05-27-2016, 01:22 PM
This doesn't work well with less-than-perfect orbits, because the angle of the penumbra is on the order of 1 degrees (although it depends on where you are). So I lack any idea of how a non-circular orbit could keep it aligned well enough to make sense. Even in a tidally-locked configuration, it would need to be kept free of much oscillation, but for a true megastructure I don't expect this would be much of a problem. In our solar system, gravitational interference from planets could be a problem.