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Tides on the Halo
Posted By: Butcher <cbutcher@atlas.otago.ac.nz>	Date: 12/21/99 7:03 p.m.
In Response To: Unstable orbits... Why use a halo orbit? (Noctavis =PN=) > Yes, it's unstable... such an object would not be able to stay > there until the stars go dark, unless it had some sort of > stabalizing system. It's still an excellent solution... and it > would require less work to maintain than other positions very > close to the Halo. We can't really make any calculations about how long you could expect objects to stay there. It depends on the density distribution of the Halo, the gravitational forces from other bodies in the system and a whole bunch of stuff that even Bungie probably don't know yet. My bet: we are well within the realm of narrative-driven physics here. It can work either way if it's necessary for the story. > For one thing, IS it more stable than plopping something in the > middle of a Lagrange point? The Lagrange point we're talking > about for the game Halo is L1 - one of the more unstable such > points.... L4 or L5 would be a much better (more stable) choice > for placing an object unless you have a special purpose for > keeping something BETWEEN two objects. I vaguely recall Loren saying that a halo orbit is more stable than a fixed position at L1. But I have no idea why he/she was saying that. As for the purpose of placing something between two objects - well, the Halo is circular, right? Can you say focusing coil? > And just to make sure we're one the same sheet of muzak, are we > talking about the central lumen of the Halo being in orbit > around the Lagrange point, and not actually being AROUND the > lagrange point? Either would work. I get the impression that the "halo orbits" that we're talking about can be any radius as long as it's small compared to the distance between the two planetary bodies. Another thought - the Halo can be tumbling with respect to the axis of the halo orbit. In fact, there is no way that it can have its axis facing along the axis of the halo orbit, due to conservation of angular momentum. It's basically a big gyroscope. > Tidal forces are interesting to think about. I'd like to know > just how massive Threshold is, and what the rest of the Soellar > system looks like. We recently obtained some beautiful shots of > volcanic activity on Io... which is constantly in a state of > upheaval as a result of tidal forces in a near-Jovian orbit. Because the Halo is only 10,000 km across, I doubt that tidal forces would be particularly significant on it. But I guess they could be. Tidbit: the strength of tidal forces is dependent on the difference in radii of the orbits of the inner and outer points on the Halo with respect to Threshold (is that clear? hmm). This means that as the Halo changes orientation with respect to Threshold, the magnitude of the tides will change. Tides on the Halo could be *really* wacky. And what about the stresses on the Halo's foundation changing continually? Tough engineering problem. :) Another tidbit: 'Soell' is Dutch and is pronounced 'sell' rather than 'sole', or so I hear. - Butcher

Message Index

Human Space Capability	Napalm Loon	12/17/99 7:33 a.m.
...But where would they orbit?	septimus	12/17/99 11:39 a.m.
Re: ...But where would they orbit?	Grey	12/17/99 12:40 p.m.
I'm dissapointed in you guys...	Maxaminus	12/17/99 2:05 p.m.
Two possible definitions.	Dispatcher	12/17/99 9:33 p.m.
Re: I'm dissapointed in you guys...	SiliconDream =PN=	12/17/99 9:43 p.m.
Re: ...But where would they orbit?	Jägermeister	12/17/99 1:22 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mark Levin	12/17/99 2:15 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mage	12/17/99 2:32 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mark Levin	12/17/99 2:38 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mage	12/17/99 4:13 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Maxaminus	12/17/99 4:45 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mage	12/17/99 11:06 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mark Levin	12/18/99 12:42 a.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mage	12/18/99 11:31 a.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mr. Eez	12/17/99 4:27 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	MacGuyver	12/17/99 4:49 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Mark Levin	12/17/99 5:02 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	SiliconDream =PN=	12/17/99 9:42 p.m.
Uses for the Halo's axis...	Noctavis =PN=	12/20/99 3:31 p.m.
Stable Orbits (again)	Butcher	12/21/99 1:36 a.m.
Placing a satellite in the center of the Halo	Noctavis =PN=	12/21/99 10:35 a.m.
Re: Placing a satellite in the center of the Halo	Butcher	12/21/99 2:33 p.m.
Unstable orbits... Why use a halo orbit?	Noctavis =PN=	12/21/99 6:31 p.m.
Tides on the Halo	Butcher	12/21/99 7:03 p.m.
Re: Tides on the Halo	Someguy	12/21/99 8:00 p.m.
Re: Tides on the Halo	Butcher	12/21/99 9:35 p.m.
Re: soell	•Mimer	12/25/99 3:55 p.m.
Re: soell	Matt	12/27/99 11:53 a.m.
Re: soell	Daft Shadow =PN=	12/27/99 4:11 p.m.
Re: soell	Bachus	12/27/99 6:50 p.m.
Re: Unstable orbits... Why use a halo orbit?	SiliconDream =PN=	12/21/99 11:40 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Nathan	12/20/99 4:37 a.m.
Re: Rotations	Forensic	12/20/99 11:58 a.m.
Re: Rotations	SiliconDream =PN=	12/20/99 2:21 p.m.
Re: Rotations	btrinen	12/20/99 2:53 p.m.
Gravity	SyberSmoke	12/20/99 3:09 p.m.
Re: Gravity	SiliconDream =PN=	12/21/99 11:00 p.m.
Re: Rotations	Noctavis =PN=	12/20/99 3:11 p.m.
Re: Rotations	Aiden	12/20/99 8:08 p.m.
Spin that ring	L. Tankersley ("Cap'n Carnage")	12/20/99 5:12 p.m.
Re: Spin that ring	Dispatcher	12/20/99 9:43 p.m.
Re: Spin that ring	L. Tankersley ("Cap'n Carnage")	12/21/99 10:25 a.m.
Re: Spin that ring	Dispatcher	12/21/99 11:10 p.m.
L1? or L4-5?	Oddot	12/22/99 10:24 a.m.
Re: L1? or L4-5?	L. Tankersley ("Cap'n Carnage")	12/22/99 2:54 p.m.
Q: How do you spin the Halo?	Ironfist [CMG]	12/20/99 5:41 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Chris Huff	12/20/99 6:59 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Ringdude	12/20/99 7:18 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	SiliconDream =PN=	12/21/99 11:06 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Someguy	12/21/99 11:11 p.m.
Re: Internal orbits	SiliconDream =PN=	12/22/99 4:06 a.m.
Re: Internal orbits	Thomas Magle Brodersen	12/21/99 3:06 a.m.