Pete does detective work. Joe says that his home planet, Astan IV, is like Earth or Nerthus but each of them is the third planet of a yellow star. A fourth planet should be colder because:
"The systems of similar stars were usually very much alike - especially where it came to the spacing of planets. Astan could be an exception, sure - but -" (p. 33)
That is what was supposed when we had only a single example to generalize from. Now, as I understand it, newly discovered extra-solar planetary systems confound all expectations with, e.g., large planets close to their primaries.
It is good that all those planets are out there. They might not have been. At least one of the premises of interstellar sf is fulfilled. But are there also interstellar vessels, hyperdrives and interstellar empires out there? There is no evidence of them in the observable universe.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Even as long ago as Anderson's IS THERE LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS? (1963), astronomers were finding hints other planets existed. What happened since then is that being confirmed.
I read articles at the CENTAURI DREAMS website. Including articles discussing those large planets unexpectedly found so close to their suns.
As for the rest, Anderson has also said humans might be the first, or almost the first, of intelligent races to reach a level of technology capable of leaving their home planets. So, we might be among the first to found interstellar civilizations. Maybe!
Ad astra! Sean
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