planetary-orbital-complexity
The Eta Cassiopeiae system contains over fifty worlds with wildly varying and complex orbits influenced by a binary star system and past planetary disruptions.
1 chapter across 1 book
Between the Strokes of Night (1985)Charles Sheffield
In this chapter, the characters ascend from the planet Pentecost to orbit and observe The Ship, the ancient vessel that carried humanity's ancestors across space for fifteen thousand years before settling on Pentecost. The Ship is described as a monumental relic and shrine, symbolizing humanity's long journey and struggle to find a new home. The chapter then shifts to a detailed scientific description of the Eta Cassiopeiae star system, emphasizing the complexity and instability of its many planets, with Pentecost standing out as a rare Earth-like haven suitable for life.