Comments on: What to do when our sun gets too hot https://habitablezone.com/2011/05/23/what-to-do-when-our-sun-gets-too-hot/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: VelociraptorBlade https://habitablezone.com/2011/05/23/what-to-do-when-our-sun-gets-too-hot/#comment-1357 VelociraptorBlade Tue, 31 May 2011 07:55:23 +0000 http://184.73.169.189/?p=1102#comment-1357 *Puts on mad scientist hat and starts speaking with Austrian/Borat accent* I propose a radical solution for zhis probleem. Ze Sun shall be encased in a Dyson Sphere that shall regulate ze Sun through a series of magnetic fields, while refueling in with hydrogen captured from interstellar gas clouds and elements expelled from ze Sun as a result of fusion processes. Using this method, ze sun may be able to survive at it's current condition indefinitly. Happy fun times result for all! *Puts on mad scientist hat and starts speaking with Austrian/Borat accent* I propose a radical solution for zhis probleem. Ze Sun shall be encased in a Dyson Sphere that shall regulate ze Sun through a series of magnetic fields, while refueling in with hydrogen captured from interstellar gas clouds and elements expelled from ze Sun as a result of fusion processes. Using this method, ze sun may be able to survive at it’s current condition indefinitly. Happy fun times result for all!

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2011/05/23/what-to-do-when-our-sun-gets-too-hot/#comment-1055 ER Tue, 24 May 2011 18:07:12 +0000 http://184.73.169.189/?p=1102#comment-1055 My solution to the same problem would be to reduce insolation by deploying large shades in earth orbit to cast shadows. Something like humongous, gigunda ultrathin and ultra light reflective parasols to reflect excess sunlight away. This is almost possible with today's technology (we're not moving an entire planet around the solar system) and has the added advantage that the shades could be moved around, replaced, maintained, or discarded, as needed. without much permanent damage to us. Whenever possible, all engineering fixes to any problem should be made reversible, just in case we change our minds later on. My solution to the same problem would be to reduce insolation by deploying large shades in earth orbit to cast shadows. Something like humongous, gigunda ultrathin and ultra light reflective parasols to reflect excess sunlight away.

This is almost possible with today’s technology (we’re not moving an entire planet around the solar system) and has the added advantage that the shades could be moved around, replaced, maintained, or discarded, as needed. without much permanent damage to us.

Whenever possible, all engineering fixes to any problem should be made reversible, just in case we change our minds later on.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/05/23/what-to-do-when-our-sun-gets-too-hot/#comment-1023 TB Mon, 23 May 2011 21:55:00 +0000 http://184.73.169.189/?p=1102#comment-1023 I'm a rocket engineer. Orbital mechanics is not my strong suit - I just design to the delta-vee somebody says they need. I expect there should be some way to design the system so that the expanding orbit wasn't much more elliptical than our current one. Obviously, it's a non-trivial problem, but if the rate of solar expansion needs a correction bypass only once every 6,000 years, there's a lot of time to work out the details. Hell, maybe we'll figure out a reactionless drive first. I’m a rocket engineer. Orbital mechanics is not my strong suit – I just design to the delta-vee somebody says they need.

I expect there should be some way to design the system so that the expanding orbit wasn’t much more elliptical than our current one. Obviously, it’s a non-trivial problem, but if the rate of solar expansion needs a correction bypass only once every 6,000 years, there’s a lot of time to work out the details.

Hell, maybe we’ll figure out a reactionless drive first.

]]> By: Eri https://habitablezone.com/2011/05/23/what-to-do-when-our-sun-gets-too-hot/#comment-1020 Eri Mon, 23 May 2011 21:49:35 +0000 http://184.73.169.189/?p=1102#comment-1020 "(and thereby lengthen bond maturities too)" LOL! This MUST be a Republican journal. Question: In a larger orbit, wouldn't we be so far out in space at the apogee that things would be a little chilly, because of the cooling? Everything must balance well enough to maintain life. Is there a greater difference, i.e., in temperature range for say Mars at its apogee than for Earth? It may be a dumb question, but... “(and thereby lengthen bond maturities too)” LOL! This MUST be a Republican journal.

Question: In a larger orbit, wouldn’t we be so far out in space at the apogee that things would be a little chilly, because of the cooling? Everything must balance well enough to maintain life. Is there a greater difference, i.e., in temperature range for say Mars at its apogee than for Earth? It may be a dumb question, but…

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