Planet Generation

Agemegos · 08-28-2009, 04:52 PM

Calculate the temperature at apastron (maximum separation) and periastron (minimum separation). You will find the result interesting.

David Johnston2 · 08-28-2009, 05:11 PM

That's not so easy. The thing you have to remember about elliptical orbits is that the part of the orbit which is near the Sun is a shorter period than the part of it which farther out than the median distance. Therefore winter (which thanks to a lack of axial tilt is produced by being actually remote from the sun) is, generally speaking, longer than summer. Northerly climes will be _very_ uninhabitable in the depth of winter, which lasts a long time due to the 2x year length. I wouldn't surprised to see hibernation as a common trait in northern animals.

Noven · 08-28-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett

Calculate the temperature at apastron (maximum separation) and periastron (minimum separation). You will find the result interesting.

Umm, how do I do that? I didn't see that in Space

Noven · 08-28-2009, 09:16 PM

Ok I go the temperatures, and wow, maybe I should tone down the eccentricity

RyanW · 08-28-2009, 11:12 PM

A planet functions as a substantial heat sink, so living on an eccentrically orbiting planet won't be quite as extreme as summering on Venus and spending the winter on Mars.

David Johnston2 · 08-28-2009, 11:25 PM

Stay away from deserts on the interior of a continent, though.

Flyndaran · 08-28-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanW

A planet functions as a substantial heat sink, so living on an eccentrically orbiting planet won't be quite as extreme as summering on Venus and spending the winter on Mars.

True, but who wants runaway greenhouses in summer, and runaway glaciation in winter? Exactly how much a life bearing planet can "hold" it somewhere in the middle is anyone's guess.

D10 · 08-28-2009, 11:48 PM

Maybe it could have a vast underground eco system.

Flyndaran · 08-28-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D10

Maybe it could have a vast underground eco system.

That's what I did way back in my D&D days with my eccentric planet evolved race. Some animals hibernated in deep underground caverns and created a whole separate type of life. Maybe I just wanted my albino apes to show how my flyndarans saw humanity on our eternal spring planet. :)

simply Nathan · 09-01-2009, 11:05 PM

Or maybe the creatures all just have really, really high levels of Temperature Tolerance?

08-28-2009, 04:52 PM	#1
Agemegos Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oz	Re: Planet Generation Calculate the temperature at apastron (maximum separation) and periastron (minimum separation). You will find the result interesting. __________________ Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 08-28-2009 at 04:59 PM.

08-28-2009, 05:11 PM	#2
David Johnston2 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Planet Generation That's not so easy. The thing you have to remember about elliptical orbits is that the part of the orbit which is near the Sun is a shorter period than the part of it which farther out than the median distance. Therefore winter (which thanks to a lack of axial tilt is produced by being actually remote from the sun) is, generally speaking, longer than summer. Northerly climes will be _very_ uninhabitable in the depth of winter, which lasts a long time due to the 2x year length. I wouldn't surprised to see hibernation as a common trait in northern animals.

08-28-2009, 09:16 PM	#4
Noven Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ	Re: Planet Generation Ok I go the temperatures, and wow, maybe I should tone down the eccentricity

08-28-2009, 11:12 PM	#5
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: Planet Generation A planet functions as a substantial heat sink, so living on an eccentrically orbiting planet won't be quite as extreme as summering on Venus and spending the winter on Mars. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.

08-28-2009, 11:25 PM	#6
David Johnston2 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Planet Generation Stay away from deserts on the interior of a continent, though.

08-28-2009, 11:48 PM	#8
D10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: In Rio de Janeiro, where it was cyberpunk before it was cool.	Re: Planet Generation Maybe it could have a vast underground eco system.

09-01-2009, 11:05 PM	#10
simply Nathan formerly known as 'Kenneth Latrans' Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wyoming, Michigan	Re: Planet Generation Or maybe the creatures all just have really, really high levels of Temperature Tolerance? __________________ Ba-weep granah wheep minibon. Wubba lubba dub dub. Last edited by simply Nathan; 09-01-2009 at 11:26 PM. Reason: hit wrong quote