Difference between revisions of "Sol"

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No object experiences human scrutiny as thoroughly as [[Sol]], our [[Sun]]. Networks of satellites monitor its activities from within the corona, stretching out past the heliopause. Probes with million-kilometer long cables occasionally dive into the photosphere, sending back what readings they can before becoming a part of the lower photosphere.
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Before the [[Purge]], no object experienced human scrutiny as thoroughly as [[Sol]], our [[Sun]]. Networks of satellites monitored its activities from within the corona, stretching out past the heliopause. Probes with million-kilometer long cables occasionally dived into the photosphere, sending back what readings they can before becoming a part of the lower photosphere.
  
The photosphere itself - the 'surface' of the [[Sun]], has an extremely low density, enabling these probes to dive very deep into the photosphere before they disintegrate. A couple of experiments have actually escaped the photosphere relatively intact.
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The photosphere itself - the 'surface' of the [[Sun]], has an extremely low density, enabling those probes to dive very deep into the photosphere before they disintegrated. A couple of experiments even escaped the photosphere relatively intact.
  
The sun appears to grow and shrink slightly on a cyclical basis, although it is, actually, putting out more power from millenia to millenia. Roughly 30% brighter than its birth, the fusion reactions that drive its core are becoming more and more efficient, and will eventually drive it to swell, slowly, into a red giant. Unless somehow accounted for, this increase in Solar Output will boil away [[Earth]]'s biosphere long before that, however - well within a billion years, even. This sort of window of evolution is also put forth as a reason for the radio silence of the rest of the galaxy.
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The sun appears to grow and shrink slightly on a cyclical basis, although it is, actually, putting out more power from millennia to millennia. Roughly 30% brighter than its birth, the fusion reactions that drive its core are becoming more and more efficient, and will eventually drive it to swell, slowly, into a red giant. Unless somehow accounted for, this increase in Solar Output will boil away [[Earth]]'s biosphere long before that, however - well within a billion years, even. This sort of window of evolution is also put forth as a reason for the radio silence of the rest of the galaxy.
  
Although the [[Sun]] appears yellow from the surface of [[Earth]], it appears much more white from Space (though still slightly yellowish). This is because raleigh scattering scatters bluer light, making the blue sky, and lets redder light pass. Any planet with a significant atmosphere will seem to have a blue sky, at least ignoring the clouds.
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Although the [[Sun]] appears yellow from the surface of [[Earth]], it appears much more white from Space (though still slightly yellowish). This is because Raleigh scattering scatters bluer light, making the blue sky, and lets redder light pass. Any planet with a significant atmosphere will seem to have a blue sky, at least ignoring the clouds.
  
Naturally, no one lives on the [[Sun]], or even near it, though a few fools have tried.
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== The Skearns ==
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The first two [[skearn]]s appeared around Sol during the [[Battle of Ouranos Prime]] and the [[Battle of Saturn]], called [[Nyx]] and [[Hemera]] respectively.  A third, [[Gaea]], was formed around [[Earth]] at the onset of the [[Purge]].  Years after the Purge, [[Eve]] warped the star away to an unknown location, and the force with which she ripped it created what is now known as the [[Hellskearn]].
  
 
== Currency ==
 
== Currency ==
Money is energy-backed. One [[sol]] is worth one microgram of energy, roughly 90 megajoules, or 25 kilowatt-hours. Most residents of [[Earth]], [[Luna]] and [[Mars]] assign their energy income to specific tasks, rather than utilize it themselves - supporting the [[Venusian]] terraforming project and the construction of the [[Clarke Ring]], for example. Coins are dimes (tenth pieces) and [[sol]]s (figure it out). Bills are actually electronic writs, able to have any value, and are more like modern-day credit or debit cards in form and function. Some are more secured than others.
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Before the [[Purge]], the [[sol]] was the traditional unit of currency.  It was energy backed, largely between a combination of solar and fusion power. One [[sol]] was worth one microgram of energy, roughly 90 megajoules, or 25 kilowatt-hours. Most residents of [[Earth]], [[Luna]] and [[Mars]] assigned their energy income to specific tasks, rather than utilizing it themselves - supporting the [[Venusian]] terraforming project and the construction of the [[Terran Ring]], for example.
  
A kilogram of stored, pure deuterium is thus worth about 3,500 [[Sol]]s, and one [[sol]] is worth about 16.5 liters of water. This also sets the cost of methane, common hydrogen, and highly influences the cost of food.  Since the [[Solar Consortium]] has no interest in dealing with rogue states, [[Ouranos Prime]] and the [[Cygnan Concord]] use [[credit]]s, which represent a gram of pure [[deuterium]].
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A gram of stored, pure deuterium was thus worth about 3,500 [[Sol]]s, and this consequently set the value of water. This also set the cost of methane, common hydrogen, and highly influenced the cost of food.  Since the [[Solar Consortium]] had no interest in dealing with rogue states, [[Ouranos Prime]] and the [[Procyon Concord]] used [[credit]]s, which represented a gram of pure [[deuterium]].  Credits continued after the [[Battle of Ouranos Prime]], and dominated over the sol after the Purge.
  
 
{{SSG}}
 
{{SSG}}

Latest revision as of 17:12, 8 April 2007

Before the Purge, no object experienced human scrutiny as thoroughly as Sol, our Sun. Networks of satellites monitored its activities from within the corona, stretching out past the heliopause. Probes with million-kilometer long cables occasionally dived into the photosphere, sending back what readings they can before becoming a part of the lower photosphere.

The photosphere itself - the 'surface' of the Sun, has an extremely low density, enabling those probes to dive very deep into the photosphere before they disintegrated. A couple of experiments even escaped the photosphere relatively intact.

The sun appears to grow and shrink slightly on a cyclical basis, although it is, actually, putting out more power from millennia to millennia. Roughly 30% brighter than its birth, the fusion reactions that drive its core are becoming more and more efficient, and will eventually drive it to swell, slowly, into a red giant. Unless somehow accounted for, this increase in Solar Output will boil away Earth's biosphere long before that, however - well within a billion years, even. This sort of window of evolution is also put forth as a reason for the radio silence of the rest of the galaxy.

Although the Sun appears yellow from the surface of Earth, it appears much more white from Space (though still slightly yellowish). This is because Raleigh scattering scatters bluer light, making the blue sky, and lets redder light pass. Any planet with a significant atmosphere will seem to have a blue sky, at least ignoring the clouds.

The Skearns

The first two skearns appeared around Sol during the Battle of Ouranos Prime and the Battle of Saturn, called Nyx and Hemera respectively. A third, Gaea, was formed around Earth at the onset of the Purge. Years after the Purge, Eve warped the star away to an unknown location, and the force with which she ripped it created what is now known as the Hellskearn.

Currency

Before the Purge, the sol was the traditional unit of currency. It was energy backed, largely between a combination of solar and fusion power. One sol was worth one microgram of energy, roughly 90 megajoules, or 25 kilowatt-hours. Most residents of Earth, Luna and Mars assigned their energy income to specific tasks, rather than utilizing it themselves - supporting the Venusian terraforming project and the construction of the Terran Ring, for example.

A gram of stored, pure deuterium was thus worth about 3,500 Sols, and this consequently set the value of water. This also set the cost of methane, common hydrogen, and highly influenced the cost of food. Since the Solar Consortium had no interest in dealing with rogue states, Ouranos Prime and the Procyon Concord used credits, which represented a gram of pure deuterium. Credits continued after the Battle of Ouranos Prime, and dominated over the sol after the Purge.


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