CFCYYZ

CFCYYZ t1_ja9fbke wrote

Agreed XDinglberry. I suggest to all beginning astronomers they find a decent pair of new or used 10 x 50 binocs and get a star map or software. Learn to constellation hop and identify things Out There. If interest is lost, there is no scope to unload at a loss, and the binocs are still good for a day's birding or at the beach.

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CFCYYZ t1_j8uxm10 wrote

A twin G class solar system is kinda like the Alpha/Beta Centauri system. There, two main suns orbit each other with a third red dwarf, and everything else orbits them. Depending on the inter-solar distance and barycenter, planets in such systems may follow peculiar orbits. For example, a rocky planet like ours may orbit in and out of the Habitable Zone, so hard for life to arise.

Make your own star system and play with it.
Click Lab and then the pull down for binary star, planet.
Turn on Path to see planet's wild orbits in a binary star system. There are other systems too.

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CFCYYZ t1_j8l9lm7 wrote

Micrometeors zip along at 10 to 15 km per second. Something smaller than a pea has the same kinetic energy as a speeding car. Stopping or deflecting that is not easy.

There are "bumper" hull designs that use a series of spaced layers. These are penetrated in turn, slowing anything dangerous. Safe, but at the cost of an expensive heavy multi layer hull.

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CFCYYZ t1_j893923 wrote

>It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building
experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of
human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it
underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and
to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever
known.

- Carl Sagan Full text

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