For starters, the sun doesnt stand still, it spins at about 1 rotation every 25-35 days or so (depending on which area of the sun, similar to Jupiter), on a tilted axis like earth as well, however thats only the surface, the core could be spinning in the opposite direction for all we know... but it wouldnt take 6 months, as the sun is spinning counter-clockwise, and the earth is orbiting counter-clockwise... I dont feel like doing the math, but there would be periods where it would take longer, and periods where it would be shorter.
As for why you may want to see whats on the other side, there are a few reasons, #1: you are monitoring a specific solar flare/storm, #2: you need to see a star thats on the other side of ours at that time #3: you sent a probe, and it just happened to get there (intentionally or not) when the earth wasn't also on that side. I'm sure there are more reasons.
Im not saying that they actually bothered to think about that, I think they were mostly riding on the "dark side of the moon" wagon when they came up with it, but its still legitimate.
reply
share
fbergeot-1
16 years ago
Well, it is not the "dark side of the sun", which of course doesn't exist. Anyway the plot is not in the slightest realistic. As the orbits of the planets are not circular but elliptical no object could stand undetected for being on the "far side of the sun". Moreover, no ballistic flight (as seems the case) to this new planet could last only three weeks. But those are details compared to the core of the plot, which is that everything which happens on one planet takes place at the same very moment on the other planet, in a mirrored way. It is alluded to by the Ross character but unfortunately not elaborated upon.
reply
share
moveeguy-1
15 years ago
As the orbits of the planets are not circular but elliptical no object could stand undetected for being on the "far side of the sun".
A body following the same elliptical orbit around the sun as the earth but at the exact opposite point would not be detectable from the earth. Your other criticisms are valid but I still think the story is an interesting idea if you don't get bogged down in the iffy science.
reply
share