Zeta Tucanae
| Zeta Tucanae | |
 Zeta Tucanae, seen from orbit around its only rocky planet (image courtesy ESO) | |
| Stellar characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Tucana |
| Right ascension (Epoch J2000) | 00h 20m 04.26s |
| Declination (Epoch J2000) | -64° 52' 29.25" |
| Spectral type | F8-G0 V |
| Distance from Sol | 28.0 ly |
| Other designations | Zet Tuc, HR 77, Gl 17, AC+48 1595, Hip 1599, HD 1581, CP(D)-65 13, SAO 248163, FK5 10, LHS 5, LTT 167, LPM 16, LFT 36. |
Zeta Tucanae is located about 28.0 light-years from Sol. It lies in the central part of the constellation Tucana, the Toucan. Zeta Tucanae is a yellowish main sequence dwarf of spectral and luminosity type F8-G0 V, with about 98 percent of Sol's mass, 1.1 times its diameter, and 1.3 times its luminosity. The star may be only 44 to 79 percent as enriched as Sol with elements heavier than hydrogen ("metallicity"), based on its abundance of iron [1].
Spectroscopic analysis suggests that Zeta Tucanae may have an unseen companion.
A radial velocity study failed to detect a brown dwarf sized companion (with 20 to 80 times the mass of Jupiter) within 10 AUs of Zeta Tucanae[2]. The orbit of an Earth-like planet (with liquid water) around this star would be centered around 1.14 AU -- somewhat outside the orbital distance of Earth in the Solar System -- with an orbital period of about one and a quarter of an Earth year.
Despite the lack of anything particularly interesting in the Zeta Tucanae system, exploration of the system continues by the use of automated (non-AI) drones left in-system in 2015-2016. The Artemis Foundation is looking into establishing an "advance base" here in order to support astronomical research of Beta Hydri, Gamma Pavonis, and other nearby systems.
Contents
Closest Neighbors
The following star systems are located within 10 light-years of Zeta Tucanae.
| 6 Stars of Interest to Zeta Tucanae Fen | |||||
| Star System | Distance from Zeta Tucanae |
Travel Time | Interwave Lag | ||
| CD -68°47 | 3.1 ly | 2.26 days | 2.72 hours | ||
| L 49-19 | 6.2 ly | 4.53 days | 5.43 hours | ||
| Beta Hydri | 6.7 ly | 4.89 days | 5.87 hours | ||
| L 119-44 | 7.5 ly | 5.48 days | 6.57 hours | ||
| CD -76°1182 | 7.7 ly | 5.62 days | 6.75 hours | ||
| Gamma Pavonis | 9.3 ly | 6.79 days | 8.15 hours | ||
The First Zeta Tucanae Exploration Mission
Funded by Stellvia Corporation and carried out by the Artemis Foundation, the first Zeta Tucanae exploration mission took place from mid-November 2015 to mid-April 2016.
The first exploration mission discovered little in the way of interesting exoplanets or life. The only rocky planet discovered was barely at the edge of the star's habitable zone, and was covered in ice - thus, it was given the name Thule.
The members of this exploration team were carefully chosen by the Artemis Foundation with an eye toward ensuring they won't be at each others' throats midway through the mission. With a minimum of three months away from Sol (one month to reach Zeta Tucanae, at least one month exploring, one month to return), the crew needed to be able to get along with each other.
Fleet
Two ships took part in this system survey.
Calypso was the main ship of the survey. This was the first mission for the Shuttle, not counting her shakedown cruise in early-November 2015. Her cargo bay was loaded with a large optical telescope and a number of non-AI probes and communications relays; of these, only the telescope was brought back to Sol.
Takumi F. was the survey's support ship. This Roadrunner-class supply ship usually runs produce from Wonderland to Genaros and "previously-enjoyed produce" back to Wonderland; this was the ship's first long-term mission. Six of the ship's eight cargo containers were stocked with non-perishable foods; one was a vehicle bay holding a waved Ford pickup truck, basic mechanic's tools, and some spare parts; the other container was outfitted as a recreation room, with a collar and tube for Calypso to dock.
Crew
Fifteen sophonts took part in the system survey.
Ships' Specialists:
- Ulick Halvarsen
- Mission Commander; Captain of the Calypso. Male Icelander, generalist-Fendane, has a PhD in astrophysics.
- Bardo MacInnis
- Pilot, Calypso. Male Australian - mixed Aboriginal and Scottish ancestry, Long Heinleinian.
- Anjelo Garcia
- Engineer, Calypso. Male Spanish-American, Pulper.
- Calypso
- Ship's AI, Calypso.
- Carlton Waggoner
- Captain, Takumi F. Male German, generalist.
- Ella Jaros
- Helmsman/Navigator, Takumi F. Female Polish-American, Belter.
- Warren Tipton
- Engineer, Takumi F. Englishman, generalist-Fendane.
- Vander Rycenga
- Cargomaster. Male Netherlander, generalist. Berthed in Takumi F.
- Rhiannon MacKenzie
- Medic. Scotswoman, generalist-Fendane, seconded from Stellvia. Berthed in Calypso.
Mission Specialists:
- Miyuri Akisato
- Astronomer. AI, female Japanese, generalist-Fendane, seconded from Stellvia.[3] Berthed in Calypso.
- Destinee LaCroux
- Physicist. Frenchwoman, has a graduate degree in geophysics from the Pierre and Marie Curie University, Long Heinleinian. Berthed in Calypso.
- Herrick Feingold
- Cartographer. Male German, Belter. Berthed in Calypso.
- Larry, Moe, and Curly
- Autonomous Survey Scouts. AIs, augmented Clay Pigeons, Supers. Berthed in Calypso.
Notes
- ↑ (Cayrel de Strobel et al, 1991, page 4)
- ↑ (Murdoch et al, 1993)
- ↑ At the insistence of Noah Scott.
