turner@rand-unix@sri-unix.UUCP (07/15/83)
Both suns could have been near enough to one another in the sky that only one shadow was cast. Or one sun could have been below the horizon. In the original SW:ANH, both suns were shown as fairly bright, so I don't buy Chris's answer. Could be possible, however, if the stars were fairly distant from one another and Tatooine had a very eccentric orbit. That seems unlikely in light of the consistent weather conditions, however. -- Scott Turner turner@rand-unix
nather@utastro.UUCP (07/18/83)
Tatooine and its two suns form a triple system, for which stability
criteria can be calculated once distances are known. In the first
installment, they were shown as being of somewhat different color
(one was blue, the other orange/red) but about equal brightness and
apparent size. This implies:
1. They should cast double shadows. I noticed that lack
when I saw SW the first time, but I am particularly sensitive
to astronomical things since it is my racket.
2. They are close to each other and Tatooine is distant from
both. For such a system to be stable, Tatooine must be 5-7
times farther from them as they are from each other.
3. The red star has begun its inevitable transition to a red
giant, and may, in time, engulf the blue star completely.
If this figures in the next trilogy my respect for Lucas
will increase considerably.
Ed Nather
...ihnp4!kpno!utastro!nather