Kevin Barrett - Space Master, GM Book

My aim is to show that the celestial machine is to be likened not to a divine organism, insofar as nearly all the manifold movements are carried out by means of a single, quite simple magnetic force

Johannes Kepler, The Harmonies of the World

With Stellar Systems and Planetary Research programs, explorers of distant worlds can determine all manner of very pertinent information from up to (or possibly over) a light-years distance. Such factors Will greatly influence travel within any stellar system possibly the entire course of events therein, and lend each system an individuality above and beyond planets side. The stellar system readout sheet is designed to back up the stellar system generation and maintenance rules. Blank copies may be distributed to players when sensing begins (or the proper reference program is accessed), and filled in as the data becomes known.

SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION

The information listed at the top of the readout is used to locate the system entry in the Reference program, and will usually be known by the players before a more detailed study begins.

The location in space of any stellar system can be quantified by use of the Terran Coordinates Code; a series of three measurements denoting the stellar primarys position in all three dimensions, relative to the Sol Systems location in the galaxy. The first is the stars distance (in light-years) from Sol along the x axis (running left to right on the Space Master Star Map). Positive x coordinates lie to the right [Galactic Rimward] of Sol, while negative numbers are on the left [Galactic Coreward], in the same manner: positive numbers toward the top of the Star Map [Galactic Spinward] and negative ones toward the bottom [Galactic Antispinward]. Finally, the third number measures along the z axis. Stars with positive z coordinates are located above the Star Map [Galactic North] (toward the viewer), and those with negative z coordinates are below it [Galactic South]. Therefore the Star Map itself represents the plane defined by all points for which z = 0).

Within the borders of the Terran Empire, every system is part of a Province or Imperial territory. The Frontier is divided into twenty-four Frontier Zones (designated by the radial divisions around the edges of the Star Map), and these, like the Imperial Core, are subdivided into Sectors named by their most central star. (For example: FZ:23/Matay Sector, etc.)

Designates the central structure of the system: Solitary, Binary, Cluster, Black Hole, etc. (Fill in after data is determined.)

STELLAR DATA

The information in this section of the readout brings the star(s) within the system into clearer perspective: some of these procedures supply data which is merely descriptive, while others are very important spectroscopic calculations, the values of which will definitely influence travel to, from, and within the stellar system, as well as the structure of the system itself.

Toward Sol and the Inner Provinces, stars by and large still retain the ancient names given them by the astronomers and sages of PreImp. Terra, who divided the night sky into constellations and ranked the stars within each constellation, from the brightest to the dimmest, with letters from the Greek alphabet (i.e., Alpha Centauri, Delta Cassiopeiae, etc). Binary stars, discovered much later, took the names of their discoverers and/or reference numbers, and variable stars received capital letters and the name of the constellation they belonged to. These doctrines of nomenclature, due largely to convention, are still in use throughout the Empire, although the constellations have shifted somewhat and many new constellations can be seen from Terra (thanks to advances in astronomic technology). On the Frontier, stars often take the name of the first Province to claim them, followed by a reference number, or the first being who discovered and recorded their presence. Different cultures will, of course, have different names for (and methods of naming) stars. Five spaces are provided on the Stellar System Readout to accommodate a large cluster on one form, if such an arrangement occurs.

The spectral class (color and temperature) and stellar type (sequence) of any star are determined as per the procedure below. Two distinctions must be made, however: first, although the temperature rating of a star is indeed denoted by a digit from zero to nine, a temperature rating of zero indicates the hottest stars within a class, and nine indicates the coolest. Secondly, due to the rather peculiar manner in which stars burn up hydrogen and slowly move from one sequence to the next, there are no stars of spectral class M or Kwhich lie within the sub-giant sequence. Therefore, if seven is rolled for any type M or K star (indicating a stellar type IV), ignore it and roll again.

Make one high open ended roll to determine the stars spectral class. Once that is determined, roll one percentile die to determine the stars relative temperature rating within the spectral class. In this case, 0 is low and 9 is high.

Important stellar parameters used for description and astrogation, these numbers will immediately be noted in any stellar survey, and can be easily calculated even from light-years away. All are stated in terms of Sol.

The columns each denote a spectral class, from temperature rating 0 to 9. The hottest stars are on the left, coolest on the right.

Each of the five curves denotes one of the five stellar types. To locate a star on the diagram, look down the appropriate column (the left side for temp 0, the center for 4 or 5, etc) until the curve designating the correct stellar type is reached.

Brightness is determined on the left side of the diagram, by the horizontal lines.

Radius is determined on the right side, by the dotted diagonal lines.

Once the stars brightness is known, its mass can be determined. This is done on the mass-luminosity diagram. The left side of the diagram is the same as its counterpart on the H-R diagram above. Locate the point where the stars brightness intersects the curve, and look down to determine the stellar mass (in terms of Sol).