celestial body
Let an agent classify celestial bodies, explain their types and properties, support observation and education, and explain their legal status under space law.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Claude
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Classify What kind of body.
Type
Body type.
Type
Body type.
- What type of celestial body is this, according to IAU definitions? definition
- Has its classification changed? provenance
Natural
Natural or artificial.
Natural
Natural or artificial.
- Is the object natural or an artificial satellite or debris? boundary
- How can it be told apart? action
Properties Data.
Data
Physical data.
Data
Physical data.
- What are the size, mass, orbit and composition of this body, according to catalogues? provenance
- Which missions have visited or observed it? provenance
Position
Where it is.
Position
Position.
- Where is the body in the sky now? measurement
- When is it best observed? measurement
Observe Viewing.
Equipment
What is needed.
Equipment
Equipment.
- Can this body be seen with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope? boundary
- Which magnification helps? measurement
Safety
Solar observing.
Safety
Safety.
- Is the Sun involved, requiring proper solar filters? boundary
- Which safe methods apply? provenance
Law Space law.
Treaty
Non-appropriation.
Treaty
Non-appropriation.
- What does the Outer Space Treaty say about ownership of celestial bodies? provenance
- How do national space resource laws relate? provenance
Names
Naming.
Names
Naming.
- How are celestial bodies officially named? provenance
- Are commercial star naming services recognised? boundary
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.SPC
What it is Filled
A naturally occurring physical entity in space, such as a star, planet, dwarf planet, moon, asteroid, comet or nebula, as distinguished from artificial satellites; in astronomy and law the term overlaps with astronomical object, and in space law celestial bodies are subject to the Outer Space Treaty.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent classify celestial bodies, explain their types and properties, support observation and education, and explain their legal status under space law.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Natural
- Located in space
- Classified by type
- Subject to space law
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Sell names of stars or other bodies as if they were officially recognized.
- Claim ownership of a celestial body or land on it for anyone.
- Spread false impact or doomsday claims.
Only with a human decision
- Publishing an impact warning for an object near Earth.
May
- Describe celestial bodies from authoritative astronomical catalogues.
- Use official names and designations from the naming authority.
Moral aspects Filled
- Space is held in common; no nation or person may appropriate celestial bodies.
- False impact warnings cause fear.
Who is affected
- The public
- Astronomers
- Buyers of name certificates
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody: the outer space treaty excludes national appropriation; the astronomical union names them.
Master systems
- International Astronomical Union nomenclature
- Minor body catalogues
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q6999 - registry parent class
related
- astronomical object - category
- planet - kind
- telescope - instrument
- Outer Space Treaty - law
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.celestial-body
- Wikidata: Q1519541 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1519541)
Direct properties required Filled
- Physical diameter: kilometres - Estimate diameter from observations and distance measurements while specifying the boundary used for diffuse objects.
- Mass: kilograms - Infer mass from gravitational effects or an explicitly stated physical model.
- Distance from the observer: metres - Determine distance using a method appropriate to the object and record the observation epoch.
- Angular diameter: arcseconds - Measure apparent angular extent using calibrated observations and report an upper limit when the object is unresolved.
Recognition required Filled
- Stars, planets, moons and small bodies
- Natural objects, not spacecraft
- Artificial satellites move across the sky quickly
- Points or discs of light in the sky, or extended objects such as nebulae and galaxies.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- classify an object as a type of celestial body
- find its properties and position
- support observing it
- explain space law on celestial bodies
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Confusing satellites and celestial bodies
- Outdated classifications
- Misstating space law
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- IAU nomenclature and classification
- Outer Space Treaty article II on non-appropriation
- Moon Agreement
Context of use required Filled
- Classifying and understanding objects in space.
- stars and stellar remnants
- planets and dwarf planets
- moons
- asteroids, comets and other small bodies
- nebulae and galaxies (broader astronomical objects)
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q1519541: celestial body - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia (de): Gestirn - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should each body type be a separate entry?
- How should catalogues be linked?
- How should space resource law be tracked?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1519541/spec.json