Neil deGrasse explains why aliens will barely notice Earth if they ever visit our solar system

Although humans often see themselves as the pinnacle of existence, in reality, we are far from it. In the vast cosmos, humans are nothing but a speck, interconnected with all life. It is often good to be reminded of our place in the grand tapestry of existence as it fosters a deeper appreciation for the mysterious and complex universe surrounding us. Neil deGrasse Tyson decided to do just that while appearing on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The clip has been shared on YouTube, where it has garnered nearly 4 million views.

The show begins with a warm exchange between Colbert and Tyson, with Colbert saying that he thinks of him as "Star-Lord." The astrophysicist humbly replies, "Yeah, no, no, I'm just human." They both go on to discuss how there is big space news, with outstanding photographs from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The photo that the talk show host holds up is mostly black, with only a small white dot in the middle. Tyson explains while pointing at the small dot, "This is not dust here. This is Earth seen through the rings of Saturn."

He continues, "And just a reminder, we are a speck in the middle of a cosmic void, occupying what we call Earth." The astrophysicist then covers what it will be like for an alien to visit our solar system for the first time, stating how such beings will probably "barely notice" Earth. Instead, any alien life will probably take a look at the bigger planets, such as Saturn and Jupiter, taking a more curious approach to them. Tyson further shares how famed astronomer Carl Sagan in 1990 managed to get the spacecraft Voyager to take a photo of Earth after passing Neptune. 

There are only a few pale blue dots in the picture that the spacecraft captures and Sagan went on to write a few books on them. Both of them briefly cover what the weather is like on Saturn, with Tyson talking about how the planet rotates faster than Earth, creating many more violent storms on the planet. Colbert then talks about Tyson's new book "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry." The astrophysicist provides a brief explanation of what the book encompasses.

They engage in a discussion about the various topics Tyson addresses in his book. Tyson poignantly states, "So, we are participants in the great unfolding of this cosmic story." He highlights how all of the matter we know now in the universe most likely had a common origin, uniting us in a completely different manner. The clip ends with him reflecting on how such introspections challenge the meaning of what it is to be human. Viewers were captivated by Tyson's analysis, sharing their thoughts in the comment section.

@jacobkiesling said, "I love that a scientist is a celebrity. Naturally, we gravitate to entertainment, and from there come our celebrities. Neil is brilliant, humble, open-minded, and charismatic - the type of large-scale influence we need now more than ever." @mattr7118 commented, "He's so deeply passionate and ecstatic to share his passion and knowledge with others. That's a very noble and respectable thing. Very cool."