Proud Astrophile

Interesting conclusions, Enviro. Someone on the other forum concluded that the vastly different surface temperatures on the planet would create heavy wind storms in between, but as I don't have any sort of environmental background I have no idea which of you is closer to correct! I will say, though, that taking a lot of what was said on the other forum into consideration, I completely reworked my initial idea. Like so: Let's say this unmoving planet exists far outside the habitable zone of any star. However, it is orbited by a moon that gives off heat and light (comparable to what we feel and see of our own sun). For simplicity's sake, the moon orbits the planet at a similar rate to that of Earth's spin (i.e. it completes one circuit around the planet every 24 hours). However, it orbits around both the equator and the prime meridian -- first one, then the other. Also, the oceans were once filled with water, but something caused that to no longer be the case...if that makes any difference. Any conclusions that could be drawn from that would be greatly appreciated. You bring up points that I hadn't considered nor even realized should be considered. It's very helpful!

I think perhaps the problem is that you are too caught up in the illogic of the sun orbiting the planet to see past that one aspect. If our sun orbited Earth rather than the other way around, whatever has to happen to make that possible and without getting too derailed by the logistics of the impossible gravitational sciences of it all, what would or could be the result? If the Earth for some reason gradually stopped spinning and orbiting for a period of months or weeks, and thus part of the planet remained in constant direct sunlight while the other went completely without, what would happen? Perhaps this theoretical planet has a field of some sort around it that puts out enough gravitational force to attract the star. Perhaps the nature of the star keeps it in place around the nearest planet after its conception. Perhaps its mass is particularly low and its method of fusion vastly different from our own solar system.

This theoretical universe has "laws", they merely don't mirror ours precisely. I've read theories on the possible outcome should Earth ever stop spinning, either gradually or abruptly. Yes, the concept is based on an improbable or perhaps even impossible eventuality, but it can still be postulated upon. In my opinion, it should be possible to apply one's understanding of the way our world works to a theoretical system with a few deviations. Otherwise, perhaps you do not fully grasp the science behind it or simply lack imagination. The proposed planet in actuality is not THAT different from our own. The biggest difference is that the sun orbits it rather than the other way around, and in an irregular rather than predetermined pattern. As a rebuff to the suggestion that the effects on a system that deviates so much from our own cannot be speculated upon, here is a link to another forum I posed these questions to: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/542161-assistance-on-theoretical-concepts.html While it is certainly true that this is a forum of writers rather than scientists, I can't help but wonder if the better scientist is the one who sticks to what they know or the one who is willing to think outside the box.

Let's say in an alternate universe there is a stationary (as in no spin, no orbit, etc.) planet orbited by a star. Rather than having a continuous orbit, the star is capable of disappearing from one point and reappearing in another. It's movement patterns are irregular, sometimes remaining in one position for months or a few years, sometimes for weeks. What would the climate and/or weather of such a planet be like? What gravitational effects would a moon being added to the mixture cause? Would the moon cause the planet to move in some way, even with a still core? Additionally, what effect would the moon have if there were no bodies of water larger than a lake? What climate and/or weather effects would this lack of oceans cause, and would the existence of a moon or lack thereof play a pivotal role? How hot would the areas with direct sunlight for extended periods of time become, and conversely how cold without? Since the sun moves, would a desert climate or arctic climate have the chance to form? Would there be widespread droughts and mini ice ages?