Post by kover on Dec 31, 2013 20:26:15 GMT
Briareus is a blue B-type hypergiant star in the Khazan Cluster of the Beta Quadrant in the Milky Way Galaxy. It is one of the most luminous stars in the sector, with an estimated bolometric luminosity of nearly a million times that of Sol. The stellar wind from this hypergiant is expelling matter from the star at the rate of 1.55 × 10–6 solar masses per year, or roughly the equivalent to Sol's mass every 640 thousand years.
Characteristics
Spectral type: B1.5 Iae
U−B color index: −0.567
B−V color index: +0.480
Variable type: SDOR
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv): −26.0[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ):
RA: −1.01[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −4.01[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π): 1.27 ± 0.25[1] mas
Distance from Orpheus Major: approx. 51.7 ly
Absolute magnitude (MV): −8.5
Details
Mass: 36[4] M☉
Radius: 103[4] R☉
Luminosity (bolometric): 850,000[4] L☉
Surface gravity (log g): 1.7[4] cgs
Temperature: 17,200[4] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i): 60[6] km/s
Age: 6.5 ± 0.1[7] Myr
The Briareus System
Briareus is a star system of navigational hazards, and was named after one of the Hecatonchires of the human Greek mythology by Project Orpheus cartography teams after a survey probe from was lost shortly after encountering intense stellar winds halfway into the system.
What information the probe was able to gather points to three large Class D planets with largely rocky metallic surfaces, suggesting that these three planetary bodies were once the cores of gas giants, their atmosphere having been blown away by the star's increased stellar winds after it evolved to its hypergiant stage. One large asteroid belt, located in a degrading orbit between the star and the first of the Class D planets, is theorized to be the remains of two terrestrial planets that collided due to the increased gravitational pull of the evolving star. The largest of these fragments, designated as Briareus I, is an asymmetrical planetoid. The high amount of icy comets with irregular orbits suggest that a phenomenon similar to Sol's Oort cloud once existed beyond the orbit of Briareus IV, but has since collapsed with the evolution of the star.
High levels of electromagnetic interference caused by stellar radiation, which extends far beyond the system has proven to cripple ship sensors and prohibits long-ranged communications. An unusually high volume of rogue comets and other small interplanetary bodies also prevents warp travel within the system. Due to the apparent dangers found within the Briareus system, no Project Orpheus vessels have ventured into the system aside from the aforementioned survey probe. A travel advisory has been set in place, warning all vessels to exercise extreme caution when approaching this system, and avoid it entirely until a more detailed survey can be conducted.
Political and Strategic Importance
Due to the star's location at the Delta Quadrant-facing edge of the Khazan Cluster and the inherent navigational dangers within the system, there is little to recommend Briareus save for as a scientific curiosity. The electromagnetic interference produced by Briareus can very effectively hide vessels, but those ships would be equally blind while they are hidden and when coupled with the many rogue comets located within the system makes for a very dangerous tactic. Captain Vega of Project Orpheus has suggested that a sensor array be constructed nearby, but more immediate concerns has stalled any concerted effort to monitor the region.
Characteristics
Spectral type: B1.5 Iae
U−B color index: −0.567
B−V color index: +0.480
Variable type: SDOR
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv): −26.0[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ):
RA: −1.01[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −4.01[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π): 1.27 ± 0.25[1] mas
Distance from Orpheus Major: approx. 51.7 ly
Absolute magnitude (MV): −8.5
Details
Mass: 36[4] M☉
Radius: 103[4] R☉
Luminosity (bolometric): 850,000[4] L☉
Surface gravity (log g): 1.7[4] cgs
Temperature: 17,200[4] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i): 60[6] km/s
Age: 6.5 ± 0.1[7] Myr
The Briareus System
Briareus is a star system of navigational hazards, and was named after one of the Hecatonchires of the human Greek mythology by Project Orpheus cartography teams after a survey probe from was lost shortly after encountering intense stellar winds halfway into the system.
What information the probe was able to gather points to three large Class D planets with largely rocky metallic surfaces, suggesting that these three planetary bodies were once the cores of gas giants, their atmosphere having been blown away by the star's increased stellar winds after it evolved to its hypergiant stage. One large asteroid belt, located in a degrading orbit between the star and the first of the Class D planets, is theorized to be the remains of two terrestrial planets that collided due to the increased gravitational pull of the evolving star. The largest of these fragments, designated as Briareus I, is an asymmetrical planetoid. The high amount of icy comets with irregular orbits suggest that a phenomenon similar to Sol's Oort cloud once existed beyond the orbit of Briareus IV, but has since collapsed with the evolution of the star.
High levels of electromagnetic interference caused by stellar radiation, which extends far beyond the system has proven to cripple ship sensors and prohibits long-ranged communications. An unusually high volume of rogue comets and other small interplanetary bodies also prevents warp travel within the system. Due to the apparent dangers found within the Briareus system, no Project Orpheus vessels have ventured into the system aside from the aforementioned survey probe. A travel advisory has been set in place, warning all vessels to exercise extreme caution when approaching this system, and avoid it entirely until a more detailed survey can be conducted.
Political and Strategic Importance
Due to the star's location at the Delta Quadrant-facing edge of the Khazan Cluster and the inherent navigational dangers within the system, there is little to recommend Briareus save for as a scientific curiosity. The electromagnetic interference produced by Briareus can very effectively hide vessels, but those ships would be equally blind while they are hidden and when coupled with the many rogue comets located within the system makes for a very dangerous tactic. Captain Vega of Project Orpheus has suggested that a sensor array be constructed nearby, but more immediate concerns has stalled any concerted effort to monitor the region.
