Recent content by Chinspinner

This is not a religious diatribe, I am an agnostic leaning heavily towards atheism. But, dark matter and dark energy are just equations used to close a gaping hole in our understanding. Singularities are not understood. Expansion is not understood. But more importantly, theoretical physics...

Thank you for your response. I know it might seem obvious to some, but I literally have no background in science. Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to provide a useful link.

Hi, I am writing a (hardish) sci-fi piece but I do not have a science background. Looking at the night sky, in which constellation, and exactly where would Tau Ceti appear? Thanks in advance.

Thanks very much.

Hi, I am currently plotting a piece of writing and wonder if anyone could give me some feedback on the following: - Space craft 1 is a beam/ sail craft with constant acceleration of 1 G to a speed of 0.2c. It travels along a straight line between Tau Ceti and Sol (circa 12 ly). Ship time...

Thanks Bander. I'll look up Celestia.

Hi, I wonder if anyone can either answer the following or point me in the right direction for the answer? How far apart are Epsilon Indi and Tau Ceti? Thanks in advance. Chinspinner

Thanks. It is Epsilon Indi, so I would also have more distant brown dwarves to add into the mix. So we are effectively looking at an earth-like sky but perhaps a lighter shade of pale and a reddish sun?

I forgot to mention that the star has a luminosity of about 0.25, hence the earth-like planet being in closer orbit. Part of me is thinking that light will scatter in the same way as on Earth towards the blue wavelength. However, the light the star is emitting will be more towards the red...

Hi, If you were to half Earth's orbit around a K4.5V main sequence star (assuming the same composition and density of atmosphere), what colour would the sky be? Thanks in advance. Chinspinner

Thanks mfb. Even ignoring the engineering obstacles it will prove to be an incredibly lengthy process simply getting the infrastructure in place. An eleven year communication time and the manufacturer and placement of 500 separate lenses would take at least a century; and by the time you were...

Thanks Filip. The intention will be that the technology has been transmitted to us by a more advanced civilization in order to enable us to build the laser; there will also be an equivalent laser at the destination star. The size of the sails and the power requirements look like a bit of a...

Hi, I am writing a piece which involves interstellar travel to nearby stars (Epsilon Indi being the one I will use in the following example.) It will be via a beam/ sail craft accelerated/ decelerated by solar-powered lasers (and lenses along the route). The craft will use constant...

That is brilliant, thanks Chasrob.

Excellent. Thanks very much.