Nightfall: Can Kalgash Exist

TL;DR

This paper examines the feasibility of the fictional Kalgash planetary system from Asimov's 'Nightfall', analyzing its orbital dynamics, eclipse duration, and the resulting darkness to assess if such a system could exist.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the orbital mechanics and eclipse phenomena of a complex six-star planetary system inspired by a science fiction novel.

Findings

The orbital configuration can produce long-lasting eclipses.

The system's dynamics are consistent with the described darkness periods.

Feasibility of the system depends on specific orbital parameters.

Abstract

We investigate the imaginary world of Kalgash, a planetary system based on the novel "Nightfall" (Asimov & Silverberg, 1991). The system consists of a planet, a moon and an astonishing six suns. The six stars cause the wider universe to be invisible to the inhabitants of the planet. The author explores the consequences of an eclipse and the resulting darkness which the Kalgash people experience for the first time. Our task is to verify if this system is feasible, from the duration of the eclipse, the "invisibility" of the universe to the complex orbital dynamics.