Intentionally Blank What A Disaster! ... Movie. - Intentionally Blank EP. 220
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Aug 20, 2025 Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells dive into fascinating recent discoveries of interstellar objects like Oumuamua and discuss their quirky trajectories. They explore the nostalgia for films like 'Independence Day' while reflecting on the rise of alien fascination. The conversation turns to a cinematic showdown, comparing 'Men in Black' and 'Fifth Element' based on narrative strength and character depth. Finally, they analyze the evolution of grit in superhero cinema and how styles differ between Marvel and DC. It's a fun mix of science, nostalgia, and film critique!
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Interstellar Visitors Are Real And Explainable
- Astronomers have now detected multiple interstellar objects like ʻOumuamua, Borisov, and 3I Atlas passing through our solar system.
- Repeated observations helped explain anomalous motions without invoking alien probes.
Eccentricity Reveals Interstellar Origins
- Eccentricity measures how unbound an object is from the sun and helps identify interstellar origin.
- 3I Atlas's eccentricity (~6.2) and size make it the fastest and largest found so far.
How To See 3I Atlas
- Amateur astronomers with good equipment can spot 3I Atlas as it approaches in December.
- Plan observations around its closest approach on December 19th at about 167 million miles.
