Star Trek: The Next Generation1987

Lt. Cmdr. Data:
Based on its present trajectory, the comet appears to have originated in the D'Arsay system.

Commander William T. Riker:
That's over 2 sectors away.

Lt. Cmdr. Data:
That is correct, Sir. [camera pans to Data and to his side] This object has been en route for 87 million years.

Commander William T. Riker:
[looks to Picard] That's a long time alone in the dark.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard:
Hmm. [hesitates] Begin a full sensor analysis, Mr. Data, and log the findings with the Federation Astrophysical Survey.

Lt. Cmdr. Data:
Aye, Sir. [short pause] The comet's outer shell is composed primarily of gaseous hydrogen and helium surrounding an icy mantle. The inner core consists of heavier elements. [a bright light illuminates them and the bridge for a few seconds and vanishes]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard:
What was that?

Lt. Cmdr. Data:
There is a distortion within the comet's inner core. I believe we experienced an intense sensor echo.

Commander William T. Riker:
Can you correct for it?

Lt. Cmdr. Data:
I'm attempting to do so now, Sir. I have compensated for the effect. Sensors are reconfigured for a low-intensity sweep. We are still picking up some interference, but the distortion is manageable. At these settings, the scan will be complete in 39 hours.