[Space/Thaumatology] Stargate: Fantasy - Worldbuilding thread

[Prince Charon]

Right, so the discussion seems to have trailed off, and the new Question looks ready, due to 6 having won the previous poll:

Frolechi Question VIII

Here's another 'two questions in separate formats' one:

First Question: How many Earthlike moons (as opposed to smaller ones, of which gas giants seem to have more all the time) does the Frolechi gas giant have? Please answer with a clear number.


Second Question: Does the gas giant have a visible ring system? Please answer 'YES' in allcaps or 'NO' in allcaps.

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Answer: OK, the result seems to be that there are three Earthlike moons to the gas giant, and a picturesque ring system. Presumably the large moons are outside the ring system.

[ericthered]

Three earthlike moons.



NO ring.

[TGLS]

There are 5 Earth-like moons orbiting the Frolechi gas giant. However, one of the moons is far larger than the rest, with a surface area of 12 to 24 times larger than the other Earth-like moons

YES, the gas giant has rings. Not only that, but one of the Earth-like moons has its own ring system!

[Kesendeja]

5, and YES of course it has rings

[Varyon]

I like the number 3 for this. I'll also say YES to the rings, but with the caveat that non of the Earthlike moons are within it - rather, they're at a more-distant orbit (avoiding collisions with all the bits that make up the ring feels like a bit too much to me; also, this makes it more likely the rings would be visible from these planets). Maybe there is an additional Earthlike moon within the ring system, but it's covered in impact sites, irradiated (whatever protects the other moons doesn't apply to it), and uninhabitable.

[adm]

I like Varyon's take, 3 outside a ring system.

[Keysh]

Originally Posted by Varyon

I like the number 3 for this. I'll also say YES to the rings, but with the caveat that non of the Earthlike moons are within it - rather, they're at a more-distant orbit (avoiding collisions with all the bits that make up the ring feels like a bit too much to me; also, this makes it more likely the rings would be visible from these planets). Maybe there is an additional Earthlike moon within the ring system, but it's covered in impact sites, irradiated (whatever protects the other moons doesn't apply to it), and uninhabitable.

If it matters, it's not really astrophysically possible to have "Earthlike moons" within (or inside) a ring system, since ring systems are the result of one or more medium- or large-sized moons that drifted within the Roche radius of the main planet and were torn apart by the latter's tidal forces. So you'd have to postulate some non-physics-based reason the "Earthlike moon within the ring system" hasn't been torn apart.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Keysh

If it matters, it's not really astrophysically possible to have "Earthlike moons" within (or inside) a ring system, .

Agreed. /it's rings inside the Roche limit, moons outside it.

I could just see myself getting outvoted.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Agreed. /it's rings inside the Roche limit, moons outside it.

I could just see myself getting outvoted.

Well, I'm leaving the poll open for at least a few days, so there's time for more people to vote, or for existing votes to change if people want them to.

The more weird the Frolechi system is, the harder it is for the Earthborn cast to justify it to themselves (though it might be a while before they visit.

[ehrbar]

Four.

YES.