Starwhale Stories

Can a planet be lonely? Sure it can. And Starwhale wished this particular lonely planet could have a friend. Little did he know just how his wish would come true! It gains a friend alright--but not in the way you at first expect!

Themes: Moon Origins (planetary collision theory), Orbits

When Starwhale comes across a stranded spaceship in an urgent hurry to somewhere (the language barrier gets in the way a bit) he can't help but help. Then his curiosity takes hold and he can't help but follow the ship and crew to their destination. After a bit of a wait, and a spaceship gate, he finally realizes why those he helped didn't want to be late!

Themes: Cryovolcanoes, Ice Planets, Traffic, Being Helpful

The moon's orbit was always odd to say the least but the mining was the richest in the planetary system so... the miners put up with it. That all changes after a fateful pass by a neighboring giant gas planet where orbits go from odd to downright dangerous. Starwhale arrives just in time to sound the alarm. What's happening to this moon!? And will the miners make it home?

Themes: Moon Volcanoes, Moon Mining, Io (Jupiter's Moon), Gravitational Disturbances, Orbits

Ahhh-Choo! Starwhale has drifted through an interstellar dust cloud and it's tickling his nose and giving him allergies and disrupting his nap! In his fitful rest he has an unsettling and incredible dream that leaves him wondering if there's not more to his sneezes and the dust specks than watery eyes and sternutations. 

Themes: Multiverse Theory, Nanotechnology, The Edge of the Universe, Fate of the Universe

Brace yourselves! This one's a bit silly... On a visit to an ocean-covered planet, Starwhale plays a constellation naming game with a civilization. They trace the stars and see giant "sky-sponges," come up with the best word for a triangle constellation, have a good laugh in the process. Somewhere in the silliness you learn what constellations are and start asking questions about our place in the universe.

Themes: Constellations, Languages, Fermi's Paradox (brief cameo/digression), General Silliness

A pristine planet hangs on the brink of all-out war. An interstellar visitor arrives as the two stand nose to nose. Both armies demand info on how to gain the upper hand to win the war and rule the planet. How will Starwhale navigate this precarious situation?

How do you deal with the death of your massive star, a supernova, and a black hole? And how might a civilization make it past a thousand, million, or even billion years? These are just a few questions Starwhale hadn't thought about until he discovers an odd galaxy of in the remote corner of the universe.

Themes: Interstellar Civilizations and Travel, Black Holes, Massive Stars, Life of the Universe, Sentience, Computers/Data

Space is a serious place, right? You might think that there's no time for fun and games out there in the cold and dangerous vacuum... Well think again and prep yourself for a double take as Starwhale answers an invitation to one of a galaxy's most peculiar sporting events.

Underlying Themes: Newton's First Law, Escape Velocity, Gravity, and of course-Team Spirit.

Mining is hard work! But its especially hard and dangerous on a moon in outer space! Solar eruptions and electromagnetic disturbances only make things trickier and Starwhale arrives in just the nick of time to help out and catch the stunning auroras.

Have you ever spun on the swings at a playground? Or hung onto a merry go round until it threw you off because it was going so fast? Up until now, Starwhale hadn't done anything of the sort. But when an interstellar nap turns into a gravitational spiral, Starwhale gets a dizzying taste of centripetal force!