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Time Scale for Maping the Sol System...

From: "Imre A. Szabo" <ias@s...>
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 08:07:04 -0400
Subject: Time Scale for Maping the Sol System...

Hi Guys,

I'm working on mapping the Sol System and had a few questions; but first
a quick summary:

This will be most appropriate for Jovian Chronicales / Gundam style
campaigns...

The map out to Jupiter is printable on 8.5x11 paper (un-fortunately
Jupiter looses about 2" of its orbit on either side, but this can be
fixed with a protractor).  There are no hexes, scale is 2mm = 0.1 au.
The outer map (IF I do it) will be scaled to 2mm = 1.0 au.  Movement is
regulated by vectors draw on the map in pencil.  I plan on using
mechanicl 0.3 mm pencils, 2H lead (lighter) for plots, HB lead (darker)
for actual vectors.  Thrust changes would be accomplished with a
drafting metric circle template.  Each point of thrust will allow you to
change your vector 1mm.  Draw your projected future position the same
length and direction as your current vector, place the circle template
with the thrust using x 2 in mm centered on the head of your projected
future position.  Pick any point on the inside the circle.  Then draw
your new current vector from the old current vector to that point.  I
plan to do detailed planetary system maps for planets with major moons.

Questions:

I'm debating about time scales per strategic turn (when every thing
rotates).  It would be much easier to do 2 months per turn, but that
would mean Mercury and Venus would have to rotate two ticks per turn
(this has to do with time required for them to each make on orbit.  Any
other ideas how to handle this???  (Going to 1 month per turn is not an
option.  I don't want to do 3,000 tick marks for Pluto...)

What should be the cut off for asteroid/moon size.  I'm thinking 500 km
radius, this make a big difference in stuff to keep track of.  If you
drop the size down to 200 km (most objects this size and larger are
spherical) the number goes through the ruff.  300 km radius will roughly
double record keeping from 500 km.

500 km radius:
    3 asteroids

300 km radius:
    7 asteroids
    1 centaur

200 km radius:
    21 asteroids
    3 centaurs

Any preferences?  Rember the more there is the more to keep track of.

Any general comments???

IAS

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