10-06-2015, 09:55 AM
We're still working on implementing lots more places to build around the solar system. For version 0.19, we probably won't have them all (dwarf planets and asteroids may have to wait), but we'll have at least all the planets.
But we're currently struggling a bit for a consistent nomenclature for regions of space that include the planet and its moons or rings. For Earth, the standard term is cislunar space, and that's cool. Similarly, Jupiter is the center of a whole little mini-solar system of its own, and "Jovian space" sounds fine for that.
But then Mercury and Venus have no moons at all, so it seems silly to say "Venusian Space" or... what's the adjective form of Mercury? Mercurial? Mercurian? Seems pointless in any case.
And going outward, it starts to feel a bit silly again: Saturnian Space, Uranian Space, Neptunian Space? Bleh.
So, we back up. How about: Jupiter System, Saturn System, Uranus System, Neptune System? And since there are no moons for the inner two, we could say just Mercury Orbits and Venus Orbits. For consistency, I guess the Mars region would be Mars System, though that seems a little aggrandizing for a small rock orbited by two tiny rocks... but maybe that's OK.
And maybe Earth is special: we keep that as Cislunar Space, by tradition, and because nothing else really fits (one moon barely makes a "system," even if it is an especially large and important moon!).
This is the best we've come up with so far... but if anybody has any other suggestions, please speak up! There's still time to get changes into 0.19.
But we're currently struggling a bit for a consistent nomenclature for regions of space that include the planet and its moons or rings. For Earth, the standard term is cislunar space, and that's cool. Similarly, Jupiter is the center of a whole little mini-solar system of its own, and "Jovian space" sounds fine for that.
But then Mercury and Venus have no moons at all, so it seems silly to say "Venusian Space" or... what's the adjective form of Mercury? Mercurial? Mercurian? Seems pointless in any case.
And going outward, it starts to feel a bit silly again: Saturnian Space, Uranian Space, Neptunian Space? Bleh.
So, we back up. How about: Jupiter System, Saturn System, Uranus System, Neptune System? And since there are no moons for the inner two, we could say just Mercury Orbits and Venus Orbits. For consistency, I guess the Mars region would be Mars System, though that seems a little aggrandizing for a small rock orbited by two tiny rocks... but maybe that's OK.
And maybe Earth is special: we keep that as Cislunar Space, by tradition, and because nothing else really fits (one moon barely makes a "system," even if it is an especially large and important moon!).
This is the best we've come up with so far... but if anybody has any other suggestions, please speak up! There's still time to get changes into 0.19.
Joe Strout
Lead Developer, High Frontier
