Imaginary Planetary System

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the concept of a hypothetical planetary system where nomadic groups travel around a planet to remain in a habitable 'dusk/dawn' zone. Participants consider various factors such as day length, year length, planet size, and distance from its star, as well as the implications for the nomads' lifestyle and technology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a dream scenario involving nomads traveling to stay in a habitable zone on a planet, raising questions about the characteristics of such a planetary system.
  • Another participant suggests that a tidally locked planet would simplify the nomads' situation by allowing them to remain in the twilight regions without constant movement.
  • A different viewpoint proposes a planet similar to Venus, with a long day length, suggesting that the nomads would only need to travel at a moderate speed to maintain their position in the twilight zone.
  • One participant references existing narratives about similar setups on Mercury, cautioning that a human-friendly biosphere may be unlikely, and positing that the nomads would be technologically advanced rather than primitive.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of a habitable biosphere in such a planetary system and the lifestyle of the nomads, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Assumptions about planetary conditions, biosphere viability, and technological advancement of the nomads are not fully explored or agreed upon, leaving several aspects unresolved.

Jamesavery88
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I had a dream about groups of nomads constantly traveling around a planet in one direction to stay in the 'dusk/dawn' zone of their planet as if they strayed too far behind they would freeze and if they ventured too far ahead they would cook and vice versa. What might a planetary system look like where this arose i.e day length, year length, planet size, distance from sun etc.

Cheers!
 
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It would make it a lot easier on these nomads if their planet was tidally locked with its star. They could just stay put in the twilight regions.
 
A planet like venus with a day that lasts 116 Earth days would be an inviting choice. The nomads would need only average about 9 miles an hour to circumnavigate an Earth size planet each day.
 
This sort of set up on Mercury has been written about so many times it's a trope:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MercurialBase

One thing to consider is that it's unlikely a human friendly biosphere could exist on such a planet. The nomads aren't going to be primitive desert dwellers, but rather technologically advanced people's moving across the planet in mobile habitats.
 

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