Re: How likely is the multi-star setup as seen in 'Pitch Black'?

"TBerk" <bayareaberk@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in news:1170379879.247958.149510
@v45g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

It's an interesting film, if you can let go a few things, and shows
the screenwritter at least made an attempt at making the science if
not accurate at least credible.

Armageddon style...

The premise wraps around the alaignment of a small Earth like planet
and it's Jovian counterpart along with a multi-star system to cast a
lasting darkness upon said planet.

Earth-like planets are thought to be unlikely in multiple stars systems.
An eventual habitable zone would be quite unstable.

The multiple stars issues - if I remember well - is a plot device that is
supposed to explain why "pitch black" events are very rare. The writers
probably considered the fact that normal eclipses would not be rare
enough for the purposes of the plot.

In order to have eclipses by a jovian sized body on an earth like planet,
the planet must be further from the sun than the gas giant. That may
contradict current thinking about solar system formation. The telluric
planets are generally supposed to be located inside the orbits of the gas
giants.

If it was inside anyway, it would orbit faster than the earth like planet
and extended periods of darkness would be very unlikely. If the planets
were close enough to produce long eclipses, the smaller telluric planet
would probably have had a hard time surviving the gravitic pull of its
large neighbour.

Etc.. etc...

I'll not let anymore plot twists out but if you haven't seen it yet I

Are there any plot twists? :-) I don't remember any.

recommend it if just for it's entertainment value if not it's
dedication to advancing scientific knowledge.

Yes, very mindless fun, mostly for Vin Diesel cartoon like acting and
amazing voice.
.

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