How would time and date be calculated if...

wAi_kiT · Post by **wAi_kiT** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:00 am

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Here are some of the questions that I can't figured out if it really happens...

In the ancient world, people read time using sun dials, or lunar phases... But if our Earth orbits a binary star? Do you think sun dials can be used anymore? Furthermore, if Earth have more than one moon, like Jupiter, Saturn, how will man be able to tell date by looking at the moon :?:

If all these happen at the same time... Will we still have so called "time & date"?

Post by **Airconvent** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:47 am

strange question.
time denotes the relative position of our rotation around out star.
date denotes our position around our star.
how you divide them is based on preference.
for our earth, due to adjustments over the years, it ended up as 365.25 days.
for time, it could easily have been 10 or 20 hrs a day but somehow we chose 24 , so that's what we are using now.
months have trraditional been based on the moon (hence "month"). if there were 2 moons, naturally moons will not be used and perhaps we will have 10 months per year (round decimal number).

chrisyeo · Post by **chrisyeo** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:28 am

Yes, I think that we will certainly still have a "time and date", because even though it might be as long as several earth years, even binary stars and multiple moons exhibit a 'natural rythym' that can be discovered. A calendar can be based on that.

As for your sundial and lunar phase question, I think a calendar can still be derived by concentrating on only one 'sun' or one moon.

Cheers,
Chris

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:48 am

Yes. Time is relative to our sun and our earth orbit, rotation. Our sun, stars, galaxies are all moving so in fact there is nothing so consistent. Therefore time has to be referenced to something; even speed is relative (eg. travelling at 45km/h that is with respect to earth). If earth were to be orbit in between the binary stars... hmm.. probably no night time.

Aryanto · Post by **Aryanto** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:15 am

If we have 2 moon, may be we have calendar based on the synch of the 2 moons.

If our solar system is binary star (2 suns) then there will be no life on earth. It will be damn HOT! (and you guys including me like to complain that it is too hot in singapore). So the question about calendar is irrelevant. Nobody there to use it.

If we have 4 fingers like mickey & gang, we will be counting in octet rather than decimal.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10(which is 8 in decimal), 11 (which is 9 in decimal).
hehehe.

I once in highschool own a circular ruler that has 400 degree instead of the usual 360 degree. The shop told me that it is for architecture drawing and I bought it. Kind of cute, but I dont know where I put it already, soo long ago...

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:33 am

If we have two suns, and earth is placed sufficiently far from both suns such that the combined solar energy from both suns are suitable for life, then what we will see is just 2 suns rising in the morning and two suns setting in the evening. At most we will sometimes see one sun (if one is behind the other), but we will still have our nights.

Cheers!

neoterryjoe · Post by **neoterryjoe** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:49 am

hmmm....
If Earth has two moons which has similar size(as our moon), then i think they will wreak havoc as their combined forces acting on Earth would be so great that rotation of the Earth would be slowed down greatly(it also depends on their motion). 1 day might even be >30hrs and rapidly decelerating...
You can find books in the library on the history of time and why 24 is chosen and that 12 was a magic number last time...

wAi_kiT · Post by **wAi_kiT** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:52 am

If both suns are there all the time, then wouldn't it block out all other starts since its so bright. Then time cannot be measured with something else like a distant star. Furthermore, the two moons will just be there to create more problems like slowing down Earth as mentioned earlier. Hmmm... then the time will have to be constantly revised?

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:05 pm

wAi_kiT wrote:If both suns are there all the time, then wouldn't it block out all other starts since its so bright.

Even with one sun, we are having trouble seeing distant stars during daytime!

No, we still have nighttime and astronomy can thankfully proceed...

Post by **weixing** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:22 pm

Hi,
As what chris yeo mention, as long as there is a 'natural rythym', time and date system can be base on that regardless of number of moons and sun.

Of course the first assumption will be that the planet had to be in a stable orbit and as long as the planet is in a stable orbit, a 'natural rythym' can be observe, but the date and time system will be totally different from what we know today... it can be base on the seasonal change on the planet, the positions of the sun(s) and moon(s) or even the time between eclipse... it can be anything or any events that display a 'natural rythym'.

Have a nice day.