In the open cluster, NGC 5460, a neutron star attracts a cataract of gas from its red dwarf companion. Hydrogen, heated by its fall and condensed by weight, gathers on the neutron surface until the star novas. This cycle continues for millions of years. The dwarf will dwindle and the neutron star will grow until it becomes a Type I supernova, then a black hole. This is Andersonian cosmological drama.
We also find two further descriptions of the Milky Way:
"Metal glimmered in the light of star throngs, icily tumbling Milky Way, querning nebula, galaxies dwindled only by distance." (13, p. 91)
"Views of space filled two large screens, the cluster splendid in one of them, the Milky Way chill in the other." (13, p. 93)
Envoy is a cylinder with a spinning wheel at each end. On p. 91, Dayan and Cleland walk outside. The cluster is about forty closely packed stars, "...a fire-swarm of ruby, gold and diamond." (p. 91)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I love that part of STARFARERS! Plenty of meaty science there! And the predator robots encountered by the "Envoy" reminded me of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker stories, by both him and contributions from other writers, including Anderson himself ("Deathwomb").
Ad astra! Sean
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