https://xkcd.com/2849

Alt text:

If you live in Los Angeles (around 33°52’N, roughly the latitude of Hermosa Beach) the black hole in V404 Cygni passes over you each day. On Christmas Day it will be directly overhead around 2pm.

  • query@lemmy.worldEnglish
    32·
    11 months ago

    Imagine growing up on a tidally locked world, living in the day, until you wander off for long enough to discover the night.

    • m0darn@lemmy.caEnglish
      22·
      11 months ago

      Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy has an alien species that evolved on a planet (Krikkit)with constant thick dust clouds.

      Upon first witnessing the glory and splendor of the Universe, they casually, whimsically, decided to destroy it, remarking, “It’ll have to go.” (…) the Krikkiters built an incredible battlefleet and waged a massive war against the entire Universe. The Galaxy, then in an era of relative peace, was unprepared, and spent the next 2,000 years fighting the Krikkiters in a war that resulted in about two “grillion” casualties

      Isaac Asimov also mused about ribbon worlds. ie tidally locked planets with a habitable zone in the twilight regions.

      I seem to recall also reading a story about a species on a ribbon world but because of precession had a 10,000 year (or so) day. They had a constant slow migration and eventually started finding the ancient forgotten ruins of their own society.

      Also nightfall by Asimov.

      • whelks_chance@feddit.ukEnglish
        5·
        11 months ago

        Can you remember the name of that 10000 year book? It’s been ages since I’ve read some hard science of the type

        • m0darn@lemmy.caEnglish
          3·
          11 months ago

          I’m sure I read it online it might have just been a scifi writing prompt from the site that must not be named (reddit).

      • Uriel238 [all pronouns]@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        4·
        11 months ago

        I’m glad Asimov also thought of The Long Street or Eternal Dusk I wondered how wide the strip of settleable territory might be, say on a earth-sized tide-locked planet.

        The moon is tide-locked to the earth, but wobbles back and forth, so a tide locked world might also have a day / season cycle where the fringes get extra hot / cold.

    • Turun@feddit.deEnglish
      5·
      11 months ago

      I have read a short story about a world with like 9 suns and 3 moons. It’s day all the time, except once every 2000 years, when there is a total solar eclipse. So every 2000 years society falls into chaos, most of the population kills themselves and only rich people, who can afford enough candles/fire or people who are passed out drunk survive the eclipse. At the time the story takes place one astronomer/scientist notices the pattern in their history and like predicts it or something.

      Sadly I do not know the link. If anyone recognizes the story I would love to read it again.