General World Building: The Sky

[Villamvihar]

If there is one thing that people rarely think about when constructing a world, it is the sky, even though it seems to be so important for us. The night sky especially plays a large role in fiction, but the daytime can also be radically different than from that of the Earth. A world having a sky which is different than the rest can give it a unique flavour and can make the world that much more interesting. After all, who would not want to find out about why the sky is purple instead of blue, or why there are stars visible even during the daylight? A different sky is a subtle, but elegant touch to an already existing world in order to further differentiate between ours and the world that is being constructed.

Your exercise is to imagine the sky of one of your worlds. You can work completely independently or use the following questions as guidelines:

What colour is the sky during the day?

What colour is the sky during the night?

How many suns does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? How large are they?

How many moons does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? Do they go through lunar cycles? When are they visible? How large are they?

Does the night sky have stars at all? If so, what are the major constellations in the night sky?

Do any of the constellations have a story associated with them? If yes, please describe the story briefly.

Do the sun(s) or the moon(s) have any religious or other significance? Is there a calendar based upon their movements?

Does the night sky change over the course of the night?

Is there any sort of recurring event which changes the picture of the sky drastically?

What does an ordinary person know about the stellar bodies in the sky?

 

[Zelkova]

During the day the sky is a canary yellow with accents of amber colored clouds and business continues as usual for the rust colored ships that part the harbors of the glorious sky city, Aquarius. The ships skip upon the amber colored clouds creating rifts of purple and green, as if cracking over majestic rocks. However despite how pleasant it looks this area is quite toxic.

At Twilight the sky is starting to be specked with green splashes, it is the clouds exploding and discharging their contained energy upon the world. The amber color is simply consumed by green and typically mid-day is considered the rainy part of the day as the green clouds spill their nasty water onto the ground which is too toxic for even the smallest plant to grow.

The sun, which seems so close to the planet that even metal sweats brings one to wonder why a world like this would be the center of international traffic. The sun rotates as it sets and rises and sunspots are often occurrences so tech had to adapt to use non-electrical means.

The only thing that seems stable is the moon, which raises in the same spot every night and sets.. People power things by lunar rays as opposed to sunlight on this world because the moon is out for 48 hours while the sun is out only for 12. Days Days consist of twenty four hour intervals like ours. And during the whole winter neither the sun nor the moon come out over Aquarius.


The lunar constellations are Mavious, Hercules, Hermes, Nova, Alpha, Omega and Constance. The creatures that live on the planet, due to intersteller travvel have a mix of different stars they know and see.

 

[Thomas McTavish]

What colour is the sky during the day?
Varying shades of blue during late autumn, winter, and early spring, and various shades of purple during late spring, summer, and early autumn.
What colour is the sky during the night?
A deep, gray-ish blue, speckled with stars and lightly illuminated by the planet's single moon (and for half of the year, distant second sun)
How many suns does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? How large are they?
For the entire year, the closer of the two, a young, yellow star like Earth's own, and during the late spring, summer, and early autumn seasons, a second, more distant, older, red sun is visible.
How many moons does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? Do they go through lunar cycles? When are they visible? How large are they?
The planet only has one moon, slightly larger than our own, always full.
Does the night sky have stars at all? If so, what are the major constellations in the night sky?
The major constellation in the sky is known as The Shadow King's Eye or Damnarius's Eye. The constelation is an eye-shaped ring of stars that seems to encompass the whole of the night sky, with the moon in place like the iris and pupil. As the hour whittle away and the moon makes it's journey across the sky, it looks like the eye is shifting to survey the night, and watch over those who reside within the "Kingdom of Night".
Do any of the constellations have a story associated with them? If yes, please describe the story briefly.
The eye is said to be that of Damnarius, the god of darkness and king of the ever-shifting Kingdom of Night, the merciful ender of suffering through "soft death" and patron of predatory creatures and night hunters.
Do the sun(s) or the moon(s) have any religious or other significance? Is there a calendar based upon their movements?
The moon is part of the "Shadow King's Eye," a part of the world's mythology, and the suns are the twin light deities Gaastrus, the blond-haired patron of wariors, and his shy, red-headed sister, Jaala. The calendar is very loose, and based around the appearance and disappearance of the second, red sun, Jaala, and is primarily used to track animal herd movements.
Does the night sky change over the course of the night?
Only the position of the moon, and atmospheric changes.
Is there any sort of recurring event which changes the picture of the sky drastically?
Very, very rarely, the moon and both suns can be seen simultaneously. This time is said to be when the ever-conflicting kingdoms of Night and Day are at peace, and celebrating with one another. It is during this 36-hour time that not a single sentient creature is permitted to kill another living creature on purpose, or he will be sent into the wilds unarmed and bound, left for the predators to make a meal of.
What does an ordinary person know about the stellar bodies in the sky?
Indigenous peoples, being primarily nomadic hunters and gatherers, know the patters of animal migrations that go along with the change in seasons represented by the movements of the celestial bodies, particularly of Jaala, the red sun. Off-worlders, or Outsiders, to be cliche, don't know that much unless prior research has been done and are often at first confused by the patterns if none has been done.

 

[Karima]

If there is one thing that people rarely think about when constructing a world, it is the sky, even though it seems to be so important for us. The night sky especially plays a large role in fiction, but the daytime can also be radically different than from that of the Earth. A world having a sky which is different than the rest can give it a unique flavour and can make the world that much more interesting. After all, who would not want to find out about why the sky is purple instead of blue, or why there are stars visible even during the daylight? A different sky is a subtle, but elegant touch to an already existing world in order to further differentiate between ours and the world that is being constructed.

Your exercise is to imagine the sky of one of your worlds. You can work completely independently or use the following questions as guidelines:

What colour is the sky during the day?

What colour is the sky during the night?

How many suns does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? How large are they?

How many moons does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? Do they go through lunar cycles? When are they visible? How large are they?

Does the night sky have stars at all? If so, what are the major constellations in the night sky?

Do any of the constellations have a story associated with them? If yes, please describe the story briefly.

Do the sun(s) or the moon(s) have any religious or other significance? Is there a calendar based upon their movements?

Does the night sky change over the course of the night?

Is there any sort of recurring event which changes the picture of the sky drastically?

What does an ordinary person know about the stellar bodies in the sky?

S

 

[Karima]

There is little difference in the daytime sky of Rinth. A single sun, slightly cooler than earths, nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere, cloud cover and seasonal patterns, although less extreme as the ones on earth.

Its the night sky that really defines our grand difference.

Earth lies in the milky way galaxy- a rather boring white whirlpool swirl of young, blue stars.

Rinth, however, lies on the outer arms of the sunflower galaxy. The stars there are ancient and full of color. Pinks, greens, but most of all, the golden cloud. A brilliant, luminous puff of the pixie dust of an exploded star- things you can only see in telescopes from your planet. Our moons (we have two) circle in two separate orbital sweeps, one further than the other. But unlike your moon, ours seldom "shine". The closer moon is made of a dark rock, almost completely non reflective, and the further hides in the shadow of the first 279 out the 284 days of our year. The five days that the far moon does show her face is considered a time of both celebration and fear. The two draws on gravity turn the world- especially the sea- into a beautiful, but perilous place. Weather patterns go balistic, earth tremors rustle the southern flood plains, and most dangerous and spectacular- the sea opens up in a swirling maze of misting whirlpools, feeding great storms that toss the surface of the water into great, thundering plumes that can be heard and seen from the mainland.

Not really entirely about the sky, but... Well. The great void above us affects more than our oculous nerve.

 

[MachinaWriter]

What colour is the sky during the day?
During the day, the sky is much like that of our own.

What colour is the sky during the night?
So many colours, it's hard to describe. A mirky mix of purples and pinks, blues and yellows on a black canvas.

How many suns does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? How large are they?
There is one sun in this solar system.

How many moons does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? Do they go through lunar cycles? When are they visible? How large are they?
There is one moon with this planet, and the size of it changes drastically in perception over the course of a year. There are about three periods throughout the year where the moon is a bit closer than the other times of the years. Gradually, it gets closer each time, over the course of a twenty year period. At the end of that twenty year period, it gets so close during the last period of the year, that it actually breaks the planet's atmosphere for two days, before resetting back at it's original level and restarting the cycle all over again.

Does the night sky have stars at all? If so, what are the major constellations in the night sky?
The night sky is alive with stars. The stars have been such a powerful force on the people of this world that they are the subject of the very first stories. They are so bright, so vivid, that mankind has long since given each of the stars their own name. Constellations are called kingdoms, with each star being one of its greatest heroes. There is the Kingdom of Azure, the Umber Empire, the Magenta Kingdom, and the Emerald Empire. Each of these constellations have thousands of stories, each of the stars within them hundreds. The star, Asmos, of the Kingdom of Azure, who fought the Lightless Star and lost his third child in the battle. The stars Evale and Luster of Magenta and Umber, who fell in love, but are constantly kept away from each other, only being able to see each other every hundred years.

These stories have so many versions, so many renditions. They have existed since before mankind could write, in oral traditions handed down over the countless generations. Today, they have shaped the world so fully, that the world is still modeled after the stars. There is a true Kingdom of Azure, an Umber Empire, a Magenta Kingdom, and a distant Emerald Empire on the far continent. Each of these places modeled after the stories of the stars we as a species have heard for thousands of years, since the dawn of our existence when we looked to the bright lights at night for comfort.


Do the sun(s) or the moon(s) have any religious or other significance? Is there a calendar based upon their movements?
Our sun is called The Gift. In the belief of the history of stars, it is thought that the sun is the power of our world. It gifts us with magic, energy, the ability to live and survive. It is also here for the day that a champion comes to represent our world. Someday, our planet, our solar system, will meet a crisis. One that we cannot defeat with all our power. On this day, someone will absorb the power of the sun in its entirety. They will die in the process, but will save everyone. The sun will then be reborn, in a colour that represents the person who sacrificed themselves to save the world. Their story will be added to the stories of all the other stars and constellations, weaving into the epic narrative of the History of Stars.

The moon is a bit of a mystery. It's been a subject of study for thousands of years. It's phases affect our planet drastically, as it is often much closer than other times. These dips and rises determine much on our planet. Over the course of a twenty year period, the dips get lower and the rises stay the same. At the end of the twenty year period, the moon is so close to our planet that it breaks the atmosphere. This is to the far south of our planet, where no habitable lands exist. There was once an empire there, but all the people and buildings are abandoned and gone. Lifeless. No one has attempted to build or conquer there since. Because at this moment, when the moon breaks the atmosphere every twenty years, it causes terrible storms around that small island of a continent. The effects of that twisting whirlpool are felt all over the world and trade is closed off for most of that two day period. Then after that, it rises back up and the cycle restarts. Every culture has their own legend or story about the moon, and they are all different.

Is there any sort of recurring event which changes the picture of the sky drastically?
Well, the moon does break our atmosphere every twenty years. That might be what you call drastic.

What does an ordinary person know about the stellar bodies in the sky?
The average person has heard many of the stories, the epics, concerning the stars in the night sky. These stories are largely considered to be truth, and even the educated, scientific class of society doesn't dismiss them as possibilities, in the light of magic and what we know of our own sun. There are millions of stories, however, so no one knows which ones could be the truthful one, or if any of them are.

 

[Mundane Monster]

[So I'm trying to create my own world and just testing out these loose plot bits]


What colour is the sky during the day?

A bright and pleasant blue.

What colour is the sky during the night?

The sky remains the same color that it was when it was day time. What provides the illusion of night time are the clouds from the northern mountain. When the animals cease their music and retreat to their homes in the forest, the northern mountain comes to life and pushes its clouds over the village. The clouds cover the village in a depressing gloom and the villagers go to sleep.

How many suns does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? How large are they?

What is 'sun'?

How many moons does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? Do they go through lunar cycles? When are they visible? How large are they?

The moon descends from the Heavens although it does not benefit or harm the village in any way. It is simply a gesture made by the angels to reassure us that they are still present. They send the moon after the clouds from the northern mountain settle. As the moon is forever bright and bold, it floats in front of the clouds and never behind. Every night it sits in the night sky like the round face of a giant overlooking the village. By the time daylight returns, the moon has been taken back by the angels to serve them during their night.

Does the night sky have stars at all? If so, what are the major constellations in the night sky?

A star is an angel. And all of the angels left years ago to create a home above the sky.

Do any of the constellations have a story associated with them? If yes, please describe the story briefly.

No one but the Eld knows this and he is on his death bed. His memories will be lost when he passes.

Do the sun(s) or the moon(s) have any religious or other significance? Is there a calendar based upon their movements?

No.

Does the night sky change over the course of the night?

No.

Is there any sort of recurring event which changes the picture of the sky drastically?

Only when the northern mountain sends its clouds.

What does an ordinary person know about the stellar bodies in the sky?

The Eld knows but he cannot tell.

 

[Minibit]

What colour is the sky during the day?
Green, there is a thick atmosphere of fog
What colour is the sky during the night?
darker green
How many suns does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? How large are they?
One, farther away than the earth's sun is, so it's a bit colder. It's also on a slower orbit, so days and nights are both longer.
How many moons does the world have? How do they move in relation to each other? Do they go through lunar cycles? When are they visible? How large are they?
Three, all of which are brighter than Earth's moon, and reflect more from the sun. Therefore the nights are considerably brighter and warmer than the earth nights are relative to earth days.
Does the night sky have stars at all? If so, what are the major constellations in the night sky?
Yes but they're not visible due to the thick, constantly cloudy atmosphere
Do any of the constellations have a story associated with them? If yes, please describe the story briefly.
N/A
Do the sun(s) or the moon(s) have any religious or other significance? Is there a calendar based upon their movements?
Celestial bodies are difficult to track, because the atmosphere obscures most of them. The sun is visible faintly on most days, and its passage is mostly known as the time when it's a bit warmer and lighter. Calendars are created around more weather-type things than celestial bodies; the atmosphere changes during the cold season, and is marked by weather patterns. There is no traditional calendar like the one we use on Earth, but it is known roughly how long each season lasts, and inhabitants watch for the changes from one season to the next.
Does the night sky change over the course of the night?
At night, because it is still colder than during the day, even though nights on this world are warmer than nights on Earth, it changes the molecules in the foggy atmosphere, causing more electric storms. Nights are typically characterized by lots of thunder and sheet lightning in the dead of night, easing up as morning nears, although the storms are pretty much constant because of the makeup of the atmosphere constantly generating electricity.
Is there any sort of recurring event which changes the picture of the sky drastically?
no
What does an ordinary person know about the stellar bodies in the sky?
Next to nothing. They know that the sun is warmer than the moons, that outside the atmosphere it is dark, and that although the atmosphere of the planet makes the sky look green, the sky outside their atmosphere is not green.

 

[Jhuton]

The sky was a reflection of the despair engulfing the land. It's black-crimson tint never wavering or giving way to a brighter hue. The cold sun Avida was ever present, its white bodily appearance in stark contrast to the tenebrous sky which accommodated it. Avida gave no warmth, only ice cold radiation which kept the landscape ever frozen. No stars peaked from behind the ominous black clouds, no celestial beauties to gawk at. Lightening striked in a frenetic manner across the sky, illuminating the rusty ice particles shed by the clouds. It seemed even the blood of the clouds froze over in the cursed sky. The sky was red. And also black. Then it bled and shed some of it's accumulated toxins. The sky was white as raw flesh of a newly opened wound with each lightening bolt, then it went back to its dark crimson as the blood seeped back into it