30 degrees latitude: how do I know?

[Andraeianus I]

One can build the space elevator close to the equator only. The city has to be within 30 degrees latitude. But how can one know beforehand which city will be suitable?

 

[Truronian]

See if Space Elevator is an option in your city build screen. I don't think there is another way (I think basically it works out at having to be built in former jungle/desert).

 

[Andraeianus I]

I want to build to build the iron works in this city beforehand. So checking the buildlist is too late.

Maybe just count the tiles???

 

[Pounder]

Basically divide the map in three, middle third is then the range (top and bottom thirds are out).

You could always turn the grid on and count tiles.

 

[ChicagoCubs]

This is where Stonehenge and/or circumnavigating the globe first come in handy. Once the map is centered, you can either guestimate it by dividing the map in thirds or by actually counting the tiles. Granted, that is if you want to plan that far in advance.

 

[Andraeianus I]

Basically divide the map in three, middle third is then the range (top and bottom thirds are out).

You could always turn the grid on and count tiles.

Okay, this seems the only option. I had hoped for some cityscreen info that would give this kind of information. I consider it a game flaw that the game is referring to some kind of information that is not an element in the game.

 

[Dagoril]

One thing I noticed when I built the Elevator a few games ago...

My continent went from north pole to south pole. As you know there is a band on continents like this that are overwhelmingly Jungle tiles at the start. When I was checking on where to build the Elevator, I noticed that any city that had been built in that Jungle band had the option to build it. In addition, some cities just outside that band also had the option. Even the cities far enough away that there had ben zero Jungle tiles in their fat cross at the beginning. However, nothing further north or south than a city like that.

My map won't be the same as yours of course, but as a general rule, anything in the Jungle Belt is fair game, plus the first cities just north and south of it as well if you're lucky.

 

[Zebra 9]

I've never been able to build the space elevator, and I didn't know that it had a limit to where it could be built. So I was wondering does anybody know why. I t just does not make any sense.

 

[Sohan]

It's easier to get from the ground through the atmosphere into space by going straight up from the equator than it is to do so by moving from the ground at an angle I guess?

 

[dauphin]

I guess it has to do with that the upper end of the elevator has to be in a stable orbit that matches the speed and the direction of earth rotation (and thus of the lower end). If you take the extremest example and place the elevator on the north pole, the upper end would be stationary too, couldn't orbit at all and would crash onto earth (or fly away into the void).

Please correct me if I overlook something with this.

 

[Truronian]

I guess it has to do with that the upper end of the elevator has to be in a stable orbit that matches the speed and the direction of earth rotation (and thus of the lower end). If you take the extremest example and place the elevator on the north pole, the upper end would be stationary too, couldn't orbit at all and would crash onto earth (or fly away into the void).

Please correct me if I overlook something with this.

I think this is pretty much it. It would require a geostationary orbit, and thus would have to be built on the equator.

 

[The Great Apple]

There should really be something telling you in advance which cities are able to build it. Maybe something in the mouse-over info of a plot when you have a centralised map.

Explainations about geostationary orbits are correct. IIRC you should be able to get away with a geosynchronous orbit, where the elevator has a bit of a wobble relative to the earth, but still orbits once every 24 hours - hence it need not be built exactly on the equator. This covers the requirement for it to be within 30 degrees of the equator.

 

[Judge Dee]

Re the space elevator: is the elevator bonus cumulative with the one you get from laboratories?

 

[The Tyrant]

There should really be something telling you in advance which cities are able to build it. Maybe something in the mouse-over info of a plot when you have a centralised map.

Or have those lattitudes shown on the worldview -- could be made a clickable option so you don't see them unless you want them. Anyone feel like modding?

 

[Yarmoss]

If you see lots of Jungle, chances are you are on or near the equator.

Civ doesnt have much realism in it, but at least terrain types losely fit in with their real life couterparts.

 

[Commander Bello]

It's easier to get from the ground through the atmosphere into space by going straight up from the equator than it is to do so by moving from the ground at an angle I guess?

The space elevator has to be near the equator, to make the maximum use of the speed of earth rotation, which is the highest at the equator.

 

[Copilot]

It's the same reason why IRL launch pads are built near the equator

 

[Seleukos Helios]

The space elevator has to be near the equator, to make the maximum use of the speed of earth rotation, which is the highest at the equator.

It's the same reason why IRL launch pads are built near the equator

It's not quite the same reason. Launch pads are ideally located close to the equator so the rockets can take advantage of the Earth's rotation. The space elevator on the other hand is already partially in space. The lower part rotates along with the Earth according to the latitude where it is set. The upper part is in orbit - it's trajectory depends on its altitude, latitude and direction. As we wouldn't want the two parts to rotate in different ways, which would cause the elevator to wrap itself around the Earth and collapse, the upper part should be always right above the lower part. The only way to achieve this is for the lower part to be on the Equator and the upper part in geo-synchronous orbit. A small deviation in latitude from the Equator would be acceptable if the two parts are linked with a means of some flexibility (such as the cable in the Space Elevator wonder movie). If the Elevator were to have the form of a tower (as in Arthur Clarke's 3001 Final Odyssey), it would have to be right on the equator.

Dauphin, Truronian and The Great Apple have it right.

Oh, and there should be some easy way to see latitude on the map. I find it a bit irritating too.

 

[The Great Apple]

If the Elevator were to have the form of a tower (as in Arthur Clarke's 3001 Final Odyssey), it would have to be right on the equator.

Not if the tower was really strong.

 

[Seleukos Helios]

Not if the tower was really strong.

It would have to be freakishly strong. The upper part would not be in a stable orbit, so the only structural advantage in building a space elevator would be gone. It would have to be supported from collapsing just like in any terrestrial tower, only at a total height of over 36000km. Although, to be honest, I’ve never seriously studied the physical properties of such a project, so I’m not sure if there are any other helpful conditions. Maybe something to do during the weekend...