
THE ALIEN VISITOR'S COLOR.
454
00:23:27,540 --> 00:23:29,273
THIS COULD PROVIDE
A CRUCIAL CLUE
455
00:23:29,275 --> 00:23:33,744
TO HELP IDENTIFY
WHAT 'OUMUAMUA IS.
456
00:23:33,746 --> 00:23:35,446
Schwamb:
EVERYONE WAS SORT OF RUSHING
457
00:23:35,448 --> 00:23:36,781
TO GET AS MUCH DATA AS WE COULD
458
00:23:36,783 --> 00:23:38,649
BEFORE WE COULDN'T GET ANYMORE.
459
00:23:38,651 --> 00:23:40,851
I KNOW, FOR OUR GROUP, WE
OBSERVED IN THE LAST NIGHT
460
00:23:40,853 --> 00:23:42,353
THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE.
461
00:23:42,355 --> 00:23:44,655
WE GOT LUCKY.
462
00:23:44,657 --> 00:23:47,858
Narrator: IS 'OUMUAMUA
THE COLOR OF AN ASTEROID,
463
00:23:47,860 --> 00:23:50,661
A COMET, OR, PERHAPS, A COLOR
464
00:23:50,663 --> 00:23:55,065
THAT ONLY AN ADVANCED ALIEN
CIVILIZATION COULD CREATE?
465
00:23:55,067 --> 00:23:57,668
COMBINING MULTIPLE IMAGES
FROM GEMINI,
466
00:23:57,670 --> 00:23:59,703
AND OTHER OPTICAL TELESCOPES,
467
00:23:59,705 --> 00:24:04,842
INCREDIBLY, THEY CAPTURE
'OUMUAMUA'S COLOR.
468
00:24:04,844 --> 00:24:07,111
THIS IS ACTUALLY
AN IMAGE, AN OPTICAL
469
00:24:07,113 --> 00:24:09,780
SHOWING WHAT 'OUMUAMUA
WOULD LOOK LIKE TO OUR EYES.
470
00:24:09,782 --> 00:24:12,416
SO, YOU MIGHT NOTICE
THIS SORT OF REDDISH HUE
471
00:24:12,418 --> 00:24:15,186
THAT 'OUMUAMUA HAS,
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY REAL.
472
00:24:15,188 --> 00:24:17,455
AND THAT ACTUALLY TELLS US
SOMETHING ABOUT ITS COMPOSITION,
473
00:24:17,457 --> 00:24:20,090
AND WE CAN USE THAT TO
LOOK AT HOW IT FITS INTO
474
00:24:20,092 --> 00:24:24,128
THE COLORS OF OBJECTS
IN OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM.
475
00:24:24,130 --> 00:24:26,530
Narrator: IT'S AN ASTONISHING
BREAKTHROUGH.
476
00:24:26,532 --> 00:24:28,933
'OUMUAMUA'S DARK
RED COLOR DOES MATCH
477
00:24:28,935 --> 00:24:33,037
SOMETHING SCIENTISTS
HAVE SEEN BEFORE --
478
00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:35,673
THE COLOR OF COMETS.
479
00:24:35,675 --> 00:24:38,342
ASTRONOMERS HAVE
OBSERVED MANY ICY COMETS
480
00:24:38,344 --> 00:24:43,981
THAT HAVE THE SAME RED COLOR,
THOUGHT TO BE A TAR-LIKE CRUST.
481
00:24:43,983 --> 00:24:47,051
IT MIGHT MEAN THAT
IT'S ACTUALLY NOT JUST ROCK,
482
00:24:47,053 --> 00:24:49,854
BUT MAYBE ICE INVOLVED
AS WELL WITH 'OUMUAMUA.
483
00:24:49,856 --> 00:24:56,393
Narrator:
THIS CRUCIAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS
THAT 'OUMUAMUA IS AN ICY OBJECT.
484
00:24:56,395 --> 00:24:59,330
NEW DATA ALSO REVEALS
THAT 'OUMUAMUA
485
00:24:59,332 --> 00:25:04,268
HAS AN UNEXPECTED SPEED BOOST
AS IT PASSES BY THE SUN.
486
00:25:04,270 --> 00:25:07,671
THE SUN'S HEAT VAPORIZES
SMALL AMOUNTS OF ITS ICE,
487
00:25:07,673 --> 00:25:09,607
BLASTING IT INTO SPACE.
488
00:25:09,609 --> 00:25:13,677
THESE JETS ACT LIKE
MINI ROCKET BOOSTERS.
489
00:25:13,679 --> 00:25:17,214
COMBINED WITH THE COLOR,
IT'S A SLAM DUNK.
490
00:25:17,216 --> 00:25:21,051
'OUMUAMUA IS A COMET,
BUT IT'S UNLIKE ANY COMET
491
00:25:21,053 --> 00:25:23,220
WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
492
00:25:23,222 --> 00:25:25,856
THE 'OUMUAMUA IS
LITERALLY ONE OF ITS KIND.
493
00:25:25,858 --> 00:25:29,793
IT'S THE ONLY BODY
IN ITS OWN CATEGORY.
494
00:25:29,795 --> 00:25:32,763
Narrator: WHY DIDN'T 'OUMUAMUA
FORM A FULL TAIL,
495
00:25:32,765 --> 00:25:34,532
AS IT PASSED BY THE SUN,
496
00:25:34,534 --> 00:25:40,471
AS ALL OTHER COMETS
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM DO?
497
00:25:40,473 --> 00:25:43,107
ASTROPHYSICIST PERRY GERAKINES
498
00:25:43,109 --> 00:25:45,576
FROM NASA'S
COSMIC ICE LABORATORY
499
00:25:45,578 --> 00:25:47,545
BELIEVES IT COULD BE
DOWN TO THE THICKNESS
500
00:25:47,547 --> 00:25:49,547
OF THE COMET'S CRUST.
501
00:25:49,549 --> 00:25:53,651
HE STUDIES HOW THESE
RED CRUSTS FORM.
502
00:25:53,653 --> 00:25:57,988
WE'RE INVESTIGATING
THE COMPOUNDS
503
00:25:57,990 --> 00:26:02,626
THAT MAKE UP INTERSTELLAR
AND PLANETARY ICES,
504
00:26:02,628 --> 00:26:06,997
AND WE'RE MEASURING
THE EFFECTS OF RADIATION
505
00:26:06,999 --> 00:26:09,433
ON THOSE ICES.
506
00:26:09,435 --> 00:26:11,535
Narrator:
PERRY'S CONVINCED THAT RADIATION
507
00:26:11,537 --> 00:26:17,141
HAS A STRANGE EFFECT ON THE ICY,
OUTER LAYERS OF A COMET.
508
00:26:17,143 --> 00:26:20,844
HE STARTS BY MAKING HIS
OWN SAMPLE OF COMET ICE.
509
00:26:20,846 --> 00:26:23,213
Gerakines:
I'VE GOT A MIRROR HERE,
510
00:26:23,215 --> 00:26:26,016
THAT I PLACE IN
THE VACUUM CHAMBER,
511
00:26:26,018 --> 00:26:28,953
AND I'M COOLING IT
TO 20 DEGREES KELVIN,
512
00:26:28,955 --> 00:26:31,455
OR MINUS-250 CENTIGRADE.
513
00:26:31,457 --> 00:26:34,391
I'M GOING TO CREATE
AN ICE ON TOP OF IT.
514
00:26:34,393 --> 00:26:36,493
Narrator:
PERRY THEN RELEASES WATER,
515
00:26:36,495 --> 00:26:39,964
CARBON DIOXIDE, AND METHANE
GASES INTO THE CHAMBER.
516
00:26:39,966 --> 00:26:42,466
♪
517
00:26:42,468 --> 00:26:46,337
THESE ARE ALL COMMONLY
FOUND IN OUTER SPACE.
518
00:26:46,339 --> 00:26:48,639
THE GASES FREEZE INTO
ICE ON THE SURFACE
519
00:26:48,641 --> 00:26:51,375
OF THE SUPER COLD MIRROR.
520
00:26:51,377 --> 00:26:55,946
Gerakines: AND WE CAN PEEK
INSIDE THE VACUUM CHAMBER,
521
00:26:55,948 --> 00:26:59,016
AND IN THIS CASE,
I'VE GOT QUITE A THICK ICE,
522
00:26:59,018 --> 00:27:03,287
SO I CAN SEE THE ICE
BUILDUP ON THAT MIRROR.
523
00:27:03,289 --> 00:27:05,022
IT LOOKS QUITE GOOD.
524
00:27:05,024 --> 00:27:07,224
Narrator:
THE SILVER MIRROR IS NOW COVERED
525
00:27:07,226 --> 00:27:10,494
IN A CREAMY LAYER
OF COMETARY ICE.
526
00:27:10,496 --> 00:27:12,663
PERRY WANTS TO
TRANSFORM THIS ICE
527
00:27:12,665 --> 00:27:17,334
INTO THE RED CRUST
THOUGHT TO ENCASE 'OUMUAMUA,
528
00:27:17,336 --> 00:27:22,039
SO HE ADDS ONE LAST
INGREDIENT -- RADIATION.
529
00:27:22,041 --> 00:27:24,241
Gerakines:
THE NEXT PART OF THIS EXPERIMENT
530
00:27:24,243 --> 00:27:28,212
IS TO TURN ON OUR
SOURCE OF RADIATION,
531
00:27:28,214 --> 00:27:32,449
AND THEN EXPOSE THE ICE
TO THAT RADIATION.
532
00:27:32,451 --> 00:27:36,020
Narrator: RADIATION FROM STARS
BLASTS COMETS
533
00:27:36,022 --> 00:27:37,621
AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGH SPACE
534
00:27:37,623 --> 00:27:42,292
OVER MILLIONS AND BILLIONS
OF YEARS.
535
00:27:42,294 --> 00:27:46,864
PERRY GIVES HIS SAMPLE AN
INTENSE BLAST OF RADIATION,
536
00:27:46,866 --> 00:27:49,633
TO MIMIC THESE CONDITIONS.
537
00:27:49,635 --> 00:27:53,570
WE START EXPOSING THE
ICE TO THE RADIATION.
538
00:27:53,572 --> 00:27:56,140
GONNA LEAVE IT LIKE THIS
FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES,
539
00:27:56,142 --> 00:28:00,511
WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF
ABOUT A MILLION YEARS IN SPACE.
540
00:28:00,513 --> 00:28:02,413
Narrator:
UNDER THIS INTENSE FLOOD
541
00:28:02,415 --> 00:28:04,915
OF A MILLION YEARS
WORTH OF RADIATION,
542
00:28:04,917 --> 00:28:08,218
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY
HAPPENS TO THE ICE.
543
00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:12,356
♪
544
00:28:12,358 --> 00:28:15,225
BEFORE, WE HAD SORT
OF THIS CREAMY WHITE
545
00:28:15,227 --> 00:28:17,261
SORT OF FROST LAYER.
546
00:28:17,263 --> 00:28:20,698
NOW IT'S THIS MUDDY BROWN COLOR.
547
00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:24,902
SO, THE RADIATION HAS
CHANGED IT, VISIBLY.
548
00:28:24,904 --> 00:28:29,740
Narrator: THIS DARK RED CRUST
MADE FROM RADIATION BLASTED ICE
549
00:28:29,742 --> 00:28:32,476
IS WHAT ASTRONOMERS
THINK COVERS MANY COMETS
550
00:28:32,478 --> 00:28:37,548
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
AND 'OUMUAMUA.
551
00:28:37,550 --> 00:28:39,683
CAN THIS CRUST
EXPLAIN WHY 'OUMUAMUA
552
00:28:39,685 --> 00:28:41,919
DOESN'T FORM A FULL TAIL?
553
00:28:41,921 --> 00:28:44,955
♪
554
00:28:44,957 --> 00:28:47,891
PERRY BELIEVES THAT
IN 'OUMUAMUA'S CASE,
555
00:28:47,893 --> 00:28:52,463
INTERSTELLAR SPACE SUPERCHARGED
THE FORMATION OF ITS RED CRUST.
556
00:28:52,465 --> 00:28:54,865
♪
557
00:28:54,867 --> 00:28:58,635
Gerakines: 'OUMUAMUA HAS SPENT
50 MILLION YEARS OR SO
558
00:28:58,637 --> 00:29:01,605
IN INTERSTELLAR SPACE
WHERE IT HAS NOT BEEN
559
00:29:01,607 --> 00:29:05,442
PROTECTED BY THE
SUN'S MAGNETIC FIELD,
560
00:29:05,444 --> 00:29:09,780
SO IT'S BEEN EXPOSED
TO HARSHER RADIATION.
561
00:29:09,782 --> 00:29:11,248
Narrator:
IS INTERSTELLAR RADIATION
562
00:29:11,250 --> 00:29:14,485
THE FINAL PIECE IN THE PUZZLE
OF THE ALIEN VISITOR?
563
00:29:14,487 --> 00:29:17,454
♪
564
00:29:17,456 --> 00:29:21,992
AS 'OUMUAMUA PASSES THROUGH
THE INTERSTELLAR VOID,
565
00:29:21,994 --> 00:29:24,695
COSMIC RAYS PEPPER ITS SURFACE.
566
00:29:24,697 --> 00:29:27,531
♪
567
00:29:27,533 --> 00:29:30,501
AS THEY HIT THE COMET,
THEY TRANSFORM THE OUTER LAYERS
568
00:29:30,503 --> 00:29:38,575
OF ICE INTO A CRUST OF RED,
STICKY COMPOUNDS.
569
00:29:38,577 --> 00:29:40,844
OVER MILLIONS OF
YEARS, THIS GROWS INTO
570
00:29:40,846 --> 00:29:44,982
A TOUGH SHELL, UP TO
A FOOT AND A HALF THICK.
571
00:29:44,984 --> 00:29:47,851
THIS RED CRUST PROTECTS
THE ICY CORE FROM
572
00:29:47,853 --> 00:29:54,124
THE HEAT OF THE STARS AND
STOPS IT FROM TURNING INTO GAS.
573
00:29:54,126 --> 00:29:56,860
THAT'S HOW 'OUMUAMUA
COULD PASS SO CLOSE
574
00:29:56,862 --> 00:30:00,464
TO THE SUN WITHOUT
FORMING A VISIBLE TAIL.
575
00:30:00,466 --> 00:30:03,333
♪
576
00:30:03,335 --> 00:30:05,869
AND SO, FOR 'OUMUAMUA, THIS
MIGHT MEAN THAT THERE IS STILL
577
00:30:05,871 --> 00:30:09,573
AN ICY CORE, SO IT MIGHT NOT
BE SO SURPRISING THAT WE DIDN'T
578
00:30:09,575 --> 00:30:12,276
SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE
OF THAT PROTECTIVE CRUST.
579
00:30:12,278 --> 00:30:15,779
♪
580
00:30:15,781 --> 00:30:19,883
Narrator:
'OUMUAMUA FINALLY PASSES BEYOND
THE REACH OF OUR TELESCOPES.
581
00:30:19,885 --> 00:30:21,552
FROM THE EVIDENCE
GATHERED IN THOSE
582
00:30:21,554 --> 00:30:24,521
FEW SHORT WEEKS,
THIS IS OUR BEST GUESS
583
00:30:24,523 --> 00:30:27,858
AT THE ALIEN VISITOR'S
EXTRAORDINARY STORY.
584
00:30:27,860 --> 00:30:31,829
♪
585
00:30:31,831 --> 00:30:35,999
'OUMUAMUA BEGINS LIFE
AS AN ICY COMET,
586
00:30:36,001 --> 00:30:38,702
BEFORE BEING THROWN
OUT OF ITS PARENT SOLAR SYSTEM
587
00:30:38,704 --> 00:30:42,739
AND INTO INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
588
00:30:42,741 --> 00:30:45,809
OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS,
DUST AND MICROMETEORITES
589
00:30:45,811 --> 00:30:48,212
WHITTLE AWAY AT THE SURFACE
590
00:30:48,214 --> 00:30:54,585
UNTIL IT'S A STRANGE,
THIN SKYSCRAPER SHAPE.
591
00:30:54,587 --> 00:30:57,621
COSMIC RAYS CREATE
A THICK, RED CRUST
592
00:30:57,623 --> 00:31:03,093
THAT WRAPS AROUND ITS ICY CORE
593
00:31:03,095 --> 00:31:06,864
AND PROTECTS 'OUMUAMUA AS
IT FLASHES PAST OUR SUN
594
00:31:06,866 --> 00:31:11,335
BEFORE HEADING OUT ONCE MORE
TOWARDS INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
595
00:31:11,337 --> 00:31:19,276
♪
596
00:31:19,278 --> 00:31:22,512
'OUMUAMUA IS THE FIRST
INTERSTELLAR VISITOR
597
00:31:22,514 --> 00:31:26,250
WE'VE EVER SPOTTED, BUT
HOW MANY MORE ARE OUT THERE,
598
00:31:26,252 --> 00:31:30,320
AND WHAT ARE THE CHANCES
OF US SEEING ANOTHER?
599
00:31:42,768 --> 00:31:46,703
♪
600
00:31:46,705 --> 00:31:50,874
Narrator: ASTRONOMERS BELIEVE
OUR FIRST INTERSTELLAR VISITOR,
601
00:31:50,876 --> 00:31:54,211
'OUMUAMUA, IS FAR FROM ALONE.
602
00:31:54,213 --> 00:31:56,613
WE THINK THAT
INTERSTELLAR MATERIAL
603
00:31:56,615 --> 00:31:59,283
SUCH AS INTERSTELLAR ASTEROIDS,
THINGS THAT ORIGINATED
604
00:31:59,285 --> 00:32:00,817
BEYOND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
605
00:32:00,819 --> 00:32:02,486
PASS THROUGH
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ALL THE TIME.
606
00:32:02,488 --> 00:32:04,821
WE THINK THAT 10,000 OF THEM ARE
607
00:32:04,823 --> 00:32:09,092
PASSING THROUGH
AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
608
00:32:09,094 --> 00:32:11,662
Narrator: THE CHAOS
OF SOLAR-SYSTEM FORMATION
609
00:32:11,664 --> 00:32:15,165
ACROSS THE GALAXY THROWS OUT
BILLIONS OF ASTEROIDS
610
00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:17,734
AND COMETS INTO
INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
611
00:32:17,736 --> 00:32:19,870
♪
612
00:32:19,872 --> 00:32:23,040
MANY FIND THEIR WAY HERE.
613
00:32:23,042 --> 00:32:24,942
THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING LIKE THIS
614
00:32:24,944 --> 00:32:26,476
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
615
00:32:26,478 --> 00:32:29,446
THE PROBLEM IS FINDING IT.
616
00:32:29,448 --> 00:32:31,248
FOR MANY YEARS,
ASTRONOMERS THOUGHT
617
00:32:31,250 --> 00:32:34,351
THESE WOULD BE
TOO DIFFICULT TO SPOT
618
00:32:34,353 --> 00:32:38,155
UNTIL 'OUMUAMUA
FLASHED BY OUR PLANET.
619
00:32:38,157 --> 00:32:40,357
WE REALLY SHOULD BE
LOOKING FOR MORE OF THEM,
620
00:32:40,359 --> 00:32:42,592
AND THERE SHOULD BE
MORE OF THEM OUT THERE.
621
00:32:42,594 --> 00:32:44,895
Narrator:
SO, HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT
622
00:32:44,897 --> 00:32:48,198
UNTIL WE DETECT
THE NEXT INTERSTELLAR VISITOR?
623
00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,300
♪
624
00:32:50,302 --> 00:32:52,803
ASTRONOMERS BELIEVE
THAT HUGE NUMBERS OF THESE
625
00:32:52,805 --> 00:32:56,440
ALIEN OBJECTS PASS
THROUGH OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
626
00:32:56,442 --> 00:33:00,077
SPOTTING THEM IS SIMPLY A CASE
OF CONSTANTLY MONITORING
627
00:33:00,079 --> 00:33:02,879
A LARGE ENOUGH AREA OF THE SKY.
628
00:33:02,881 --> 00:33:05,582
Schwamb: WE ALSO KNOW BIGGER
TELESCOPES ARE COMING,
629
00:33:05,584 --> 00:33:07,451
LIKE THE LARGE SYNOPTIC
SKY SURVEY TELESCOPE
630
00:33:07,453 --> 00:33:09,419
THAT'S BEING CURRENTLY
BUILT IN CHILE.
631
00:33:09,421 --> 00:33:11,855
SO, THEY'RE GONNA FIND
ONE OF THESE A YEAR,
632
00:33:11,857 --> 00:33:13,056
HOPEFULLY, OR MORE.
633
00:33:13,058 --> 00:33:14,725
AND SO, THEN WE START
UNDERSTANDING WHETHER
634
00:33:14,727 --> 00:33:17,394
'OUMUAMUA IS REALLY
STRANGE OR NOT.
635
00:33:17,396 --> 00:33:22,065
Narrator: WHAT CAN 'OUMUAMUA
AND OTHER INTERSTELLAR OBJECTS
636
00:33:22,067 --> 00:33:24,234
TELL US ABOUT
THE DISTANT AND MYSTERIOUS
637
00:33:24,236 --> 00:33:28,105
ALIEN SOLAR SYSTEMS
THAT THEY COME FROM?
638
00:33:28,107 --> 00:33:31,208
NOW WITH 'OUMUAMUA,
THE POSSIBILITY HAS ARISEN
639
00:33:31,210 --> 00:33:34,211
THAT WE CAN SAMPLE OTHER
STAR SYSTEMS, AS WELL --
640
00:33:34,213 --> 00:33:38,181
NOT JUST OUR OWN PLANETS, BUT
SOMETHING FROM A DISTANT STAR.
641
00:33:38,183 --> 00:33:40,884
HOW SIMILAR TO US,
HOW DIFFERENT IS IT?
642
00:33:40,886 --> 00:33:43,220
'OUMUAMUA MAY BE SMALL,
643
00:33:43,222 --> 00:33:46,823
BUT THE SCIENTIFIC RAMIFICATIONS
COULD BE VAST.
644
00:33:46,825 --> 00:33:50,460
Narrator: 'OUMUAMUA IS
AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY
645
00:33:50,462 --> 00:33:52,662
TO TEST OUR THEORIES
ABOUT HOW PLANETS
646
00:33:52,664 --> 00:33:56,233
AND SOLAR SYSTEMS FORM
ACROSS THE COSMOS.
647
00:33:56,235 --> 00:33:59,736
MAYBE THE SAME PROCESSES
ARE UBIQUITOUS OR EVERYWHERE
648
00:33:59,738 --> 00:34:03,540
AROUND STARS, OR MAYBE
IT CAN BE VERY DIFFERENT.
649
00:34:03,542 --> 00:34:07,077
Narrator: WITH ITS STRANGE
SHAPE, 'OUMUAMUA AT FIRST SEEMS
650
00:34:07,079 --> 00:34:12,449
SHOCKINGLY ALIEN, BUT IT'S NOT
AS DIFFERENT AS FIRST THOUGHT.
651
00:34:12,451 --> 00:34:15,452
ITS RED COLOR MATCHES
MANY OF THE ICY OBJECTS
652
00:34:15,454 --> 00:34:19,890
SEEN IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
653
00:34:19,892 --> 00:34:22,292
I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO TELL YOU THAT THIS OBJECT
654
00:34:22,294 --> 00:34:23,894
OR THIS IMAGE IS FROM AN OBJECT
655
00:34:23,896 --> 00:34:25,295
FROM ANOTHER SOLAR SYSTEM
PASSING BY.
656
00:34:25,297 --> 00:34:26,430
I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU
657
00:34:26,432 --> 00:34:28,498
IT'S SOMETHING
FROM OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM.
658
00:34:28,500 --> 00:34:31,034
Narrator: THESE SIMILARITIES
MEAN THAT 'OUMUAMUA'S
659
00:34:31,036 --> 00:34:34,738
HOME SOLAR SYSTEM MAY NOT BE
SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN,
660
00:34:34,740 --> 00:34:37,808
AND THAT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT
FOR ASTRONOMERS' THEORIES ABOUT
661
00:34:37,810 --> 00:34:44,514
HOW SOLAR SYSTEMS AND PLANETS
FORM THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE.
662
00:34:44,516 --> 00:34:46,850
Howett: IT'S PHENOMENALLY
EXCITING BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS
663
00:34:46,852 --> 00:34:48,218
IS THE PROCESSES
THAT ARE HAPPENING
664
00:34:48,220 --> 00:34:49,419
IN OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM
665
00:34:49,421 --> 00:34:51,154
THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY
GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF
666
00:34:51,156 --> 00:34:54,357
ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE
OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, AS WELL.
667
00:34:54,359 --> 00:34:58,428
Narrator: MANY UNSOLVED
MYSTERIES SURROUND 'OUMUAMUA.
668
00:34:58,430 --> 00:35:00,897
♪
669
00:35:00,899 --> 00:35:03,867
ONE REMAINS
THE BIGGEST QUESTION OF ALL --
670
00:35:03,869 --> 00:35:07,170
CAN 'OUMUAMUA REVEAL
ANY POSSIBLE SIMILARITIES
671
00:35:07,172 --> 00:35:08,605
BETWEEN LIFE ON EARTH,
672
00:35:08,607 --> 00:35:13,443
AND ANY ALIEN LIFE
THAT MAY EXIST IN THE UNIVERSE?
673
00:35:13,445 --> 00:35:16,279
PERRY GERAKINES THINKS IT CAN.
674
00:35:16,281 --> 00:35:19,382
HE'S FINDING THE SIGNATURE
OF SURPRISING CHEMICALS
675
00:35:19,384 --> 00:35:24,821
HIDDEN INSIDE THE RED CRUST
THOUGHT TO ENCASE 'OUMUAMUA.
676
00:35:24,823 --> 00:35:29,993
SO, WE COME OVER HERE,
AND WE CAN SEE A SPECTRUM.
677
00:35:29,995 --> 00:35:33,163
Narrator: THESE LARGE PEAKS
REVEAL THE PRESENCE OF WATER,
678
00:35:33,165 --> 00:35:36,867
HARDLY SURPRISING FOR
SOMETHING THAT STARTED AS ICE,
679
00:35:36,869 --> 00:35:39,169
BUT PERRY ALSO
DISCOVERS SOMETHING
680
00:35:39,171 --> 00:35:43,273
FAR MORE COMPLEX AND UNEXPECTED.
681
00:35:43,275 --> 00:35:46,910
AND YOU CAN SEE LITTLE BUMPS
THAT INDICATE THE PRESENCE
682
00:35:46,912 --> 00:35:52,916
OF ANOTHER ORGANIC MOLECULE
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR LIFE.
683
00:35:52,918 --> 00:35:55,185
THESE ORGANIC MOLECULES
ARE SOME OF
684
00:35:55,187 --> 00:36:00,624
THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS
OF DNA, THE BLUEPRINT OF LIFE.
685
00:36:00,626 --> 00:36:04,027
OBJECTS LIKE 'OUMUAMUA
MAY HAVE EVEN DELIVERED
686
00:36:04,029 --> 00:36:06,963
THE INGREDIENTS OF LIFE
TO THE YOUNG EARTH.
687
00:36:06,965 --> 00:36:11,067
♪
688
00:36:11,069 --> 00:36:13,637
SO, THIS GIVES US SOME CLUE
ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF LIFE.
689
00:36:13,639 --> 00:36:15,672
YOU AND I ARE BASED ON COMPOUNDS
690
00:36:15,674 --> 00:36:18,275
THAT ARE COMMON
IN COMETS AND METEORITES
691
00:36:18,277 --> 00:36:20,010
AND THINGS LIKE 'OUMUAMUA.
692
00:36:20,012 --> 00:36:21,545
THAT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE.
693
00:36:21,547 --> 00:36:24,281
THAT'S WHAT LANDS HERE,
WE ARE COMMON AS MUCK.
694
00:36:24,283 --> 00:36:27,384
♪
695
00:36:27,386 --> 00:36:30,387
Narrator: IF 'OUMUAMUA DOES HAVE
THE SAME MOLECULES
696
00:36:30,389 --> 00:36:35,425
IT ITS RED CRUST, THEN THE
IMPLICATIONS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.
697
00:36:35,427 --> 00:36:39,362
RED STAINED OBJECTS JUST LIKE IT
MAY BE SPREADING THE SAME
698
00:36:39,364 --> 00:36:42,799
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LIFE
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
699
00:36:42,801 --> 00:36:47,370
'OUMUAMUA TELLS US THAT MAYBE
MATERIAL IS BEING SHARED
700
00:36:47,372 --> 00:36:49,906
FROM ONE SOLAR SYSTEM
TO ANOTHER,
701
00:36:49,908 --> 00:36:52,976
AND THE FACT THAT 'OUMUAMUA
IS COVERED WITH ORGANICS,
702
00:36:52,978 --> 00:36:55,645
THIS BRINGS UP THE IDEA
THAT THE SEEDS FOR LIFE
703
00:36:55,647 --> 00:36:57,914
OR MAYBE EVEN LIFE ITSELF
704
00:36:57,916 --> 00:37:00,317
CAN SPREAD FROM ONE STAR SYSTEM
TO ANOTHER.
705
00:37:00,319 --> 00:37:02,219
WHEN COMETS LAND HERE ON EARTH,
706
00:37:02,221 --> 00:37:05,322
THEY BRING A RICH TREASURE TROVE
OF ORGANIC MOLECULES.
707
00:37:05,324 --> 00:37:08,058
THEY BRING THEM HERE TO EARTH,
WHERE LIFE CAN EVOLVE,
708
00:37:08,060 --> 00:37:10,393
AND SOME OF THOSE MOLECULES
THAT ACTUALLY WERE BAKED
709
00:37:10,395 --> 00:37:12,128
ON THE SURFACE
OF A DISTANT COMET
710
00:37:12,130 --> 00:37:15,832
AROUND ANOTHER SOLAR SYSTEM ARE
PROBABLY IN YOUR BODY RIGHT NOW.
711
00:37:15,834 --> 00:37:19,869
Narrator: IT'S AN ASTONISHING
IDEA, BUT TO KNOW FOR SURE,
712
00:37:19,871 --> 00:37:23,039
ASTRONOMERS WOULD NEED TO FLY
TO AN INTERSTELLAR VISITOR
713
00:37:23,041 --> 00:37:28,378
LIKE 'OUMUAMUA AND GET
A SAMPLE FROM THE SURFACE.
714
00:37:28,380 --> 00:37:31,414
'OUMUAMUA IS NOW
TOO REMOTE TO REACH,
715
00:37:31,416 --> 00:37:35,518
BUT COULD WE VISIT AND SAMPLE
THE NEXT INTERSTELLAR OBJECT?
716
00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:40,390
ONE SCIENTIST IS WORKING
ON A WAY TO DO JUST THAT.
717
00:37:54,373 --> 00:37:59,009
♪
718
00:37:59,011 --> 00:38:02,712
Narrator:
ON OCTOBER 19th, 2017,
719
00:38:02,714 --> 00:38:06,983
AN OBJECT APPEARS AS A FLASH
OF LIGHT IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
720
00:38:06,985 --> 00:38:10,620
'OUMUAMUA IS THE FIRST
INTERSTELLAR OBJECT
721
00:38:10,622 --> 00:38:12,322
EVER DISCOVERED.
722
00:38:12,324 --> 00:38:15,592
SCIENTISTS BELIEVE HUGE NUMBERS
OF SIMILAR OBJECTS
723
00:38:15,594 --> 00:38:18,695
ARE OUT THERE,
BUT WHEN WILL WE DETECT
724
00:38:18,697 --> 00:38:21,498
THE NEXT ONE, AND WHEN WE DO,
725
00:38:21,500 --> 00:38:25,935
WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO VISIT IT
AND COLLECT A SAMPLE?
726
00:38:25,937 --> 00:38:29,439
Wadhwa: IF ANOTHER INTERSTELLAR
OBJECT LIKE THIS
727
00:38:29,441 --> 00:38:33,843
WERE TO COME THROUGH,
WHAT AN AMAZING DREAM COME TRUE
728
00:38:33,845 --> 00:38:35,912
IT WOULD BE
TO ACTUALLY GO TO THAT OBJECT,
729
00:38:35,914 --> 00:38:38,315
PICK UP SOME ROCKS
FROM THE SURFACE
730
00:38:38,317 --> 00:38:40,684
AND BRING THEM BACK AND ANALYZE
THEM IN OUR LABORATORIES.
731
00:38:40,686 --> 00:38:42,686
BOY, WOULD IT BE COOL.
732
00:38:42,688 --> 00:38:45,322
Narrator: THE IDEA
OF CAPTURING A SAMPLE
733
00:38:45,324 --> 00:38:49,492
OF AN ALIEN COMET LIKE 'OUMUAMUA
MAY SOUND LIKE SCIENCE FICTION,
734
00:38:49,494 --> 00:38:53,163
BUT JASON DWORKIN'S TEAM
AT NASA'S ASTROBIOLOGY LAB,
735
00:38:53,165 --> 00:38:59,369
IS PIONEERING TECHNOLOGY
THAT COULD HELP US DO JUST THAT.
736
00:38:59,371 --> 00:39:02,005
THEY'RE SENDING A SPACESHIP
TO GRAB A CHUNK OF AN OBJECT
737
00:39:02,007 --> 00:39:06,109
THAT ALREADY BELONGS
TO OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
738
00:39:06,111 --> 00:39:09,245
WHEN WE GET OUR SAMPLE, THEN
WE TAKE IT IN THIS LABORATORY.
739
00:39:09,247 --> 00:39:12,882
THIS IS WHERE WE CAN DO
THE CRUSHING EXTRACTION WORK
740
00:39:12,884 --> 00:39:15,852
NECESSARY TO FIND
OUT WHAT'S INSIDE.
741
00:39:15,854 --> 00:39:19,389
Narrator: THE BOLD IDEA IS
TO FLY TO THE ASTEROID BENNU,
742
00:39:19,391 --> 00:39:24,794
A ROUNDED LUMP OF ROCK
NEARLY 1,650 FEET THAT ORBITS
743
00:39:24,796 --> 00:39:28,598
BETWEEN VENUS AND MARS,
AND THEN GRAB A SAMPLE.
744
00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,501
THE SPACECRAFT HAS A
THREE-METER-LONG POGO STICK
745
00:39:31,503 --> 00:39:34,137
THAT WILL TOUCH THE SURFACE
OF ASTEROID BENNU FOR AS LONG
746
00:39:34,139 --> 00:39:37,874
AS FIVE SECONDS, BRINGING BACK
TWO KILOGRAMS OF THE SURFACE
747
00:39:37,876 --> 00:39:41,478
OF BENNU TO STUDY WHAT THIS
ANCIENT ASTEROID TELLS US ABOUT
748
00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:45,215
THE ORIGIN OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
AND MAYBE THE ORIGIN OF LIFE.
749
00:39:45,217 --> 00:39:48,485
Narrator: COULD SCIENTISTS USE
SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY
750
00:39:48,487 --> 00:39:51,321
TO SAMPLE AN ALIEN COMET?
751
00:39:51,323 --> 00:39:54,624
ACTUALLY, A SAMPLE FROM
'OUMUAMUA IS THE NEXT BEST THING
752
00:39:54,626 --> 00:39:58,027
TO GOING TO ANOTHER SOLAR SYSTEM
AND GETTING A SAMPLE BACK.
753
00:39:58,029 --> 00:40:01,831
WE CAN LEARN ABOUT
THE UNIVERSALITIES OF LIFE
754
00:40:01,833 --> 00:40:07,203
OR THE IDIOSYNCRASIES
OF LIFE HERE VERSUS ELSEWHERE.
755
00:40:07,205 --> 00:40:09,005
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
TO CAPTURING
756
00:40:09,007 --> 00:40:11,307
AN ALIEN SAMPLE, IS
THE TIME NEEDED FOR
757
00:40:11,309 --> 00:40:14,010
THE MISSION TO GET
OFF THE GROUND.
758
00:40:14,012 --> 00:40:16,913
TO HAVE THE ROCKET READY,
HAVE THE SPACECRAFT READY,
759
00:40:16,915 --> 00:40:19,716
HAVE EVERYTHING TESTED
AND WORKING PERFECTLY
760
00:40:19,718 --> 00:40:21,785
WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME,
WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS
761
00:40:21,787 --> 00:40:25,422
TO GET READY, AND 'OUMUAMUA CAME
IN QUICKLY AND LEFT QUICKLY.
762
00:40:25,424 --> 00:40:30,460
SO, BY THE TIME WE WERE READY,
IT WOULD BE GONE.
763
00:40:30,462 --> 00:40:33,863
'OUMUAMUA'S PATH BROUGHT IT
LOOPING IN BEHIND THE SUN.
764
00:40:33,865 --> 00:40:37,167
THIS BLINDS ASTRONOMERS ON EARTH
TO ITS APPROACH.
765
00:40:37,169 --> 00:40:39,536
SCIENTISTS ONLY DETECT
IT WHEN IT'S ALREADY
766
00:40:39,538 --> 00:40:44,240
ON ITS WAY OUT
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
767
00:40:44,242 --> 00:40:47,310
BUT WITH THE EXPANDING NETWORK
OF TELESCOPES KEEPING WATCH
768
00:40:47,312 --> 00:40:51,514
ON THE SKY, NEXT TIME WE
SHOULD HAVE MORE WARNING.
769
00:40:51,516 --> 00:40:55,318
Dworkin: THE LONGER YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU KNOW TO SEE IT,
770
00:40:55,320 --> 00:40:57,287
THE BETTER YOU CAN PREPARE,
THE MORE TIME YOU HAVE
771
00:40:57,289 --> 00:40:59,088
TO GET SOMETHING
READY TO INTERCEPT IT
772
00:40:59,090 --> 00:41:01,224
AND GET A SAMPLE AND STUDY IT.
773
00:41:01,226 --> 00:41:04,494
Narrator: PERHAPS, WITH
A SPACESHIP READY ON STANDBY,
774
00:41:04,496 --> 00:41:07,764
WE CAN SNATCH OUR FIRST SAMPLE
OF AN ALIEN VISITOR
775
00:41:07,766 --> 00:41:09,999
THE NEXT TIME ONE COMES CALLING.
776
00:41:10,001 --> 00:41:14,537
♪
777
00:41:14,539 --> 00:41:18,708
'OUMUAMUA,
OUR FIRST ALIEN VISITOR,
778
00:41:18,710 --> 00:41:22,679
IS NOW HEADING BACK
TOWARDS INTERSTELLAR SPACE.
779
00:41:22,681 --> 00:41:25,949
IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY,
BOTH FOR 'OUMUAMUA
780
00:41:25,951 --> 00:41:28,518
AND THE ASTRONOMERS CHASING IT.
781
00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,053
Schwamb:
ALL OF 'OUMUAMUA'S INTERESTING
782
00:41:30,055 --> 00:41:31,387
AND SORT OF DIFFERENT
783
00:41:31,389 --> 00:41:32,989
BECAUSE IT'S THE
FIRST OF ITS KIND.
784
00:41:32,991 --> 00:41:34,457
AND SO,
I THINK TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
785
00:41:34,459 --> 00:41:36,092
HOW IT FITS IN,
WE NEED TO FIND MORE OF THEM,
786
00:41:36,094 --> 00:41:37,861
AND THE NICE THING IS WE WILL.
787
00:41:37,863 --> 00:41:41,664
Narrator: 'OUMUAMUA HAS BEEN
TRAVELING TOWARD US
788
00:41:41,666 --> 00:41:43,867
FOR MANY TENS
OF MILLIONS OF YEARS,
789
00:41:43,869 --> 00:41:45,635
BACK BEFORE THERE WERE
HUMANS ON EARTH,
790
00:41:45,637 --> 00:41:47,604
AND NOW IT'S GOING ON,
AND IT'S GOING TO TRAVEL
791
00:41:47,606 --> 00:41:49,506
FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS MORE.
792
00:41:49,508 --> 00:41:52,075
IT'S MIND BLOWING.
793
00:41:52,077 --> 00:41:54,177
Thaller: 'OUMUAMUA WAS ONE
OF THESE MOMENTS
794
00:41:54,179 --> 00:41:57,046
IN MY CAREER AS A SCIENTIST,
WHERE SOMETHING GOT
795
00:41:57,048 --> 00:41:58,948
EVEN BETTER THAN I HAD IMAGINED
796
00:41:58,950 --> 00:42:02,585
AS THE EVIDENCE MOUNTED
BECAME MORE AND MORE BIZARRE,
797
00:42:02,587 --> 00:42:03,987
MORE AND MORE ALIEN.
798
00:42:03,989 --> 00:42:05,755
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN,
799
00:42:05,757 --> 00:42:07,924
I WILL NEVER FORGET 'OUMUAMUA.
800
00:42:07,926 --> 00:42:11,294
♪
801
00:42:11,296 --> 00:42:14,030
Narrator:
NOW ASTRONOMERS PREPARE
802
00:42:14,032 --> 00:42:18,401
FOR THE NEXT
INTERSTELLAR ARRIVAL
803
00:42:18,403 --> 00:42:21,070
AND HOPE IT WILL
BE AS SURPRISING,
804
00:42:21,072 --> 00:42:23,907
AS MYSTERIOUS,
AND AS REVOLUTIONARY
805
00:42:23,909 --> 00:42:28,678
AS 'OUMUAMUA,
THE MESSENGER FROM AFAR.