A comet ring, or comet belt, is a field of comets which form an elliptical pattern in orbit around a star, similar to an asteroid belt.
History and specifics[]
Beginning in the 2240s decade, the cometary belt in the Karabos system was studied by Aulacri as a source of comets to reclaim their original homeworld Karabos II through terraforming. They calculated the orbital mechanics needed to redirect selected comets to the planet using thruster units, and initiated the plan in the early 2260s. (TOS novel: The Captain's Oath)
In 2267, the starship USS Enterprise investigated the outer comet ring in the Tyrtaeus system. A mobile artifact within the ring was inhabited by an ancient civilization that had withdrawn to live only in virtual reality. (TOS novel: Heart of the Sun)
Periodic impacts of comets from a belt near Cha'Xirrac harmed its atmosphere and ecosystem. In 2372, Osgood helped plot a model of the belt to track its activity and interaction with the planet. (DS9 - Day of Honor novel: Armageddon Sky)
An outer comet ring formed within the Koliba system. In 2382, Julian Bashir was stranded in the system not far from the ring. (ST - Typhon Pact novel: Zero Sum Game)
In fiction[]
In the 20th century Earth science fiction series The Adventures of Captain Proton, the Great Comet Storm was a comet ring in the outer Sol system consisting of several hundred comets. Dr. Chaotica refit hundreds of captured Earth spaceships on one of the comets. After being defeated by Mind-Sucking Ant Creature Warships, Chaotica attempted to escape by flying his ship through a comet's tail. (VOY - Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth novella: The Adventures of Captain Proton, Chapter Two: Death of the Patrol)
Appendices[]
Appearances and references[]
Appearances[]
- TOS novel: Heart of the Sun
- DS9 - Day of Honor novel: Armageddon Sky
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Zero Sum Game
References[]
External links[]
- Comet ring article at the Astronomy Now blog.
- Comet ring article at SciTechDaily.
- Comet ring article at The Hindu newspaper.