The Black Cloud

Fred Hoyle (1915 – 2001) – a famous British astronomer and writer. He worked on the theory of star evolution and "red giants." He developed the basic model of supernova explosion and the steady-state model of the Universe. According to some sources, it was he who introduced the concept of the "Big Bang" into science. He was the author of philosophical, adventure, children's novels, and popular science books.

January 1964. During a routine sky survey on Mount Palomar in California, an astronomer notices a strange black spot obscuring the stars. Further observation of the unidentified object brings disappointing news: a gaseous cloud of unknown composition is moving towards the Sun at a tremendous speed. The information is carefully kept from the public, but at the level of leadership within the international community, intense work is underway. A group of scientists from different countries gathers in the English town of Nortonstowe to assess the risks and develop a plan to save the planet from the cosmic threat.