The film begins with the exact time frame, stating that "On June 19th, 1987, at 9:47 A.M.EST, the Earth passed into the extraordinarily diffuse tail of Rhea-M, a rogue comet. According to astronomical calculations, the planet would remain in the tail of the comet for the next eight days, five hours, twenty-nine minutes, and twenty-three seconds.". The film is set in Wilmington, North Carolina.