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Territorial limit for star systems?
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by MinutiaeMan: [QB] Don't forget that any stars in wide binary system (with stars say, 2 LY apart) would also be affecting the orbits of each other's outer planets due to their gravity. I would doubt that there'd even BE an Oort Cloud in such situations. Masao, I know I already discussed the heliopause with you, but it's just occurred to me that every instance of a starship entering a star system on the screen has been seen with it approaching planets of some sort or another. That suggests that the "practical" border of a star system would be its outermost planet, whatever that may be. Hehheh... I've got a monkey wrench to throw into this -- does the star system boundary form an actual sphere at whatever point is the outer edge? Or is it shaped into a disc that fits with the orbits of the planets, so that it would look more like a spiral galaxy in shape? (Maybe that'd finally explain the Mars Defense Perimeter! :p ) Back to the outermost planet's orbit... a major problem there would be determining what the outermost planet [i]is[/i]. These days, we've got disagreements over whether Pluto is actually a planet or not. (I don't think it is, myself.) Also, considering the various examples of astronomical weirdness we've seen over the years, what about outermost planets that happen to have highly irregular orbits? I think that the heliopause would have to be the only easily definable border that relies on the interaction of a single body with the interstellar medium. [QUOTE][b]Originally posted by Harry:[/b] The most utopian way of course is to not claim empty space, and only focus on celestial bodies. It would be clearer, but it isn't workable with nasty Orions pirates and vengeful Klingon captains...[/QUOTE]Heck, they've mentioned "Federation space" and the "Federation border" often enough... I don't think there's any way they could not have interstellar boundaries. As I discussed with Masao over e-mail, if you didn't have interstellar space claimed as Federation territory, the Klingons could've sent an attack fleet to gather just 1 LY away from Sol and be able to claim they're just practicing "war games" or whatever... Besides, the Federation, while a Utopian organization in vision, clearly must also concede to the realities of the era in which it was formed. Just like today's United Nations must still ultimately concede to the realities of nationalist policies. International borders would be one of those concessions. For defense (against the Romulans, assuming ENT doesn't shaft that idea), if nothing else. [/QB][/QUOTE]
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