Planetology

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Planetology

Planetology is the study of a planet, moon or asteroid as a whole, including all its component elements, planetary formation, evolution, and taxonomy.

Sub-Topics

Geology

Oceanography

Articles

Apparent Brightness of the Local Sun - Text by Steve Bowers
To standard Terragen eyes, suns with a different spectral type from Sol do not seem as bright from the surface of a terraformed planet, since less of their radiation falls within the visible range.
Arean Type planet - Text by John M. Dollan
Mars-like worlds where the atmosphere and hydrosphere has largely disappeared due to the cessation of magnetic activity.
AreanLacustric Subtype worlds - Text by John M. Dollan
Young Mars-like worlds with moderate amounts of ocean cover
AreanTundral Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Cold Arean type worlds, often with considerable reserves of ice.
AreanXeric Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Mature, unusually hot and dry Arean type worlds.
Artificial Planets - Text by Steve Bowers
A number of very energy-costly, hi-tech or god-tech methods that allow the construction of new planets or planet-like objects to order.
Artificial Worlds - Text by Anders Sandberg, John M. Dollan, and Steve Bowers
Artificial worlds can be divided into habitats (when a habitat can be called a world is of course always a matter of taste, but the formation of a self-sustaining climate and ecology without the need for constant maintenance is usually the relevant point), mega-habitats (>100 km), Banks orbitals, ISOs, Dyson swarms, and other structures (like Kepleria). Categorization is usually simply by basic design, with no need for more elaboration.
Asteroid Belt - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Generally, a band of asteroids which encircles a star, often where a planet would normally have formed. It may form the main "world" in a stellar system, as in the Barnard Belt, or it may simply be a region between planets where no planet coalesced, as in the Sol Belt.
Atmosphere - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The gaseous envelope surrounding a planetary object, moon or star, (or possibly the habitable surfaces of an artificial structure. A typical atmosphere consists of a mixture of gases. Some of the most common are hydrogen, helium, methane, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ammonia. Often an atmosphere is divided into zones of similar pressure, temperature, and composition.
Aurora - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A radiant emission caused by the bombardment of the atmosphere with charged particles that are being guided along the planet's magnetic lines of force. Also known as northern or southern lights, or simply lights.
AzuriJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan
Warm clarified blue gas giants with temperatures between 350K and 800K
Badlands - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Generic term for any barren, severely eroded places on terraformed or quasi-terraformed, garden or quasi-garden terrestrial planets, where the land is useless for habitation, farming or other human purposes. Most badlands are terrible desolate windswept places, but in some cases soft rock layers are sculpted into beautiful forms, and exposed rock layers may contain fossils and other interesting finds.
BathyPelagic Subtype - Text by John Dollan
Gaian Type world in which there are deep oceans covering 80-100% of the surface.
Biome - Text by Stephen Inniss and M. Alan Kazlev
A major ecosystem that extends over a broad region, has a characteristic climate, and presents a typical common appearance due to the suite of organisms that are adapted to it. In the context of a garden world or a large megahab it is a subset of the overall ecosphere. The classical biomes known to the humans of Old Earth have been widely replicated through the Terragen Sphere, but many more exotic biomes have also been discovered or resurrected or invented.
Biosphere, Planetary - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The organic component of a Garden World; includes all living organisms (whether natural or bionanites or both) and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
Biospherics - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The study, design, construction, and maintenance, of artificial biospheres.
CADRS Planetary Classification System, The - Text by Radtech497
Comprehensive planetary classification system.
Campian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Gaian worlds with less than 50% ocean cover
Carbon Worlds - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Carbon-rich Terrestrial worlds.
Centaurian Type Asteroid - Text by John M. Dollan
Object found in the outer part of a planetary system, generally between 5 and 30 AU
Cerean Type Rock dwarf - Text by John M. Dollan's Planet Classification List
Small rocky planetoid; represents one of the most common types of body in many solar systems.
Chlorine Worlds - Text by Stephen Inniss
Chlorine worlds are like typical Eugaian worlds, with one important difference: the planet has an unusually high proportion of chlorine, and the process of photosynthesis releases free chlorine in significant quantities.
Chronicle (System) - Text by Andrew P
Joint FAS-Negentropy Alliance system home to the famed Timekeeper Project, one of the largest and most comprehensive efforts to catalog, study and reconstruct extinct beings and civilizations from across time and space. Site of a tragic series of events in 8453-8479 AT wherein several billion sophonts underwent voluntary or involuntary bodyloss and/or permadeath due to the actions of a disaffected minority of sophont lazurogen provolves.
Chthonian Class Worlds - Text by John M. Dollan
Gas giant worlds, formerly HyperthermalJovians, which have lost their volatiles through evaporation
Climatology - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The study of long-term weather patterns and climate (including temperature and precipitation), especially on Gaian Type planets.
Comet - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A minor celestial icy body that orbits a star in a highly elliptical path.
Continent (geography) - Text by Stephen Inniss
Originally, one of six or seven very large contiguous landmass on Old Earth, separated or largely separated from other continents by ocean. Some Gaian class worlds, some terraformed worlds, and some extremely large habitats such as Banks Orbitals may also have land masses that are regarded by their inhabitants as continents.
Continent (geology) - Text by Stephen Inniss
On Old Earth, or on Gaian style worlds exhibiting similar patterns of plate tectonics, a large platform of metamorphic rock and largely granitic igneous rock, covered over much of its area by relatively thin layers of sedimentary rocks.
Cryojovian Type worlds - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Cold, mostly cloudless, gas giants in the outer parts of a planetary system.
Cytherean type worlds - Text by John M. Dollan
Hot greenhouse worlds
Ecopoiesis - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The science and art of designing, shaping, sculpting, or modifying ecosystems.
EoArean Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Young Mars-like Type planet with substantial atmosphere and surface water.
EoGaian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
A young terrestrial world. Sometimes called Archean Subtype.
EoHephaestian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Hephaestian Type planet. These are worlds that are highly active geologically due to their initial stages of formation.
Epipelagic - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
On a Gaian or terraformed world, the upper part of an ocean, in which there is enough light to support photosynthetic phytoplankton or equivalent xenobiota or bionano.
EpistellarJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Hot, dark gas giants with temperatures between 900 Kelvin and 1400 Kelvin.
EuArean Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Typical mature Mars-like world with minimal atmosphere and hydrosphere.
EuCytherean Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Major sub-type of Cytherean Type Planet. The greenhouse effect is quite pronounced, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Geological activity varies, depending on planetary mass. Life is absent. indeed, these worlds are perhaps the most inhospitable known, thanks to high temperatures and high surface pressures.
EuEuropan Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Major sub-type of Europan Type planet. Distinguished by a rocky core with an ice mantle. A subsurface ocean 10 to 100 kilometers in depth is almost always present, due to tidal stretching of the world. Surface movement is constant, and obliterates all impact scars in a short amount of geologic time. Life may be present, but is likely to be primitive, if it is even beyond the microbial stage. Atmospheres are transient.
EuGaian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
A Eugaian world, commonly known as a Garden World, with a rich biosphere.
EuHephaestian Subtype worlds - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
These worlds are geologically active due to varying degrees of tidal flexing, caused by other planets or moons orbiting the same primary.
EuJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Cool gas giants, with clouds predominantly consisting of ammonia.
EuPelagic Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Major sub-type of Gaian Type planet. There is 80-100% water coverage of the surface, with extensive submerged continental shelves.
Europan Type World - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Worlds with a rocky core and thick ice mantle and crust. There may be a layer of slush or even a deep ocean of liquid water under the thick ice crust.
Exosphere - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
In planetology, the outermost layer of a planetary atmosphere; in galactography the edge of the technosphere, the edge of Terragen space.
Extended World Classification System (EWoCS) - Text by Dangerous Safety
A system used to classify planets and other non-luminous bodies according to their mass, temperature, composition, cloud coverings, liquid layers and orbital parameters.
Ferrinian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planetary Classification List
Worlds composed of more than 80% core, usually iron and other siderophilic elements.
Fossil Fuel - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Naturally-occurring, energy-rich carbon-based substance, such as shale, petroleum, coal, or natural gas, in a Gaian Type world's crust that was formed from ancient organic material. During the Industrial, Atomic, and early Information ages on Old Earth fossil fuels were burned in a criminally negligent manner, resulting in drastic climate change and ecological crisis that was only repaired during the late Interplanetary Age.
Gaian Type - Text by John M. Dollan
Any Earth-like terrestrial world, of which there are many diverse forms depending on water content, composition and temperature.
GaianTundral Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Cold Gaian worlds with periodic, or persistent, ice ages.
Garden Worlds - Text by The Astronomer, Steve Bowers 2020
Worlds that support a complex biosphere and macroscopic life forms.
Gas Giant - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
See Jovian Class.
Geography - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The study of how natural geological forces, and introduced nanecologies, individuals and societies, and megascale projects shape the surface of a planet.
Geological Time, Geological Time Scale - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The history of a Terrestrial Class planet in terms of its formation and major stages of development. It is usually measured in many millions of years. The divisions used (from the largest (longest time) to the smallest (shortest time period) are: eon, era, period, epoch, and age.
Geophysics - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The study of the structure and dynamic behaviour of terrestrial moons and planets. Includes elements of geology, applied physics, and planetology; study of the geosphere mapping the internal planetary structure; the properties of rock within a planet; planetary formation, development, tectonics and seismology; the nature, history and evolution of the planetary magnetic field if any; and options for terraforming and/or megascale engineering.
Geosphere - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
In a Terrestrial Class planet, the rocky mass of the world, everything apart from atmosphere and ocean. In the case of Gaian Type terrestrial planets includes continental and oceanic crust as well as the various layers of the planet's interior. The interior of the Terrestrial Class in general and the Gaian Types in particular is layered both chemically and mechanically. While some terrestrial class worlds have a static geosphere, in almost all Gaian Types worlds and some other terrestrial types the geosphere is active, with the crust is in a constant state of motion that gives rise to movement of the continents. The study of the geosphere is known as geology.
Hadean Type Planetoid - Text by John M. Dollan
Planetoidal Class Metal Dwarf. Found mostly around hot stars.
Hephaestian type worlds - Text by Mark Ryherd
Hot planets with extensive vulcanism
Hermian type worlds - Text by John M. Dollan
Dense, inner system worlds
Hot Neptunes - Text by Steve Bowers
Planets between 10 x Earth's mass and 0.08 x Jupiter's mass which orbit close enough to have a temperature of 800 Kelvin or more
Hycean Worlds - Text by Steve Bowers
Hot Water Worlds.
HydroJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan, with comments by Steve Bowers
Temperate gas giants with clouds predominantly consisting of water vapour.
Hydrosphere - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The totality of water, whether liquid or ice, on a Terrestrial Class planet. In Gaian Type planets, a combination of the right mass, chemical composition, atmosphere, and the right distance from the Sun permits water to exist mainly as a liquid. The high heat capacity of this large volume of water (some 1 to 1.5 million cubic kilometres in a typical Eugaian world) buffers the planet surface from large temperature changes. In Europan Type worlds however, water exists mostly as ice (although sometimes also as slush or liquid).
Hyperbarian class worlds - Text by Steve Bowers
Very dense planets with cores up to 100 x Earth's mass.
HyperthermalJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan
Very hot gas giants, with temperatures above 1400 Kelvin. Includes so-called 'Bluegrey worlds', 'Puffy worlds' and 'Comet worlds'.
HyperXeric Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Gaian Type planet in which water covers less than 10% of the surface.
Ikarian type world - Text by Steve Bowers
Worlds in markedly eccentric orbits.
Intertidal Zone - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Biome where the sea meets the land, during high tide it is submerged, in low tide exposed to the air. Home to many familiar and unique biological organisms. Many artificial biospheres simulate tides in order to generate intertidal zones.
Janusian type worlds - Text by Steve Bowers
Named after the moon of Saturn, these are pairs of worlds with 1:1 resonant orbits which regularly exchange momentum.
Jovian Class - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Also known as Gas Giants.
Lacustric Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Humid Gaian worlds with low topography and 50-80% ocean coverage
Landing Site Name - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Any ancient historical landing site on a colonized world. Originally referred to features at or near Historical Apollo landing sites on Luna om Solsys, most have long since been built over. Abbreviation: LF.
Large Ringed Feature - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
On a Terrestrial Class world, a cryptic ringed feature. Abbreviation: LG
LithicGelidian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Worlds with a rocky core and an extensive icy mantle.
Littoral Zone - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
In a natural or artificial biosphere consisting of both large bodies of water, ample dry land, and natural and/or artificial tides, this is the intertidal zone is where the sea meets the land.
Magnetic Storm - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A temporary perturbation (disruption) of a planet's magnetic field, caused by solar flares. Since they disturb the ionosphere, magnetic storms can disrupt local EM radio transmissions. Magnetic storms usually last for a few days. During a magnetic storm, auroras increase over polar regions. Corona is known for its spectacular aurora displays.
Mass Extinction - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A process in which huge numbers of species on a garden world die out suddenly.
MesoGaian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Earth-like worlds with primitive biospheres.
MesoJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Major Type of Jovian Class of planet. Masses from 0.21 to 8.0 that of Jupiter
Meteorology - Text by M. Alan Kazlev and Stephen Inniss
The study of the weather, either on planets or on/in megascale habitats.
MicroJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Small hydrogen/helium worlds from 10 Earth masses to 0.08 Jupiter masses
Milankovitch Cycles - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Fluctuations in temperature on Garden Worlds, especially ice ages, caused by slight variations in the amount of sunlight reaching the planet caused by the eccentricity of its orbit around its primary. The orbital eccentricity changes the planet's average distance from the sun and therefore slightly changes the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth. Eccentricity cycles last over 100,000 years. The theory was first proposed by the Old Earth human Milutin Milankovitch in 31 AT (1938 c.e.).
Neptunian Worlds - Text by Dangerous Safety
Ice Giant worlds
Non-Luminary World Classification Scheme - Text by John M. Dollan, with additions by Steve Bowers
The Non-Luminary World Classification Scheme, or NoLWoCS, is a standard classification method used to identify planetary bodies, minor worlds, and artificial structures.
Ocean - Text by Stephen Inniss
Narrowly defined, a large body of saline water on a Gaian Type planet. More generally, extensive bodies of water such as those found beneath the ice of moons or dwarf planets, or liquid layers in the atmospheres of large gas or ice giants, or extensive bodies of other liquid such as the methane-ethane mix on the worlds inhabited by the Muuh or the ammonia-water mix known to the Soft Ones.
Paludial Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Humid Gaian worlds with less than 50% ocean cover.
Panthalassic Type - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Giant superterrestrial waterworlds.
Parhelia - Text by Steve Bowers
Parhelia, or sundogs, are caused when atmospheric crystals become aligned in the atmosphere, typically in still conditions, and a localized bright spot occurs, often rainbow coloured. On earth-like worlds bright sundogs occur at 22° radius from the local sun, with additional parhelial arcs, circumzenithal arcs and pillars in good observing conditions.
PelaCytherean Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Hot ocean planets similar in size to Earth.
PelaGelidian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Icy Ocean worlds.
Pelagic Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Gaian Type planet. Water covers 85 to 99% of the surface.
Planet - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A solid (or partially liquid) body usually found orbiting a star. Planets are too small to generate energy by nuclear reactions. One of six categories of matter that make up solar systems, nebula, and galaxies, and can be harvested for interplanetary or interstellar development (the other categories are interstellar gas, dust, planetisimals, brown dwarfs, and stars).
Planetoid Class - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Generally, rocky (more rarely metallic or icy) bodies, either irregular or regular in shape. Mostly large asteroids, some small moons, about 51 to 1,000 kilometers along the longest axis.
Planetologist - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
One who studies a planet, whether a naturalist or as part of a surveying or scientific research team.
Plate Tectonics - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The constant destruction and renewal of the surface of a tectonically active Terrestrial Class, usually Gaian Type planet, caused by the motions of the planet's lithosphere. The crust is fractured into large plates, which slowly move (usually about a centimetre a year) relative to each other.
Poseidonal Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
A subtype of Europan Type planets and moons. Water ice worlds with deep oceans and a partially melted icy surface
PostGaian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan
Old Gaian Worlds that are losing their biosphere and hydrosphere
Protoplanet - Text by M. Alan Kazlev and Steve Bowers
Massive object resulting in the colescence of planetesimals in the solar nebula which eventually becomes a planet. Has a thick atmosphere and greater mass than a formed planet. Because of the potential for megascale engineering, protoplanets are often highly sought after by interstellar development corporations and certain clades and hyperturings.
Pyrothalassic Type - Text by John M. Dollan
Lava worlds
Relative Cosmic Abundance of Elements - Text by Stephen Inniss
The universe consists almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, but of the impurities created by the processes in stars made intelligent life possible, and their relative natural abundance continues to shape the evolution of biology, technology, and society.
Rift Valley - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Long straight deep valley produced by the separation of crustal plates. Rift valleys only occur where there are active or incipient plate tectonic stresses, most usually on the surface of Gaian Type planets. However rift-like features can also be seen in the ice of Europan Type worlds.
Selenian Type Worlds - Text by John M. Dollan
Worlds with little or no metallic core.
Skolian Type Worlds - Text by Steve Bowers
Worlds with a large axial tilt
Solstice - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The date when - as seen from the surface of a planet - the sun reaches maximum distance from the celestial equator. In single star solar systems there are two solstices annually, the winter solstice in the northern planetary hemisphere being the summer solstice in the southern, and vice-versa. Binary star solar systems have four, and so on. An important festival date on many Caretakerist worlds.
Stevensonian Class Worlds - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Stevensonian type worlds, also known as Rogue planets or Planetary Mass Objects (PLANEMOS), are former planets that have left their solar system of origin and reside in interstellar space. They are more numerous than planets, but are difficult to find. These worlds are prized by Hiders and Backgrounders.
SubJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Small Jovian worlds with masses up to 0.2 that of Jupiter. Generally, a gas giant with an icy mantle (e.g. Uranus, Neptune).
SuperJovian Type - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Large Jovian worlds with masses from 8.1 to 13.0 that of Jupiter, the theoretical upper limit of planets.
Superterrestrial Worlds - Text by Steve Bowers
Giant terrestrial worlds: 2.5 to 10 Earth Masses.
Terrestrial Class - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Size range 0.05 to 2.5 Earth masses. These are the commonly called the 'rocky planets' but this is a deceptive name as not all of these worlds are rocky. Their composition can be quite varied, as can their surface features and conditions. In general they can be defined as small dense worlds consisting mainly of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, with a liquid or solid surface.
Thalassic Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Gaian Type world in which water covers 25 to 50% of the surface. However, unlike the Paludial Subtype, varied surface relief leads to varied climates. Life is typically quite prolific.
Tide - Text by Stephen Inniss
The alternate rise and fall of the surface of an open body of water or other fluid on a rotating hab, moon, or planet. Measurable tides arise from the periodic gravitational tug from some body that is sufficiently large and close to produce a significant tidal force if the period of that influence is close to the natural frequency (seiche period) of the lake, sea or ocean in question.
Titanian type world - Text by John M. Dollan
Icy worlds with thick atmospheres.
Tohulian Worlds - Text by Stephen Inniss, based on the original concept by Anders Sandberg
Tohulian worlds are an unusual variety of world named after the most famous of them, the homeworld of the To'ul'h. They might be regarded as a cool and wet version of the Cytherean type, or as very hot high-pressure Gaian worlds.
TundralPelagic Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Largely arctic Gaian Type worlds with large oceans
TundralXeric Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Gaian Type world with a cold climate, with an average temperature of around -50 °C. Oceanic ice, even near the equator, can be up to 1 kilometer thick or greater.
Van Allen Belts - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Two doughnut-shaped belts of ionized gas (plasma) that circle a Gaian Type planet. The belts are are caused by the interaction between the planet's magnetic field and the solar wind. The particles (plasma) is trapped by the planet's magnetosphere. When stray particles from these belts collide with air, they emit light, causing an aurora.
Verdurian Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Gaian Type worlds in a perpetual greenhouse state. Excessive greenhouse gases over a long period of time have created a world dominated by warm temperatures, prolific precipitation, and large areas of thick vegetation. Carbonic acid rains produce some fantastically eroded land forms. The world is almost always cloud covered, and the average surface temperature is around 50 degrees Celsius.
Vesperian Type Worlds - Text by John M. Dollan and Steve Bowers
Tidally locked terrestrial worlds.
Vestian Type Planetoid - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Planetoids with evidence of geological activity.
Vitriolic Type Worlds - Text by Matthew C. Johnson
Extreme and unusual worlds, characterized by seas or oceans of nearly pure sulfuric acid. Many are life-bearing, apparently due to the actions of an ancient xenosophont race.
Xeric Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Gaian Type world in which water covers 10 to 25% of the surface. A continental climate prevails, dominated by arid conditions. Though the poles may be cold, precipitation is rare. The oceans may be quite saline. Life may be common. See also TundralXeric, HyperXeric, AreanXeric subtypes.
Ymirian Worlds - Text by John M. Dollan
Worlds made almost entirely of ices.