The 23rd century is the century of the Christian Era or Common Era which, in the Gregorian calendar, begins on January 1, 2201 and ends on December 31, 2300.

Predictions for the 23rd century[link]

Astronomical predictions[link]

List of the long total solar eclipses[link]

• July 27, 2204: Solar eclipse,^[1] (7 min 22 s), of saros 139.
• August 8, 2222: Solar eclipse,^[2] (7 min 06 s), of saros 139.
• August 18, 2240: Solar eclipse,^[3] (6 min 40 s), of saros 139.
• May 7, 2255: Solar eclipse,^[4] (6 min 22 s), of saros 142.
• August 29, 2258: Solar eclipse, ^[5] (6 min 09 s), of saros 139.
• May 17, 2273: Solar eclipse,^[6] (6 min 31 s), of saros 142.
• May 28, 2291: Solar eclipse,^[7] (6 min 34 s), of saros 142, "crowning" this series.

Other phenomena[link]

• 2209 and 2284: perihelion of Comet Halley.
• 2221: Triple conjunction of Mars and Saturn.
• December 2, 2223: At 12:32 UTC Mars will occult Jupiter.
• 2238/2239: Triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (whose last triple conjunction was in 1981).
• August 12, 2243: At 04:52 UTC, Venus will occult Saturn.
• June 11, 2247: Transit of Venus.
• March 4, 2251: At 10:52 UTC, Venus will occult Uranus.
• In 2252, the planetoid Orcus will have completed one orbit of the Sun since its discovery in 2004, based upon current orbital measurements which give it a period of 248 Earth years.
• August 1, 2253: Mercury occults Regulus (last occultation of Regulus by Mercury was on August 13, 364 BC).
• June 9, 2255: Transit of Venus.
• 2256 to 2258: Eris will reach perihelion for the first time since discovery.
• October 6, 2271: Close conjunction between Venus and Regulus, perhaps occultation of Regulus by Venus.
• 2279: Triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.
• 2281, 2282: Grand Trine of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. This last occurred in 1769 and 1770.
• Sunday, August 28, 2287: Closest approach between Mars and Earth since Wednesday, August 27, 2003.
• In 2288, the planetoid Quaoar will have completed one orbit of the Sun since its discovery in 2002, which, based upon current orbital measurements, gives it a period of 286 Earth years.

Other predictions[link]

• 2300: The United Nations projects that life expectancies in most developed countries will be 87–106 years, and slowly rising, though rising more slowly than before. However, these projections also show that life expectancies in poor countries will still be less than in rich countries in 2300, in some cases by as much as 20 years, and the UN itself mentioned that gaps in life expectancy so far in the future will likely not exist, especially since the exchange of technology between rich and poor countries and the industrialization and development of poor countries will cause their life expectancies to fully converge with those of rich countries long before that point, similarly to how life expectancies between rich and poor countries have already been converging over the last 60 years as better medicine, technology, and living conditions became accessible to many people in poor countries. The UN has warned that these projections are uncertain, and caution that any change or advancement in medical technology could invalidate their projections.^[8]
• 2300: The U.N. projects the world population in 2300 to be about 10 billion, but any changes in future birthrates or in projections of future life expectancy could invalidate those projections as well.^[8]
• 2300: Google's master plan to index all the world's information and make it searchable could be achieved, according to Eric E. Schmidt.^[9]

Easter[link]

Unless changes are made in the religious calendar, in 2285, the Western Easter will fall on March 22 for the first time since 1818, the earliest possible date on which Easter can occur.

Religious predictions[link]

Judaism[link]

• According to the Jewish interpretation of creation, Adam was created in 3761 BCE. It will have been 6,000 years since then in 2239 CE, thereby initiating a spiritual Sabbatical on a global scale lasting a thousand years (the 7th Millennium on the Hebrew Calendar).^[10] On the same basis, the common assumption^{[citation needed]} in 16th-century Europe was that the current world would end in 2242. Even Nostradamus's well-known prediction that his prophecies would run out in 3797, first made in 1555 (see Nostradamus source-list), would seem to fit this tradition (3797 - 1555 = 2242).^[11]

• According to a number of Jewish scholars, the Year 6000 (CE 2240) of the Hebrew calendar is the latest time for the initiation of the Messianic Age.

See Eschatology: Judaism.

Johannes Trithemius[link]

• Age of Michael ends according to Johannes Trithemius in 2233.

Science fiction set in the 23rd century[link]

Literature[link]

• The Final Sanction by Steve Lyons, a novel based on Doctor Who featuring the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe (set in the year 2204).
• The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman (a large portion set in the 23rd century)
• The Fortunate Fall, a novel by Raphael Carter.
• The Glass Bead Game, a novel by Hermann Hesse.
• Pennterra, a novel by Judith Moffett.
• Satellite Night trilogy, by Nick Pollotta.
• Sundiver, a novel by David Brin.
• Methuselah's Children, a novel by Robert A. Heinlein, begins in the 22nd century and terminates in the 23rd century.
• Friday, a novel by Robert A. Heinlein, probably happens in the 23rd century.
• Hip Flask, a series of graphic novels published by Image Comics.
• Alliance-Union universe, backdrop for a series of novels by C. J. Cherryh extending into the 24th century.
• Blue Mars of Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy. The books ends in the first years of the 23rd century.
• We Who Survived, a novel by Sterling Noel. The book runs from September 2203 to December 2204. The solar system passes through a cosmic dust cloud, which precipitates a worldwide drop in temperatures and an increase of precipitation, bringing on a fifth Ice Age, expected to last for at least 122 years.

Television and film[link]

Star Trek[link]

The majority of Star Trek and the first six movies are set in the 23rd century.

• Montgomery Scott, born 2222.
• Leonard McCoy, born 2227.
• Spock, born 2230.
• James T. Kirk, born on March 22, 2233.
• Hikaru Sulu, born 2237.
• Nyota Uhura, born 2239.
• Pavel Chekov, born 2245.
• USS Enterprise is launched in 2245.
• Star Trek (alternate timeline - opening 2233, parts early 2240s, 2249, 2255, primary plotline 2258)
• Star Trek: The Original Series (pilots 2254 and 2265, series 2266–2269)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269–2270)
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2273, two-and-a-half years after the end of the series)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285)
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293)
• (In Part) Star Trek Generations (2293)

Space Battleship Yamato[link]

• 2201: Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato, anime film.
• 2201: Space Battleship Yamato II, anime series.
• 2201: Yamato: The New Voyage, anime film.
• 2202: Be Forever Yamato, anime film.
• 2203 or 2205: Space Battleship Yamato III, anime series.
• 2203: Final Yamato, anime film.
• 2220: Space Battleship Yamato: Resurrection, anime film.

Other television and film[link]

• Per Aspera Ad Astra (film)
• Starship Troopers is placed in the 23rd century, as said by Paul Verhoeven in the Director's commentary.
• Futurama backstory: Doctor Zoidberg's race, the Decapodians, first arrived on Earth, later causing the extinction of the anchovy.
• Many of the adult characters from Mobile Suit Gundam 00 were born in the 23rd century.
• Starhunter, the events take place across the latter half of the 23rd century, the 1st season in 2276-2286 and the 2nd season in 2300.
• Red Dwarf, parts of the series may be set in the 23rd century, evidenced by Lister stating that he is "an enlightened 23rd century guy." However, other episodes imply Lister is from the 21st century or 22nd century, and most of the series is set about 3 million years later.

• 2201: F-Zero: GP Legend, a videogame and TV-series.
• 2204: home time of the Futurians in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
• 2205: Bicentennial Man: Andrew Martin dies only hours shy of his 200th birthday.
• 2207: Mutant Chronicles
• 2208: Futurama' backstory: Scientists increased the speed of light in 2208.

• 2222: Quark (TV series)
• 2222: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series episode "Terminator Tomato from Tomorrow" takes place in the year 2222, where humanity has been enslaved by robots resembling giant tomatoes.
• 2225: most of Infinite Ryvius

• 2251: Skyland, a TV show on Nicktoons Network.
• 2257: Forbidden Planet
• 2258–2262: Babylon 5

• 2263: The Fifth Element. The full date is seen in the post-it-like clock, when the protagonist presses it to stop its beeping.
• 2267, 2270: Cargo
• 2274: Logan's Run
• 2293: Zardoz

Comics[link]

• The Marvel Comics time-travelling villain Zarko is from the 23rd century.

Audio dramas[link]

• The Stones of Venice, an audio drama based on Doctor Who featuring the Eighth Doctor and Charley Pollard.

Music[link]

• In the music video for Will Smith's song "Will 2K" from his album Willennium, one of the years he goes to is 2222.

Games[link]

Computer games[link]

• Quake 4 is set in the year 2245, as stated in the USS Hannibal's terminals.
• Wipeout Pulse takes place in the year 2207.
• StarQuest Online is set around 2216.
• In the StarCraft series, the United Powers League is said to be founded on Earth on November 22, 2229.
• Aliens versus Predator 2, a computer game, is set between November 23, 2230 and January 7, 2231. The introduction of the Predator campaign takes place on July 3, 2211.
• Escape Velocity is set in 2246.
• Fallout 2, set 80 years after the original Fallout, begins in 2241.
• Fallout 3 begins with the birth of the player character in 2258; the events of the main game begin in 2277.
• Fallout: New Vegas takes place in 2281, four years after Fallout 3.
• Unreal II: The Awakening is set around 2251.
• Unreal (series) The New Earth Government legalizes no holds-barred fighting 2291.
• Independence War (aka I-War), a large-scale spacecraft game is set in 2268.
• Freelancer 's introduction takes place in the 23rd century.
• Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords, the sandbox version of the game starts in 2225 and the campaign for the most part in the late 2220s.
• Malice takes place in the 23rd century.
• The Longest Journey takes place in 2209, and its sequel Dreamfall in 2219.
• Ogame is based around 2250.
• Lego Rock Raiders takes place in 2200.
• TimeSplitters 2 level "Return to Planet X" is set in 2280
• Halo, Invention of the SF Translight Engine happens in the 23rd century
• Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, Episode 4:Shadows of the Vashta Nerada, set in an underwater city(Posidon 8) in the 23rd century
• Permanent bans by tribunal in League of Legends will be lifted on December 8, 2285^[12]
• In Grand Theft Auto IV the character Elizabeta Torres is arrested and sentence to 300 years,from 2008 to 2308.

Arcade and console games[link]

• RayStorm, also known as Layer Section 2, takes place in the 23rd century, including a stage on August 5, 2219 among others.
• In Einhänder the Earth and Moon are at war, the events of the game transpiring sometime in 2245.
• Chrono Trigger, one of the time periods of this game is set in the year 2300, where the Earth is a post-apocalyptic, barren wasteland.
• Mega Man X: Command Mission takes place sometime after 2202, officially in 22XX.
• Megaman Starforce takes place in the year 220X.
• Mega Man Star Force 2 takes place in the year 220X.
• Mega Man Star Force 3 takes place in the year 220X.
• Silver the Hedgehog and Blaze the Cat from the Sonic the Hedgehog series live approximately 200 years in the future. (Around about 2206)
• Wipeout Pulse takes place in 2207.
• New York Race a game based on The Fifth Element (1997) is set in 2215, 48 years prior to the fifth element which is set in 2263.
• In Star Trek: Tactical Assault, the Starfleet campaign is set in 2284.
• Phalanx, a SNES game, takes place in 2279.
• In the Halo universe, humans invent the slipspace drive in 2291.
• Timesplitters: Future Perfect levels The Machine Wars and Something to Crow About take place in 2243.
• The Timesplitters 2 level 'Return to Planet X' is set in the year 2280
• The Turok Reboot takes place in or about 2208, 200 years after the game's release in 2008.
• The 2010 Aliens vs. Predator video game is set in the year 2209.

Other games[link]

• Risk 2210 A.D. is a variant of the board game Risk that takes place in the year 2210.
• The Game Designers Workshop role playing game 2300 AD's significant background events occurred in the 23rd century.

Centuries and millennia[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• 23rd century at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

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Robert Bechtle is an American painter, born in San Francisco, California, on May 14, 1932. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (1954) and Master of Fine Arts (1958) from the California College of Arts and Crafts, now the California College of the Arts, in Oakland, California.

Except for his military service in Germany, Bechtle has lived all his life in the Bay Area; and his art is centered on scenes from everyday life.

He started drawing at a young age and, with encouragement from his teachers and his family, pursued a future as an artist. By submitting a portfolio of artwork to a national competition, Bechtle won a scholarship that paid for his first year of college. When he graduated, he was drafted and sent to Berlin, where he painted murals in the Mess Hall and delighted in visiting European museums. Besides making paintings, watercolors, and drawings—he is an accomplished printmaker. Bechtle began in lithography but, after 1982 when Crown Point Press began publishing his prints, worked mainly in etching.

He taught at San Francisco State University (1978–99) and lives in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood.

Work[link]

Along with Richard Estes, Chuck Close, and Ralph Goings, Bechtle is considered to be one of the earliest Photorealists. By the mid-1960s, he had started developing a style and subject matter that he has maintained over his career. Working from his own photographs, Bechtle creates paintings described as photographic. Taking inspiration from his local San Francisco surroundings, he painted friends and family and the neighborhoods and street scenes, paying special attention to automobiles. Bechtle's brushwork is barely detectable in his photo-like renditions. His paintings reveal his perspective on how things look to him, the color, and the light of a commonplace scene. Peter Schjeldahl wrote in The New Yorker that in 1969, when he first noticed a Bechtle painting, he was “rattled by the middle-class ordinariness of the scene.” As he looked more closely, he discovered “a feat of resourceful painterly artifice” that he gradually realized was “beautiful.” The article concludes: “Life is incredibly complicated, and the proof is that when you confront any simple, stopped part of it you are stupefied.”

Career[link]

Robert Bechtle's work has been exhibited internationally and is in the collections of New York City's Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Guggenheim; Minneapolis's Walker Art Center; the Smithsonian Institution; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

External links[link]

Robert Bechtle is represented by Barbara Gladstone Gallery in New York, NY

and Gallery Paule Anglim in San Francisco, CA

"Robert Bechtle: A Retrospective" exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (February 12 - June 5, 2005) the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (June 26 - August 28, 2005) and at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

In May to October 2000, the Oakland Museum led a retrospective of Bechtle's paintings, "California Classic: Realist Paintings by Robert Bechtle".

Robert Bechtle has made prints with Crown Point Press in San Francisco, CA since 1982. Video interview with the artist.

Robert Bechtle - Louis K. Meisel Gallery, NY

Sources[link]

• "Southwest Art", 5/2000, 'A California Realist' by Marina Freeman
• 6/1/2006 SFMOMA Press Release
• Photorealism by Louis K. Meisel. Harry N. Abrams, New York, NY, (1980).
• "The New Yorker", 5/2005, 'Parked Cars' by Peter Schjeldahl

External links[link]

• Oral history interview with Robert Alan Bechtle, 1978 Sept. 13-1980 Feb. 1 from the Smithsonian Archives of American Art
• Oral history interview with Robert Bechtle, 2010 Feb. 8-9, a second interview transcribed from the Archives of American Art