' Wrote:Position relative to the sun doesn't really affect the atmosphere in that way; as AD said, it's to do with the mass of the planet.
Depends. If the sun is very active and the planet is relatively close to the sun (or has a weak electromagnetic shield, usually due to not having a molten core) the solar winds could cause considerable atmospheric bleedoff.
' Wrote:How you alter gravitation?
You increase the planet's mass, generally by adding heavier elements. Bombarding a planet with rocky asteroids of considerable density would do the job quite nicely - although you run the risk of the planet drifting further from the sun. An orbiting object retaining speed but increasing in mass will drift further from it's center, but it will pull other objects orbiting it (such as moons) much closer. A planet's escape velocity and gravitational pull is directly proportionate to the planet's total mass and distance from the center of the planet. This also influences the ability of the planet to retain an atmosphere. The stronger the planet's gravity, the more able it is to hold a dense atmosphere at it's surface.
Changing a planets mass as part of a terraforming project is risky to say the least, as it affects the balance of an entire star system. I do not think it's been tried in Sirian lore.
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
