I was looking at this page, where it talks about the Vectra system's planets and such. Me, knowing some orbital equations, decided to calculate how far these planets were from their sun. I discovered a multitude of things (including one large miscalculation). All of the details you see below I had to calculate. It took me awhile to do all of this, but it was fun. I may have done things wrong, and some of the information may be wrong. Feel free to debate, and I hope you enjoy.

Strak
Strak's Year in Earth Days: 124
Strak's Year in the Earth Year: .339
Strak's Distance from Sun in Astronomical Units (AUs): 0.486
Strak's Distance from Sun: 73,031,000 kilometers from the sun

In short, this planet is around the same distance Mercury is to our sun. Actually, not exactly. During Mercury's farthest point in its orbit (the aphelion) they are about the same. It says on our website that life does exist on the planet. Could life actually exist on this planet? No. It says on our website that it has no atmosphere, but in response to that, it says: "Imperial scientists have yet to discover how exactly the Cleoggi survive on the planet without any atmosphere whatsoever." Though, I could imagine it would be extremely hot on the planet, and life would perish. Not as hot if it had an atmosphere. Though, on Mercury, the dark side can get down to -200 degrees Fahrenheit while the bright side can get up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The sapient species would have a hard time adjusting to the temperature extremes.

Another thing I would like to note it that it says the rotation period is 8 standard hours. Now if the planet were smaller, it wouldn't be a problem, but their is a lot of centrifugal force in a rotation period this small. The planet would eventually begin flinging parts of itself into space and it would fall apart. Though, the planet may be small enough to sustain an rotation period this small. They don't give enough information.

Berchat
Berchat's Year in Earth Days: 383.16...6
Berchat's Year in the Earth Year: 1.049
Berchat's Distance from Sun in Astronomical Units (AUs): 1.033
Berchat's Distance from Sun: 154,950,000 kilometers from the sun

It says on our website that this planet is hot. But it is very close to Earth's orbit (actually farther). So what makes it hot? It's atmosphere could be very thick, and it could trap in the heat (kind of like Venus or what we're doing do ourselves with global warming). It is a Type III atmosphere, meaning it either doesn't have the right gases for humans to breathe or sufficient pressure. If it is the latter, we can rule out the thick atmosphere. A thick atmosphere would cause more pressure.

Another probable cause for it being hot is the sun being hotter. This doesn't necessarily mean that the sun would be bigger. Often, large suns are cooler because of the lack of density. This would mean that Strak would be even hotter, thus ruling out the probability for life even more. Hot suns also burn up quicker, not allowing enough time for life to develop (or evolve) into intelligent beings.

Tague
Tague's Year in Earth Days: 688.875
Tague's Year in the Earth Year: 1.887
Tague's Distance from Sun in Astronomical Units (AUs): 1.527
Tague's Distance from Sun: 229,081,000 kilometers from the sun

There isn't really interesting about Tague, the gas giant. The only thing I can point out is that it is that Mars is farther away from our sun than this planet, but our website also says that it is hot. Is it because of its thick atmosphere or because of the heat of the sun?

Though, there is quite a bit interesting its moon, Abrae. On our website it says the year length of Abrae, but it is a moon. Moon's don't have year lengths unless they're talking about its orbit around its planet. Or maybe they're talking about the time it takes Abrae and Tague to orbit the sun? But that can't be correct, because their year lengths would be the same. On our website, it says the year lengths are different.

If I have Tague's radius, mass, etc. be the same as Jupiter, and I have the orbital period for Abrae be what it says the year length is on our website (981 local days which can be equated into Earth days), Abrae's orbital radius equals 16,919,309.6 kilometers. This length may seem like a lot, but for a gas giant that size, it is fully plausible.

Etchik
Etchik's Year in Earth Days: 168.083
Etchik's Year in the Earth Year: 0.46
Etchik's Distance from Sun in Astronomical Units (AUs): 0.596
Etchik's Distance from Sun: 89,449,000 kilometers from the sun

Someone miscalculated this planet big time. Based on its year, it is in fact not the farthest planet in this solar system. It is the second farthest. Big mistake. I laughed when I saw it. Based on this information, it is not a cold planet at all. Another interesting thing I noticed is the rotation period (which is 2 hours). At this rate (as aforementioned about Strak), the planet's centrifugal force would rip itself apart, and it would not exist.

While I admire those who can play with numbers and not instantly give themselves headaches, I'll echo Raziel's sentiment.  Actually, I'll go further: to me, Star Wars is Fantasy, not Science Fiction.  Even though there's metal and lasers and rivets, at heart the space opera story is peopled by charming rogues, evil monarchs, mysterious wizards, and princesses in distress.  The rest is set dressing.

NOTE: distances in image not to scale

white - VE presence
red - no VE presence

No worries, Ech.  Some people talk numbers for fun, and some people draw rudimentary system charts using simple geometric shapes in a graphics program.  It takes all kinds to rule the Galaxy. 

Quote:Why don't you start by calculating the rotational period required for  the earth's surface feel a balance between centripetal and gravitational forces at the equator.

This confuses me. What exactly are you asking?

Are you asking the amount of rotational force to balance the centripetal force plus gravitational forces at the equator? (In other words: rotation period vs gravity and centripetal force)

Or are you asking me to find the rotation period to balance the centripetal force and gravity. (Gravity vs. Centripetal force)

I'm slightly confused. I was working on something, but I looked back at what you were asking, and I wasn't sure what you meant.

Its my fault, not yours.

Ah, well, I figured out the number anyway.

And I wasn't doing thing to prove anything. I was really doing this for the fun of it and because I was bored.

Very interesting Doc - that link you gave.

I really do like a plausible scientific explanation to stuff because it is all to fascinating. Sometimes there isn't one; from there your imagination takes the wheel, like you have done with in that link.

Very cool. Very cool.