The Firefly/Serenity Solar System by FraserBW

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

The Firefly/Serenity Solar System

POSTED BY: FRASERBW
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 7, 2006 00:55
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Tuesday, March 7, 2006 12:55 AM

The effect is stable but very tidal, like our tides on Earth induced by our proximity to our moon. Has been that way for billions of years (or at least as long as Europa and Io, etc. have orbited Jupiter). Since our planetary system has stabilized at least.

One of the reasons we want to send probes to Europa and Io is their inner geologic activity. In the case of Europa the combination of liquid seas beneath the ice coupled with the possibility of volcanic vents on the bottom of the ocean brought about by these planetary tidal surges. We know life exists on the bottoms of our own oceans in close proximity, indeed dependent upon the sulforous material spewing from volcanic vents. These life forms have evolved completely independent of photosynthesis and the need for sunlight. It's very possible that Europas thick ice and deep seas have shielded native organisms from radiation generated by Jupiter and have likewise evolved independent of the suns energy. Hope we get there some day. Arthur C. Clarke touches on that subject in his novel 2010, the sequel to 2001: A Space Oddessy. The book is better than the movie by the way. If you really want to read a good book on the subject, get Lonely Planets by David Grinspoon. Awesome book, discusses the possibility of life on other planets, the history of peoples belief in life elsewhere and the science involved in prooving or disproving. He goes into exquisite but easy to read detail about the origins of the solar system. Very funny man too. Has great anectdotals and side bars. The guy grew up with men like Carl Sagan dropping by his house to show off the latest pictures from Voyager and so on. Fascinating read.

If you want to get a great set of books on terraforming and its effects on a planet Kim Stanley Robinsons novel series - Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars (series of 3 books). Sometimes a bit slow but still a very good read.

For more up to date hard science but no less a good read is Dr. Robert Zubrins book "The Case for Mars". It details how we will very likely get there, live there, explore it, colonize it and ultimately terraform it. I've read that one about 4 times and still refer back to it for specifics. This is the guy that redifined how NASA should approach getting to Mars. He was former Rocket Engineer and is now the President of the Mars Society and an affillitate with the National Space Society.

So there are a few books for you to consider that will give you some interesting info to ponder in between episodes of Firefly, Serenity etc.

I'd like to be the King of all Londinium and wear a shiny hat...

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