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Nova (Tau Ceti)

Home system of the first successful extrasolar human colony.

Tau Ceti Planets
Image from Steve Bowers

Tau Ceti - Data Panel

SystemName: Nova
Location:
- Distance from Sol: 11.91 ly (J2000)
- Constellation: Cetus
StarNames: Hestia, Tau Ceti, 52 Ceti, Gliese 71 (GJ 71), HD 10700, HIP 8102, HR 509
Physical characteristics:
- Mass: 0.887 x Sol
- Radius: 0.799 x Sol
- Luminosity: 0.469 x Sol (bolometric)
- Temperature: 5,344 Kelvin
- Spectral type: G8 V
- Rotation period: 32 days
- Age: 8.2 billion years
System:

1) Demeter: SulfoliTerrestrial LapiYdratian InuTepidal IgneoTohulian IgneoThalassic
Semi-major axis = 0.133 AU, Orbital period = 20.00 days, Eccentricity = 0.054, Mass = 2.983 x Earth, Radius = 1.414 x Earth

2) Aphrodite: AcidiTerrestrial CereYdratian AquaCytherean
Semi-major axis = 0.243 AU, Orbital period = 49.41 days, Eccentricity = 0.104, Mass = 3.224 x Earth, Radius = 1.513 x Earth

3) Artemis: TholiNeptunian CereJotunnian AquaCytherean
Semi-major axis = 0.538 AU, Orbital period = 162.9 days, Eccentricity = 0.085, Mass = 6.905 x Earth, Radius = 2.202 x Earth

4) Nova Terra: HydroTerrestrial LapiMinervan OceaTundral AquaGaian
Semi-major axis = 0.847 AU, Orbital period = 302.1 days, Eccentricity = 0.039, Mass = 1.460 x Earth, Radius = 1.131 x Earth

5) Athena: HydroNeptunian CereJotunnian AquaCytherean
Semi-major axis = 1.334 AU, Orbital period = 636.1 days, Eccentricity = 0.078, Mass = 6.851 x Earth, Radius = 2.174 x Earth

- Elysium Disk:
Inner radius = 1.9 AU, Outer radius = 3.5 AU
Important objects: Persephone

6) Hera: AmmoNeptunian HydrogeoBarian
Semi-major axis = 5.568 AU, Orbital period = 13.95 years, Eccentricity = 0.023, Mass = 12.86 x Earth, Radius = 3.738 x Earth

- Tartarus Disk:
Inner radius = 6.2 AU, Outer radius: 52 AU
Important objects: Hecate, Styx, Hemera, Nyx

Reached- Uncrewed: 438, Giordano Bruno
- Crewed: 588, Tsiolkovsky
TravelWormholes:
Hawking Bridge (4,400 m) to Aksijaha (Alpha Lyrae)
Vast Horizon (3,800 m) to Ran (Epsilon Eridani)

Cycler Routes: several Beamrider connections especially near Hera

Hazard Rating: varies by world and polity

Visa Restrictions: varies by world and polity

Freedom of Movement: varies by world and polity; the outer worlds are fairly restricted, due to Backgrounder secrecy

Environmental Requirements: Nova Terra and many orbitals are baseline hu environmentally compatible. Some other colonies will require environment suits.
 
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Development Notes
Text by Anders Sandberg and M. Alan Kazlev
Amended by The Astronomer 2019, 2021
Initially published on 10 March 2002.

Most recent update 12/9/17 to reflect the probable planets Tau Ceti g and Tau Ceti h
from here Four Planet Candidates around Tau Ceti
Arxiv
 
 
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