Imagining Multiple Ringworlds Around a Star - Is it Possible?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of constructing multiple Niven ring megastructures around a star, inspired by the concept of a single ringworld. Participants express skepticism about the practicality of such structures, noting that while a single ringworld may be technically impossible, multiple rings could theoretically achieve similar perceived gravity if spun at different speeds. The conversation references Larry Niven's works, particularly his 1974 article "Bigger Than Worlds" and the surface area of a ringworld, which is 600 billion square kilometers. The potential uses of such vast spaces and the engineering challenges of maintaining stability and gravity are also explored.

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  • Understanding of Niven ringworld concepts
  • Basic knowledge of gravitational physics
  • Familiarity with megastructure engineering principles
  • Awareness of Larry Niven's science fiction works
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  • Explore gravitational effects in rotating systems
  • Study the implications of large-scale space colonization
  • Investigate artistic interpretations of ringworlds on platforms like Deviant Art
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Science fiction enthusiasts, astrophysicists, engineers, and anyone interested in theoretical megastructures and their implications for space exploration and colonization.

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Every time I see the sun that hangs over the map of Westeros (https://i.stack.imgur.com/pqf90.jpg) I find myself imaging a system of Niven ring megastructures around a star. I know it's preposterous, but just how preposterous is it?

Also, if it is remotely hypothetically plausible, would the rings have similar perceived gravity (assuming they were all similar in construction)?
 
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1) Personally, I'd rate it as preposterous but then I'd rate a single ringworld as preposterous (but perhaps not technically impossible; I'm not sure)
2) They have different diameters but if spun at different speeds they could all have the same perceived gravity
 
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How much mass does each ring have? Are they within the gravity well of another ring? IIRC Ringworld had a surface area of 600,000,000,000 square kilometers. Multiple ringworlds would have a multiple of that number. What would we do with all that space? Why would we need all that space?

Pretty picture, and there are things similar your idea on Deviant Art. Might look there for some ideas?
 
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Niven wrote an article for Analog in 1974, which was later included in his anthology "A Hole in Space", which was titled "Bigger Than Worlds", in which he discusses a number of different types of mega-structures.
 
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Janus said:
Niven wrote an article for Analog in 1974, which was later included in his anthology "A Hole in Space", which was titled "Bigger Than Worlds", in which he discusses a number of different types of mega-structures.
He noted in the preface to Ringworld Engineers that engineering students, at one of the comicons, had been chanting in the halls, "The Ringworld is unstable!" :cool:
 
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Janus said:
Niven wrote an article for Analog in 1974, which was later included in his anthology "A Hole in Space", which was titled "Bigger Than Worlds", in which he discusses a number of different types of mega-structures.

I like the Cosmic Macaroni idea. Maybe the multiple rings are a single continuous band woven into a Celtic knot.
 
The ring megastructure is quite possible. The difficulty is giving the surface a perceivable gravity.
 

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