TomMazanec
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2020
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- 464
English novelette or novella. Probably 1950s or 1960s.
Astronomer observes spots, etc. on planets and calculates that they are caused by a black dwarf approaching the inner solar system on multi-millennial highly eccentric orbit. Last passage caused Great Deluge Catastrophe, this one will do the same. Manages to get world to prepare some, so some survive. But this time the black dwarf actually falls into the sun. This causes sunspots to multiply and grow, eventually covering the whole photosphere, which then collapses and turns sun into white dwarf. Again, astronomer realizes this will happen and manages to save a few in Pail of Air type world.
Astronomer observes spots, etc. on planets and calculates that they are caused by a black dwarf approaching the inner solar system on multi-millennial highly eccentric orbit. Last passage caused Great Deluge Catastrophe, this one will do the same. Manages to get world to prepare some, so some survive. But this time the black dwarf actually falls into the sun. This causes sunspots to multiply and grow, eventually covering the whole photosphere, which then collapses and turns sun into white dwarf. Again, astronomer realizes this will happen and manages to save a few in Pail of Air type world.