Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: What's up with the Blue Moon?

Greetings loyal readers. Thanks for being here. As we watch for the final moments of planet Harappa some of you may be wondering whats up with the Blue Moon.

Some time ago I mentioned that the “Harvest Day” explosion did not in itself wreck the orbit of planet Harappa. What the blast did was break the bond between the Blue Moon and Harappa. It had been the Blue Moon that held planet Harappa in a stable orbit. Once the two worlds were no longer interlocked in an orbital dance Harappa started spiraling towards it’s sun.

What’s up with the Blue Moon? Originally some astronomers thought the moon, a small gas giant, would dissipate and crumble away. Not so, says the passing of time. The Blue Moon is not falling apart. It is holding firm but it is now a “rogue” planet. It seems to be free from the gravitational pull of it’s sun. The gaseous moon seems headed straight out of the planetary system. Estimates are that it will leave the system in about seven thousand years. It will then be a true rogue planet, wandering the galaxy free from the pull of any star unless some eon down the road it gets grabbed.

I suppose if any illumaphane had ever been found in the Blue Moon someone would be following the thing doing whatever could be done to get the stuff. As the world is only a giant gas bag with little of value beyond the diamond core which is not really accessible, it is nothing more than a galactic curiosity.

For someone who spent his early life watching the Blue Moon waiting for it to block the sun every twelve years, it seems strange that the moon is to become a solitary wanderer, affecting no one or anything.

For Harappans we watched the Blue Moon constantly with some fear and trepidation. Almost every day every Harappan would look up and see the ominous Blue Moon and do a quick calculation on how long till the next “Dark Time”. The Blue Moon was such a huge part of life on Harappa.

Tomorrow what about the White Moon and the seventeen mini-moons?

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480