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01-016 "61 Cygni: Vanishing Oasis"
2001, digital

No planets are yet known in the double star system of 61 Cygni, although a false report of giant worlds here was among the first ever made (in 1942). If planets do circle one or both of these orange suns, they would have the other star as a brilliant but tiny addition to their sky; the imaginary terrestrial world seen here shows considerable light on its night side courtesy its near neighbor. The primary star for the planet is out of view to the bottom right. Dominating the star field is Orion the hunter, slightly distorted - we are 11 light years from Earth here. Although the star patterns are familiar, there are definite changes; orange Aldebaran has scooted away from the "V" shaped Hyades, left and below the planet. The "seven sisters" of the Pleiades cluster are to their right, and as they are more distant, appear much as we see them.

The planet itself looks very different from Earth, but appearances can be deceiving. Boasting all the major geologic forms of our planet, this world is actually only deficient in its inventory of one molecule: water. With a smaller mass and gravity than Earth, this warm planet has been slowly losing its gases to space; with the shore line receding every year, it will not be long until the twin suns gaze down on a lifeless body like Mars. If humans encountered such a world on the edge of extinction, could we save it somehow? Or would our ethics cause us to let nature take its painful course?

Chris Butler