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| − | [[File:dysonsphere.jpg|thumb|A Dyson sphere]] |
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| − | [[File:Dyson sphere exterior.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise'' in orbit around the sphere]] |
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| − | [[File:Dyson sphere interior.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise'' being pulled into the sphere]] |
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| − | A '''Dyson sphere''' is a colossal spherical structure constructed around a [[star]], completely surrounding it. The interior of the sphere would absorb the entire [[energy]] output of that star, allowing for [[lifeform]]s to live on the interior surface almost indefinitely. Such a structure was theorized by [[20th century]] [[physics|physicist]] [[Freeman Dyson]] in the late [[1950s]]. |
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| − | For the interior of a Dyson sphere to be habitable to most [[humanoid]] lifeforms, the radius of the sphere must be such that habitable temperatures ([[Celsius|5 – 30 °C]]) are maintained. The radius would therefore depend on the size and the energy output of the star around which the sphere would be constructed; if a Dyson sphere were to be constructed around the [[Earth]]'s [[Sol|sun]], the radius would have to be approximately one [[astronomical unit]]. At such a radius, the interior surface area would be about 28 {{exp|16}} [[kilometer|km]]<sup>2</sup>, or 550 million times the entire surface area of the [[planet]] Earth. Such a surface area could easily support the lives of many quadrillions (1 {{exp|15}}) of beings. |
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| − | Unsurprisingly, due to the almost immeasurable amounts of effort, resources and time required to construct such an immense structure, only one Dyson sphere has ever been discovered. This particular sphere encased a [[G-type star]] and had a diameter of 200 million kilometers, giving it an internal surface area of approximately 250 million [[Class M|M-class]] planets. As no radiant sunlight or [[solar wind]] escaped from the sphere, starships were not able to detect it until they were almost on top of it. As a result, the {{USS|Jenolan}} crashed onto it in [[2294]] after being pulled in by the sphere's immense [[gravity well]] while ''en route'' to the [[Norpin colony]]. In [[2369]], the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} discovered the ''Jenolan'' and investigated the sphere. The sphere was deserted because the star around which it was constructed was highly unstable. ({{TNG|Relics}}) |
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| − | == Appendices == |
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| − | === Background === |
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| − | [[File:Dyson sphere model.jpg|thumb|left|Penny Juday with a partial model of the Dyson sphere surface.]] |
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| − | [[File:Greg Jein with Dyson sphere model.jpg|thumb|left|Greg Jein with his Dyson sphere model.]] |
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| − | [[File:Dyson Sphere graphic.jpg|thumb|A graphic of a Dyson sphere]] |
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| − | Technically speaking, the episode showed a Dyson ''shell'' rather than a Dyson sphere. |
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| − | Freeman Dyson himself called his theory a "joke." About "Relics", Dyson said: "''Actually it was sort of fun to watch it. It's all nonsense, but it's quite a good piece of cinema.''" [http://www.meaningoflife.tv/video.php?speaker=dyson&topic=complete] In the same interview, he said that "Stapledon sphere" would be a more appropriate name, in honor of {{w|Olaf Stapledon}}, whose depiction of such an object in his 1937 novel ''{{w|Star Maker}}'' inspired young Dyson to look into the theory. |
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| − | A Dyson shell would retain all energy produced by the star, and would somehow have to radiate much of this into space to maintain a habitable surface temperature. One possible way of conserving such vast quantities of energy without emitting any visible radiation (as seen on-screen) would be to convert all the energy to mass - essentially using a [[replicator]]-like technology to create the many, many, many planets' worth of matter necessary to construct the whole sphere. Another possible way of disposing of such vast quantities of energy without emitting any visible radiation (as seen on-screen) would be to create a colossal gravitational field. If this was the case, it would explain why the ''Enterprise'' was jolted suddenly upon leaving warp, and possibly why the ''Jenolan''{{'}}s distress call went undetected until the ''Enterprise'' passed within a very short distance. |
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| − | [[Penny Juday]] gave insight in creating the model by using the technique "kitbashing". The art department produced the same structures several times and combined them on a large board. (''[[TNG Season 2 DVD]] special feature "Inside Starfleet Archives - Penny Juday, Star Trek Coordinator"'') |
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| − | === Apocrypha === |
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| − | In book #5 of the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation - Double Helix|Double Helix]]'' series (''[[Double or Nothing]]'') [[Captain]]s [[Mackenzie Calhoun|Calhoun]] and [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] encounter a Dyson sphere constructed by an anti-Federation alliance. Calhoun and Picard eventually succeed in thwarting the alliance and destroying the sphere. |
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| − | In the ''[[Pocket DS9|Deep Space Nine]]'' ''[[Millennium]]'' book series, Chief [[Miles O'Brien|O'Brien]] is briefly trapped in a [[Pah-wraith]] Hell where he is forced to wander the interior of a Dyson sphere for several millennia, unable to understand how the sphere was constructed or learn anything about its creation. |
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| − | In ''[[The Starless World]]'', Kirk and crew encounter a Dyson sphere that surrounds and is controlled by a god-like entity. The sphere has been traveling towards the galactic core for several billion years at sub-light speed and intends to enter a black hole as part of an ancient compact. |
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| − | ==External links== |
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| − | *{{NCwiki}} |
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| − | *{{wikipedia}} |
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| − | *{{wikipedia|Dyson spheres in popular culture}} |
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| − | [[de:Dyson-Sphäre]] |
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| − | [[fr:Sphère de Dyson]] |
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| − | [[ja:ダイソンの天球]] |
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| − | [[nl:Dyson Bol]] |
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[[Category:Astronomical objects]] |
[[Category:Astronomical objects]] |
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[[Category:Technology]] |
[[Category:Technology]] |
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