Tolimán alone

This being Thanksgiving we should all pause to reflect on what is most important to us ... colonialism.

Some while ago I was musing about Alpha Centauri. Probably not inhabited. Probably not a good idea to inhabit except by Beltalowda in O'Neills around, oh, Centauri-Proxima L4 and L5 and even those will need to make their own fuel. Although I did wonder if the Alpha Centauri / Tolimán interspace hath Hilda.

I was reminded of this when peeking in at Centauri Dreams. They noted that Proxima is going to be a flare-star for a long time. I am pondering now Tolimán, aka the Ẓalīmān, aka "B". It's a K type, supposedly ideal. If it weren't being roasted by the local Alpha.

The local Alpha won't be with us forever. Actually the whole system will eventually run by us, so - this is looking to the long-term. Alpha bears 1.1 Solar masses which, by the handy equation M^-2.5, means its total lifespan is 0.788 Solar lifespans. Our sun approximates, what, 1E+10? so, 7.88 beellyion years of which Alpha (and Tolimán) has/have already used 5.3.

A lot can happen in 2.5 billion years. By then of course our own Earth won't be liveable, whatever we do, whatever this liar says. More to the point our whole galaxy will be sucked into Andromeda. Although, that won't affect the mutual dance between Tolimán and Alpha. Might budge Proxima.

When Alpha goes red-giant, this will bake off whatever volatiles are in the Tolimán / Alpha Hilda. Good news: when Alpha falls back to white-dwarf, more volatiles will be spilled out - a lot of them, I think, to be drained into Tolimán. And maybe into Proxima if it's still around, although if so I bet Proxima is taking her leave at this point.

Anyway Tolimán should have another 4.96 billion after Red Alpha bombards it, although depending on how much mass Alpha bestows upon it, that number might go down.