How scientific can you go?

[CaptainsofCrush4]

When you’re writing in a setting that takes place in outer space, in particular on another planet (Neptune), how detailed should it be?

In my mind, I’d like to read scientific papers about Neptune and others that pertain to planetary sciences.

Is this going too far?

 

[Naomasa298]

It depends how scientific you want to be. People have different expectations.

You aren't the chap from the old forum who was talking about setting a story on Neptune, are you?

 

[X Equestris]

When you’re writing in a setting that takes place in outer space, in particular on another planet (Neptune), how detailed should it be?

This hinges entirely on what kind of story you want to write and who’s in your target audience.

The Martian by Andy Weir is pretty hard sci-fi, going into a lot of detail on Mars and what it would take for an astronaut to survive there alone. By contrast, Event Horizon takes place on a missing starship rediscovered (coincidentally) around Neptune, which is mostly just a backdrop. However, it doesn’t need to be too detailed when it’s sci-fi horror focused on events aboard the Event Horizon.

As a rule, hard sci-fi readers tend to like lots of scientific detail. But if you’re writing hard sci-fi, you need to be certain all those details are correct, because someone will rake you over the coals otherwise.