distance

maa32 · 10 Apr 2002, 04:29 · from urth-v0204.mbox · original

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From: maa32 <maa32 at dana.ucc.nau.edu>
Subject: (urth) distance
Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 21:29:13 -0700
Message-ID: <urth-v0204-571 at digest.urth.net>
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Well, Blattid, since you put it so succinctly, the choice is easy.  Of cour=
se=20
the 30,000 league figure is incorrect!  Which means that Green might only=20
fluctuate a tiny amount from its 80,000 league distance, which is where the=20
moon is in our day.  Of course, this means that the inhumu have to fly a lo=
ng=20
way, but that's cool with me (after all, that tree ship can fly a long way,=20
too - and I don't think they are much different).

And this distance, closer to 80,000, wouldn't screw up the tides as much an=
d=20
wouldn't seem to be such a weird system; it might just fluctuate a little b=
it,=20
like a moon in a slightly unstable orbit due to recent gravitational=20
disturbances.  In this case, a new sun coming. Sure, let's say that Green i=
s=20
at 60,000 leagues at conjunction, making it ... about the same size as Lune.

Thanks!  You made everything so much easier!  So we know that the moon was=20
moved from about 80 to 50 thousand leagues in Severians day ... a fluctuati=
on=20
of about 30 thousand leagues ... if a new gravitational vortex where to=20
disrupt this system, would the moon act like a gyroscope and oscillate in a=
nd=20
out of orbit, first close and then far, between 60 and 100 thousand leagues=
,=20
until it reached a stable orbit somewhere around 80,000?  Like an old=20
fashioned weight scale: you step on it, and then it goes back and forth unt=
il=20
it reaches equilibrium, and equal distance on the up and down swing until=20
there is no perceptible movement.

Would a new gravitational well induce this kind of alteration in an orbit? =20
Could this continue for a long time, reducing a little bit over time?  Also=
,=20
let's keep in mind that the moon is proportionally very large for a satelli=
te=20
when compared with the earth's mass.  It is huge compared to the satellites=
 of=20
most of the gas giants.

I hereby gladly revoke my uncritical acceptance of 30,000 leagues.  You guy=
s=20
were so right; that figure sucks. That astronomer is one shady dude!
Thanks.
Marc Aramini

--=20

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