When can you say that you're 'at' a planet?

When the Martian FAA gives you permission to dock.

I am thinking if I made it to any of the listed choices, I’ve made it. But in all seriousness, I would have to land there to say I’m ‘at’ it.

When your spaceship crashes….and aliens give you the zueooplautonircic award… you’ve made it.

When the Martians start to come to you for fashion and style advice. Only then can you be said to have finally “arrived”.

When your feet are on the ground.

I would have to land to consider myself there. When I’m driving on the highway, and approaching a town, I say “I’m just coming up on <town name here>”. I wouldn’t say I’m at (in?) the town until I’m physically there.

If you want to be even more vague than orbit, you could say when you are closer to that planet than any other heavenly body, you are there. In the mind-boggling vastness of space, surely that would be close enough. Right?

@Dan_DeColumna So the planet comes into sight…and that’s good enough, eh? :)

That’s like driving through the surrounding forests of Yellowstone National Park, turning the corner, seeing the gate and saying “Cool! I can see the entrance to the park. And our car’s closer to gate than anyone else’s! Well, that’s good enough. We can go back to the New York now!”

That’s like preparing for an extended expedition into the Amazon jungle and then just staying in the airplane upon arrival. Boring. Pointless.

Is the whale watching trip worth it if all one does is stay on the beach? Is traveling to the planets worth it if all one does is stay on the shuttle and wave at Mars from afar? Heck, after all the training and preparation I wanna get out of that shuttle and have my feet touch red dirt! What a waste to go through all that training and more and than just observe the planet. Geez, I can do that with a telescope on earth. There’s no point in even boarding the shuttle if all I’m doing is eyeballing it from a light year away.

Your answer brought up an interesting point and struck me…I had to respond. :)

lol, that’s fine. Just making the point that when contemplating the infinity of space, arguing about whether orbit or land means you’re there is just as silly as arguing whether entering your driveway or your front door is getting home.

I didn’t say it’d be satisfying, but for the purposes of answering the question, it is an amusing thought. :-)

When someone enters Uranus. You’ll probably feel a slight twinge. There’s already a thriving gay community there i’m sure you’ll receive a warm welcome.