Newcomer / Intro Ouch - bright light, bright light!

Krepose Gavayne · Feb 3, 2015

I had to laugh at myself last night. I was browsing the Galaxy Map, checking out systems wondering where I could visit, when I came across the following. I actually moved my head backwards, involuntarily, away from the screen! (I think I might have uttered something along the lines of "What the...?" too)

I haven't looked up any of the real astronomical giants so I don't know how large they appear in the System Maps, but I wasn't expecting something this bright almost filling my screen. I want to go there, but I'm worried I'll burn up...

YDS55 · Feb 3, 2015

Yeah that's one huge star, you won't burn up but in my experience the white ones are the most dangerous, even the little ones.

krysohmyz · Feb 3, 2015

Nah, you'll be fine.

And it's only 14 solar masses. I've seen much bigger and didn't (almost) burn up.

It's really beautiful colour, though.

Derpster Frey · Feb 3, 2015

krysohmyz said:
Nah, you'll be fine.
And it's only 14 solar masses. I've seen much bigger and didn't (almost) burn up.
It's really beautiful colour, though.

Masses isn't equal to size, just how dense it it.
Solar Radius is its size compared to Sol's sun.

So it's almost 6 times the size of the sun, but more than 14 times the weight

krysohmyz · Feb 3, 2015

I know. But the heat is more closely related to the mass of the star, not size. That was my point.

(I know it isn't accurate and I shouldn't have used the word "bigger", I know)

Agony_Aunt · Feb 3, 2015

Meh, its only a class B. Try a class O

Annoluce · Feb 3, 2015

Mmh, big but there's something definitely bigger out there... Look at that:

http://www.universetoday.com/91691/astronomy-without-a-telescope-how-big-is-big/

I wonder if any of the Commanders here ever visited that VY Canis Majoris... Scary!! :-D

Andovar · Feb 3, 2015

Annoluce said:
Mmh, big but there's something definitely bigger out there... Look at that:

http://www.universetoday.com/91691/astronomy-without-a-telescope-how-big-is-big/

I wonder if any of the Commanders here ever visited that VY Canis Majoris... Scary!! :-D

Yes, several have. There's been a few threads complaining about the lack of "impact" when you show up at one of these giants. Your ships computer will automatically drop you out of hyperspace at a safe distance, so the giants don't really look any bigger than smaller stars because you're sitting farther away.
Oh well. It's still one I plan to visit though.

krysohmyz · Feb 3, 2015

Annoluce said:
I wonder if any of the Commanders here ever visited that VY Canis Majoris... Scary!! :-D

I did.

It's pretty impressive. (notice how far I am from it)

I liked Betelgeuse more, though. It has more stuff to photograph.

EDIT: Btw. while I am at posting pictures. On semi-related note to OP:

Loki_666 said:
Meh, its only a class B. Try a class O

If you want to see many suns orbiting other suns that have suns as moons:

(interesting fact - the smaller "main star" is more massive than the bigger one)

Pyrion · Feb 3, 2015

In my experience the tiny white dwarves are much more of a nuisance. You enter the system thinking "oh what a cute little star that is" while 3 seconds later you are already overheated if you are not reacting immediately.