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Dispatch → Account → Science
by 
The Glass Childer of Xuswaycia.
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143 reads.
The Astral Union | Astrography
XuswayciaThe Tau Solar System is one that bears life in many varieties, many flavors, and many minds. It is secluded from the ravages of a wild galaxy, allowing life to grow and flourish in peace and safety. Here, magic and science are the same, creating varying technological developments and allowing the nurturing of unique cultures and peoples. The Tau System is a beautiful place with unique planets, each with different environments, features, and effects on each other. This document will serve to inform and illustrate one of the Tau Solar System. As a note: The Sun, planets, moons, etc, all have different names according to different nations. Some nations may share similar or even the same names, however.
At the very center of the Tau System is the namesake and only sun, Tau. Tau is a G-Type main-sequence star, also known as a yellow dwarf or Earth-like star. Its mass is approximately 1.00 Solar masses with a radius of 616,770 km and a density of 2.02 g/cm3. Tau's surface temperature remains a constant 5,642 Kelvin, emitting a luminosity of 2.7E+26 Watts. its surface gravity is approximately 35.6 Earth Gravities. It has a solar maximum and minimum period of 9.7 years. Being at the center of the entire solar system, all objects in the system are influenced by it, either orbiting or within some other celestial dance. The bodies orbiting it range from titanic gas giants, rocky worlds, icy moons, metallic asteroids, and simple comets.
Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 4.57 Moon Masses
Approximate Radius: 2,147 KM
Approximate Density: 8.10 g/cm3
Average Temperature
- 464 Kelvin
- 190 Celsius
- 375 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Trace Hydrogen
- Trace Helium
- Trace Oxygen
- Trace Oxygen
- Trace Sodium
Atmospheric Mass: Practically Nonexistent
Atmospheric Pressure: Practically Nonexistent
Surface Gravity: 0.496 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 54.5 km/s
Rotational Period: 133 Days
Orbital Period: 59.5 Days
Internal Composition
- 91.7% Iron
- 8.34% Silicates
Active Internal Mantle/Core: N
Magnetic Field: N
Magnetic Field Strength: N/A
Marathon is a small rocky planet and the closest-in to the Sun. It is classified as a Sub-Terrestrial (low-mass inner planet) and as an Ironworld (composed primarily of iron). Marathon is also the fastest orbiting body in the entire solar system, making a single revolution around the sun in 59.5 days, making six total revolutions in a single year. On the topic of motion, Marathon also has a day length greater than that of its orbital period, an effect of near-tidal locking. Due to a near-lack of an atmosphere, Marathon is pockmarked with craters. More than a few of these craters bear water ice protected by shadows. The near-nonexistent atmosphere also means that there is no atmospheric heat transfer, leaving the water ice intact within the craters. The lack of a magnetic field, atmosphere, and the high temperatures leave Marathon a barren wasteland unfit for any known forms of life.
Marathon's status as an Ironworld, as stated before, is due to it being primarily composed of Iron. This is widely believed to be an effect from an impact that stripped away much of the planet's crust during the sun's early days as a protoplanetary disc. The result was Marathon's inner tectonics and core cooling down into a solid sphere of iron and nickel. Because of the upper crust of Marathon being stripped away, this leaves the heavier elements within the deeper crust of planets rather close to the surface. The prospect of mining Marathon for heavy metals, radioactives, and the extensive amounts of iron and nickel is a promising endeavor. The low gravity and lack of an atmosphere also make it quite easy for maintenance and construction.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 66.6 Moon Masses
Approximate Radius: 6,222 KM
Approximate Density: 4.85 g/cm3
Average Temperature
- 572 Kelvin
- 299 Celsius
- 570 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Primarily Carbon Dioxide
- Trace Sulfuric Acid Vapor
- Trace Water Vapor
- Trace Sulfur Dioxide
- Trace Nitrogen
Atmospheric Mass: 86.0 Earth atm
Atmospheric Pressure: 75.8 atm
Surface Gravity: 0.860 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 33.0 km/s
Rotational Period: 224 Days
Orbital Period: 270 Days
Internal Composition
- 22.9% Iron
- 77.1% Silicates
Active Internal Mantle/Core: N
Magnetic Field: N
Magnetic Field Strength: N/A
The Second Planet, Vitriol, is a hazy sphere when seen from space but an acidic wasteland on the surface. Vitriol is a Sub-Terrestrial planet without an active core, but does bear signs of active volcanism on the surface. The core of Vitriol is made of heavy, radioactive elements whose decay heats material in the crust. When enough material is heated and enough heat is stored within the material it erupts unto the surface, usually forming a shield volcano. There is no active tectonic activity whatsoever. The incredibly dense atmosphere of Vitriol, coupled with the atmospheric pressure and temperatures make the surface an unforgiving landscape. Despite the prospects of mining heavy radioactives or metals, the acidic atmosphere and irradiated surface (lack of a magnetic field) throws off any chance at colonization or economic endeavor.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 1.00 Earth Masses
Approximate Radius: 6,359 KM
Approximate Density: 5.54 g/cm3
Average Temperature
- 290 Kelvin
- 17.2 Celsius
- 63.0 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Majority Nitrogen
- Major Oxygen Content
- Lesser Carbon Dioxide Content
- Lesser Water Vapor Content
- Lesser Argon Content
Atmospheric Mass: 1.00 Earth atm
Atmospheric Pressure: 99.9 kPa
Surface Gravity: 1.00 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 29.8 km/s
Rotational Period: 24.0 Hours
Orbital Period: 365 Days
Internal Composition
- 26.3% Iron
- 73.7%% Silicates
Active Internal Mantle/Core: Y
Magnetic Field: Y
Magnetic Field Strength: 17.1 Gauss
The Third Planet, Adriel, is a rather special world compared to most others. Adriel bears complex, multicellular life, especially intelligent life. Various organisms of all varieties have conquered the hottest, coldest, wettest, dryest, deepest, and highest environments across the known world. At least 70% of its surface is covered in liquid water, forming vast oceans that bear a massive biodiversity of aquatic life. Surface life stretches from the coastlines to the tallest mountains. The evolutionary history of Adriel is rich with fossils, extinct species, extinction events, and wild cases of evolution. The upper ozone layer and magnetic field protects the surface from hostile solar radiation, leaving life to survive without the threat of irradiation.
Adriel is the only inner planet to bear a moon. The moon of Adriel is widely known as 
Suriel, although it may have different names from each nation/culture of Adriel. Suriel bears a mass of 1.00 Moon Masses, a radius of 1,436 KM, and a density of 5.92 g/cm3. Suriel does not rotate, as it is tidally-locked to the Sun. It is a dark gray, barren body composed primarily of remnant dust and rock. Much of the moon's surface is composed of dust. Tests conducted on Moonrock from Suriel has been confirmed to contain hefty amounts of Helium-3, Uranium, Aluminum, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Oxide, and very trace amounts of Water Ice. Suriel was formed when a Carnagos-sized body grazed Adriel early on in its formation, the debris of the impact coalescing to form Suriel.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 9.23 Moon Masses
Approximate Radius: 3,271 KM
Approximate Density: 4.63 g/cm3
Average Temperature
- 233 Kelvin
- -40.6 Celsius
- -41.0 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Majority Carbon Dioxide
- Trace Oxygen
- Trace Nitrogen
- Trace Water Vapor
- Trace Argon
Atmospheric Mass: 1.12 Mars atm
Atmospheric Pressure: 8.82 mbar
Surface Gravity: 0.432 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 23.9 km/s
Rotational Period: 6.92 Hours
Orbital Period: 1.93 Years
Internal Composition
- 21.1% Iron
- 78.9% Silicates
Active Internal Mantle/Core: N
Magnetic Field: N
Magnetic Field Strength: N/A
The Fourth Planet, Carnagos, is among the most promising bodies in the entire solar system. Carnagos, in the distant past, likely bore oceans of liquid water, a breathable atmosphere, and possibly even complex life. However, the lack of a magnetic field caused the atmosphere of Carnagos to slowly fade away, leaving a dead husk of a planet behind. It is now considered a cold desert, where the cold temperatures and irradiated surface make habitability impossible. However, subsurface microbial mats have been found underneath the soil. Carnagos two unusual characteristics for an inner planet. One: The extreme tilt of Carnagos clocks in at 67 degrees, something that should only be possible of Carnagos was directly impacted and tilted during its early formation. Two: The presence of a ring system. The ring system of Carnagos is likely a remnant of a captured protoplanet which was torn apart by the tidal stresses of Carnagos.
The surface of Carnagos is irradiated and dry, all water had evaporated or retreated to subsurface pockets and reservoirs. Within these reservoirs is a possibility for anaerobic microbial organisms to survive. However, no expeditions have been launched to confirm or deny this possibility. Occasional upwellings of nitric oxide from the crust of Carnagos create bright nightglows during the nighttime. Sandstorms may occasionally sweep across Carnagos, enveloping the entire planet in a massive sandstorm that lasts for months at a time.
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The Asteroid Belt is the designated name for a conglomerate ring of asteroids located between Carnagos and Harel, the Fourth and Fifth Planets respectively. It is composed of asteroids ranging in size from a human torso to kilometers across. There are a great variety of asteroids ranging from metal/mineral-rich asteroids, carbonaceous asteroids heavily laden with organics, the standard nickel-iron asteroid, and the plain rocky debris variety of asteroid. The Asteroid Belt is rich in spacefaring resources that are ripe for the taking. The prospect of economic, industrial, and residential endeavors all make themselves available in the Asteroid Belt. Despite what many believe, the Asteroid Belt is not a densely-packed place where they regularly collide against each other, forming a navigational hazard for spacecraft, this would've ground the entire belt into dust long ago. Most asteroids are thousands of kilometers apart and may never collide with one another.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 2.10 Jupiter Masses
Approximate Radius: 67,278 KM
Approximate Density: 3.13 g/cm3
Average Temperature
- 116 Kelvin
- -157 Celsius
- -251 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Primarily Molecular Hydrogen
- Majority Molecular Helium
- Trace Water Vapor
- Trace Sulfur
- Trace Ammonia
- Trace Carbon Dioxide
Surface Gravity: 5.99 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 13.2 km/s
Rotational Period: 11.1 Hours
Orbital Period: 11.4 Years
Internal Composition
- 87.4% Hydrogen
- 12.63% Metallic Hydrogen
Active Internal Mantle/Core: Y
Magnetic Field: Y
Magnetic Field Strength: 2.11 Tesla
The Fifth Planet, Harel, is a Superjovian (high mass gas giant) planet and the first Gas Giant in the Tau System. Harel serves as a protective shield against comets and other debris from the outer reaches of the solar system, keeping Adriel and the Inner Planets safe from mass extinction events. Harel bears a not-too-impressive (for a Gas Gaint) ring system composed primarily of rocky debris and ices. Harel's massive magnetic field is caused by the Metallic Hydrogen core at the center of the giant. Harel's composition of primarily hydrogen and helium makes it a rather promising place to gather those gases for fusion power. Harel bears approximately 79 moonlets under 10 km in radius, usually composed of iron, nickel, and various silicates. However, it does bear four major moons. The major moons are as follows.
- Harel I, Reuel - The first of Harel's moons has a mass of 1.33 Moon Masses and a radius of 1,707 KM. The average surface temperature of Reuel is -147 C. Reuel is a volcanic world heated internally by the tidal forces of Harel, kneading and warming the core. This causes frequent tectonic and volcanic activity, marking Reuel as the most volcanically active body in the entire solar system. The surface is painted varying shades of yellow, ivory, and black due to the presence of sulfur. The atmosphere is incredibly faint and is primarily composed of sulfur dioxide. The atmosphere is consistently lost to the greater gravity of Harel.
- Harel II, Raziel - The second of Harel's moons bears an approximate mass of 1.34 Moon Masses and a radius of 1,667 KM. The average surface temperature of Raziel is -158 C. Raziel is almost entirely covered in a giant sheet of water ice with an average thickness of 100 meters. The surface is coated with a layer of sodium chloride with streaks of sulfur throughout it. There is only a thin atmosphere of molecular oxygen. Underneath Raziel lies a large subsurface ocean warmed by the hot, active core. The core is under a lesser effect of tidal force than that of Reuel, but it is still enough to provide heat. The active core creates a large number of hydrothermal vents and underwater volcanoes. No expedition to search for subsurface life underneath the ice sheets has yet been launched.
- Harel III, Sealtiel - The third of Harel's moons has a mass of 2.59 Moon Masses and a radius of 2,2216 KM. The average surface temperature of Sealtiel is -146 C. Sealtiel's surface is half-covered by 50-meter thick sheets of water ice, the other half being the actual crust of Sealtiel. Sealtiel's surface is among the oldest and most cratered surfaces in the entire solar system. The surface-level crust and the crust beneath the ice sheets are rich with organic substances. Sealtiel has a thin atmosphere of oxygen.
- Harel IV, Ezequeel - The fourth and most massive of Harel's moons is Ezequeel, with a mass of 3.60 Moon Masses and a radius of 2,360 KM. The average surface temperature of -143 C. Ezequeel's surface is a combination of thin water-ice sheets and actual surface-level crust. The crust of Ezequeel is rich with heavy metals, leaving a certain possibility for economic and industrial endeavors. The thin atmosphere of Ezequeel is composed primarily out of oxygen. Out of all moons in the entire solar system, Ezequeel is the only one with a magnetic field.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 98.0 Earth Masses
Approximate Radius: 58,327 KM
Approximate Density: 704 kg/m3
Average Temperature
- 82.8 Kelvin
- -190 Celsius
- -311 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Primarily Molecular Hydrogen
- Majority Molecular Helium
- Trace Ammonia
- Trace Water Vapor
- Trace Carbon Dioxide
- Trace Sulfur
Surface Gravity: 1.17 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 9.78 km/s
Rotational Period: 17.9 Hours
Orbital Period: 28.3 Years
Internal Composition
- 90.0% Hydrogen
- 10.0% Metallic Hydrogen
Active Internal Mantle/Core: Y
Magnetic Field: Y
Magnetic Field Strength: 1.98 Tesla
The second of the Gas Giants and the Sixth Planet from the Sun is Katriel, known for its extensive ring system. The Sixth Planet is the second-largest Gas Giant in the solar system as a whole. Katriel's rings are composed of water ice, silicates, iron, and nickel. Over 80 different moonlets under 10 km have been detected within and outside of the rings. Katriel also bears three major moons alongside the rings and the many moonlets. The major moons will be detailed below.
- Katriel I, Adonijah - The first of Katriel's three major moons is Adonijah, bearing a mass of 6.33E+20 kg and a radius of 325 KM. It has an average surface temperature of -179 C. Adonijah is a moon covered in thick ice sheets. These ice sheets are then covered by layers of white sodium chloride and yellow sulfur streaks. Underneath the ice sheets is not a subsurface ocean of water, but amino acids. The immense curiosity for an ocean of amino acids is reason enough to send a research expedition to Adonijah to uncover the reason for its formation. Adonijah has a thin atmosphere of oxygen and no magnetic field.
- Katriel II, Tzaphkiel - The second of Katriel's major moons is Tzaphkiel with a mass of 2.29 Moon Masses and a radius of 1,801 KM. The average surface temperature of Tzaphkiel is -176 C. Along the equatorial region of Tzaphkiel is a series of three Tiger Stripes, huge, long cryovolcanoes which spew liquid nitrogen from Tzaphkiel's subsurface ocean of liquid nitrogen. The Tiger Stripes occasionally deposit liquid nitrogen and water ices into the rings of Katriel or engage in a "snowball fight" with the other moons.
- Katriel III, Batyah - The third and most massive of the three major moons of Katriel is Batyah, a hazy orange sphere located a bit beyond the rings of Katriel. Batyah's mass is approximately 2.70 Moon Masses with a radius of 2,225 KM. The average surface temperature of Batyah is -189 C. Batyah has a thick, dense atmosphere of Hydrogen, Methane, and Nitrogen. The green-orange surface of Batyah is half-covered with oceans of liquid methane/ethane, heralding a possibility for complex
methanogenic organisms on Batyah. No expedition has yet been launched to confirm the presence of methanogens on Batyah.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 16.2 Earth Masses
Approximate Radius: 40,889 KM
Approximate Density: 405 kg/m3
Average Temperature
- 62.3 Kelvin
- -211 Celsius
- -348 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Majority Molecular Hydrogen
- Majority Molecular Helium
- Trace Methane
- Trace Ammonia
- Trace Carbon Dioxide
- Trace Sulfur
Surface Gravity: 0.444 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 6.74 km/s
Rotational Period: 2.14 Days
Orbital Period: 87.1 Years
Internal Composition
- 82.7% Hydrogen
- 17.3% Metallic Hydrogen
Active Internal Mantle/Core: Y
Magnetic Field: Y
Magnetic Field Strength: 9,298 Gauss
Shamshel is the Seventh Planet from Tau and the first Ice Giant. Shamshel bears an extensive ring system similar to that of Katriel, albeit composed of water ice, ammonia ice, and various silicates. Shamshel bears around 33 icy moonlets under 10 km in radius. However, it bears only a single major moon, Ananiah.
- Shamshel I, Ananiah - The lone moon of Shamshel has a mass of 8.2E+20 kg and a radius of 336 KM. Ananiah has no atmosphere and no magnetic field. It has an average surface temperature of -234 C. Ananiah's surface is primarily covered in various organic substances, and the crust is rich with varying amounts of carbon. Ananiah is classified as a Carbon World for this very reason, bearing a composition of primarily carbon.
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 15.7 Earth Masses
Approximate Radius: 40,159 KM
Approximate Density: 346 kg/m3
Average Temperature
- 4.91 Kelvin
- -268 Celsius
- -451 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Primarily Molecular Hydrogen
- Majority Molecular Helium
- Trace Ammonia
- Trace Methane
- Trace Sulfur
- Trace Carbon Dioxide
Surface Gravity: 0.396 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 5.48 km/s
Rotational Period: 8.15 Days
Orbital Period: 160 Years
Internal Composition
- 77.7% Hydrogen
- 22.3% Metallic Hydrogen
Active Internal Mantle/Core: Y
Magnetic Field: Y
Magnetic Field Strength: 8,863 Gauss
The Eighth Planet and the last of the Giants is Sahaquiel. Sahaquiel bears only a faint, scattered ring of ices and silicates. Within this scattered ring are 27 icy moonlets under 10 km in radius. Sahaquiel has no major moons whatsoever. A rather boring planet, don't you think?
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Statistics
Physical Characteristics
Approximate Mass: 4.92E+22 kg
Approximate Radius: 1,617 KM
Approximate Density: 2.78 g/cm3
Average Temperature
- 16.3 Kelvin
- -257 Celsius
- -430 Fahrenheit
Atmosphere
Composition
- Primarily Nitrogen
- Majority Methane
- Trace Sulfur
- Trace Carbon Dioxide
- Trace Oxygen
Atmospheric Mass: 1.01E+13 kg
Atmospheric Pressure: 0.386 pa
Surface Gravity: 0.128 Earth Gravities
Motion
Orbital Speed: 4.71 km/s
Rotational Period: 13.2 Days
Orbital Period: 254 Years
Internal Composition
- 6.50% Iron
- 92.5% Silicates
Active Internal Mantle/Core: N
Magnetic Field: N
Magnetic Field Strength: N/A
The Ninth and final planet in the Solar System is Kazbiel, a dwarf planet located far beyond the warm light of Tau. The surface of Kazbiel is divided between the ice sheets and surface-level crust. Rivers and lakes of liquid nitrogen run throughout the planet's surface, all hailing from the subsurface ocean of liquid nitrogen. Cryovolcanoes regularly deposit liquid nitrogen to the surface, creating formations of nitrogen ice as an indicator of their presence.
