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| ==Overview==
| | Please choose a specific reference for "Cyrannus": |
| | * For information on the "Cyrannus galaxy" mentioned in the [[Original Series]], see [[Cyrannus (TOS)]]. |
| | * For information on the unnamed star system of the Twelve Colonies in the [[Re-imagined Series]], see [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]. |
| | * For information on the solar system of the Twelve Colonies in the [[2003 Video Game|2003 ''Battlestar Galactica'' video game]], see [[Cyrannus (2003 Video Game)]]. |
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| '''Cyrannus''' (also spelled "Cyranus") is the name of the solar system containing the worlds of the Twelve Colonies of Man in the [[Video Game|Battlestar Galactica video game]], published in 2003.
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| The 2003 video game has its own continuity (as opposed to the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] or [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]]) that draws from elements of the Original Series and the [[Thousand Yahren War]] and elements apparently slated for the [[Battlestar Galactica (SDS)|first revival attempt of "Battlestar Galactica"]] as a new TV series by Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto in 2001.
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| The name "Cyrannus" has also been used in one [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] episode, "[[The Long Patrol]]", but not to describe a solar system (see [[Cyrannus#Origin of the Name in the Original Series|the section on the use of the term in the Original Series]]).
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| *No aired episode of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] has used "Cyrannus" as the name of their solar system. Therefore, the [[canon|official name]] of the solar system of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] for the Re-imagined Series is unknown.
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| *It's not known in the video game whether Cyrannus is a single star with multiple life-bearing planets, or a [[#Binary Stars|binary]], a trinary star system, or an [[#Open Star Clusters|open cluster]] of stars.
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| == The Problem of "Cyrannus" and 12 Earth-like planets ==
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| While it has been ascertained through searches undertaken from both the surface of the Earth and the [[Wikipedia:Hubble_Space_Telescope|Hubble Space Telescope]] that there are a large number of planets orbiting sunlike stars in our galaxy, most of the planets discovered to date are clssified as gas giants, similar in size and potentialy in composition as the planet [[Wikipedia:Jupiter_%28planet%29|Jupiter]] in our own solar system. However, it is very hard for modern telescopes to discern Earth-sized worlds, so currently gas giants are the main planets being discovered.
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| Further, it is believed that there is a very narrow band of space around a star that will encourage the formation of life-bearing planets (the so-called "Goldilocks Zone"). This is a region of space where the heat from the sun is neither too hot nor too cold to allow for the stable presence of liquid water, which is a prerequisite for the natural development of life through chemical and then organic means (life on Earth, at any rate). However, it is possible, albeit unlikely, that all of the Twelve Worlds are on the same orbital path that goes through this zone.
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| It is highly improbable that a single star would have no fewer than twelve planets and moons orbiting a star within the "zone of life" for that star. Moreover, a system with this many planets would probably be dynamically unstable. This would indicate that it is doubtful the 12 colonies exist within the planetary system of a single star - unless the Colonials have the ability to carry out considerable [[Wikipedia: Terraforming|terraforming]], something that is not indicated given their current technological capabilities. A limited degree of terraforming is possible even with Earth-level technology, however, so it is not entirely implausible. Moreover, the number of candidates for terraforming may be higher than conventionally assumed; in our solar system, for example, they may include the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. In the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]], Caprica is depicted as Earthlike, but the other Colonies are not shown, so they may well be non-Earthlike worlds.
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| ==Binary Stars==
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| [[Wikipedia:Binary_stars|Binary stars]] are stars bound by a common gravitational force such that they orbit around a common point in space. Their spectral types can vary quite widely, and it is questionable as to whether all binaries will be capable of producing stable planets due to the degree of gravitational flux between the stars.
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| Binary star systems can also form the center of hierarchical triple (trinary) systems (a binary system with a third star orbiting both) at a much greater distance.
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| Cyrannus might be considered a binary star system because such systems, while containing multiple stars, are often referred to by a single name.
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| A binary star system, with stars in the G-K spectral range offer the possibility that each star develops its own Goldilocks Zone and habitable planets therein. The changing distance between the two stars as they orbit each other could conceivably encourage the use of some form of FTL travel to move rapidly between worlds orbiting either star.
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| === Example of a Binary Star System ===
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| The [[Wikipedia:Alpha Centauri|Alpha Centauri]] system is a prime example of both a binary star system and an hierarchial triple star system, a multiple-star system having a single name.
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| Alpha Centauri comprises a true binary system, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, both of which are of the correct spectral types to sustain life-bearing planets. They in turn are orbited by a third star at a much greater distance (Proxima Centauri), thus making the system an hierarchial triple. Proxima Centauri is classified as a red dwarf, and thus is believed incapable of bearing life-sustaining planets.
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| ==Open Star Clusters==
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| Open star clusters, as their name suggests, are groupings of multiple stars in relatively close proximity to one another which are not bound together by gravity (although a star cluster can contain [[#Binary Stars|binaries]] among its number). Due to the number of stars within a cluster, the possibly of several being able to support life-bearing planets might be considered high.
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| There are several advantages in considering Cyrannus to represent a star cluster, or for the Twelve Colonies of Man to be within an open star cluster:
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| * A star cluster may present a much large number of stars capable of supporting life-bearing planets
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| * The distances between stars would be much greater than a binary system, and would help explain why some vessels operated by the Colonials are so luxuriously equipped or outfitted for long duration flights, as it would most likely require vessels to make multiple jumps between stars, thus measuring journey times in terms of days (or possibly weeks).
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| * A star cluster might explain why the Colonials don't appear to have undertaken much in the way of really deep-space exploration. They might have been engaged in simply surveying other stars within the cluster, but at the same time being oblivious to the precise location of [[Kobol]] relative to their own worlds.
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| * A star cluster would give the [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]] ample opportunity to hide away from Colonial eyes, while still monitoring (and perhaps influencing) Colonial activities.
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| ===Example of an Open Star Cluster===
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| The [[Wikipedia:Pleiades_%28star_cluster%29|Pleiades]] cluster is a classic exmaple of an open star cluster, although it is one that contains relatively young stars, many of which are burning too hot to sustain life-bearing planets.
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| ==Origin of the Name in the Original Series==
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| In "[[The Long Patrol]]", [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] refers to the [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)|Twelve Colonies]] as being in the "Cyranus Galaxy". This may be an error on the part of the series writers on the grounds that:
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| * The Colonials are seeking [[Earth]], and so must be travelling within the Milky Way Galaxy
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| * The [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] neither shows nor implies any inter-galactic travel.
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| Counterpoints:
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| *Earth in the Original Series does not have to be the Earth of the Milky Way Galaxy.
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| *The Original Series may use a different name for our galaxy, so inter-galatic travel is not necessarily implied.
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| *The Original Series may use a different definition for the word galaxy to mean solar system or sector. There are several examples in the series that appear to bear this out.
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| **The lead Centurion in [[The Hand of God (TOS)|The Hand of God]] orders their Raiders on patrol deeper into the galaxy.
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| **The episode "[[Saga of a Star World (TOS)|Saga of a Star World]]" makes clear that a [[Raider]] needed to refuel to reach the Colonies from [[Cylons (TOS)|the Cylon Empire]].
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| [[Category:A to Z]]
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| [[Category:Colonial History]]
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| [[Category:Planets]]
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| [[Category:Video Game]]
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Please choose a specific reference for "Cyrannus":
NOTE: This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.
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This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title.
If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. Also, if you wanted to search for the term "Cyrannus", click here.
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