Paddy visits the Reset Hotel outside Joshua Tree National Park for a night of stargazing with Dr. Gary Blackwood, an aerospace engineer who spent 36 years at NASA and previously led its Exoplanet Exploration Program. Blackwood also describes himself as an alien hunter and explains why he believes humanity is not alone in the universe.
The conversation examines how telescopes can identify signs of potentially habitable, breathing planets from light-years away. It also covers NASA’s planned Habitable Worlds Observatory, the Belt of Venus and distinctions between quasars and pulsars. The discussion includes a backpacking mishap during Hurricane Hilary and considers what Blackwood would ask extraterrestrial visitors if they ever arrived.
The stargazing takes place at the Reset Hotel, a desert property in the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy. The hotel offers onsite telescope viewing and guided stargazing experiences, alongside amenities including hot showers and comfortable beds. Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy describes its properties as nature-focused stays located in settings intended to put outdoor adventures within reach.
Sources: Outside.