Steve Jackson Games Forums - Planet Generation

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Planet Generation

I generated a planet and system using Space for a fantasy game idea that I have and I wanted to share the results with you all since the ending result was very interesting. Also, for the scientists out there, I wanted some input on how the world would be acting from a meteorological and geological standpoint.

Note: I have not generated the other planets yet, and was not going to do that today.

Source

Code:

Zeta Tucanae System Information

Number of Stars: 1

Star Mass



    * Primary Star Mass: 1.15

    * Star System Age: 4.4 billion years



Stellar Characteristics





Primary Star Luminosity Class V (Main Sequence)



    * Spectral Type: F9

    * Effective Temperature: 6100 K

    * Current Luminosity: 2.18805970149253731343

    * Star Radius: 0.00616171507211541672 AU

    * No Gas Giant Arrangement 





Orbital Zones



    * Star Inner Limit Radius: 0.115 AU

    * Star Outer Limit Radius: 46 AU

    * Star Snow Line: 7.1741643644649102056 AU



Zeta Tucanae

        Orbital Radius

Asteroid Belt         0.189508194 AU

1st Orbit: Small Planet ()         0.37901639 AU

2nd Orbit: Standard Planet ()         0.720131137 AU

3rd Orbit: Standard Planet (Garden)         1.296236046 AU

4th Orbit: Small Planet ()         2.203601278 AU

Asteroid Belt         4.407202556 AU

5th Orbit: Small Planet ()         7.932964602 AU

6th Orbit: Standard Planet ()         12.69274336 AU

7th Orbit: Standard Planet ()         22.84693805 AU

Asteroid Belt         38.33333333 AU

Source

Code:

3rd Orbit of the System

Standard Planet: Garden

Orbital Radius: 1.29623604614966835971 AU

Blackbody Temperature: 297.00413223140495867769 K

Average Surface Temperature: 299 F

Climate: Normal

Atmospheric Pressure: 0.85344001880769531842 (Standard)

Atmospheric Mass: 0.9

Hydrographic Coverage: 70%

Density: 0.9

Diameter: 1.05362965284900656596

Surface Gravity: 0.94826668756410590936 G

Mass: 1.05270446152160816144

Resource Value Modifier: Abundant (+1)

Planetary Orbital Period: 502.66579768598065420282 days

Minimum Separation: 1.10180063922721810575 AU

Maximum Separation: 1.49067145307211861367 AU

Tidal Effect: 11.0899296196474135365

Sidereal Period: -1.17041373415197556402

Local Calender: 1.17314530128684505372 days Retrograde (28.15548723088428128928 hours)

Axial Tilt: 7°

Volcanic Activity: Moderate

Tectonic Activity: Light



Tiny Moon (Rock)

Orbital Radius: 26.340741321225164149

Blackbody Temperature: 296.97339284335141225214 K

Average Surface Temperature: 285.09445712961735576205 K

Climate: Cool

Atmospheric Pressure: Trace

Atmospheric Mass: Trace

Hydrographic Coverage: 0%

Density: 0.4

Diameter: 0.17438484861695750147

Surface Gravity: 0.06975393944678300059 G

Mass: 0.00212122255991816545

Resource Value Modifier: Average

Tidal Effect: 370866.55792795458537341932 (Tide-locked)

Tidal Force Exerted: 2.17675847605174376161

Satellite Orbital Period: 7.73978627222668349991 days

Volcanic Activity: None

Tectonic Activity: None

Re: Planet Generation

Calculate the temperature at apastron (maximum separation) and periastron (minimum separation). You will find the result interesting.

Re: Planet Generation

That's not so easy. The thing you have to remember about elliptical orbits is that the part of the orbit which is near the Sun is a shorter period than the part of it which farther out than the median distance. Therefore winter (which thanks to a lack of axial tilt is produced by being actually remote from the sun) is, generally speaking, longer than summer. Northerly climes will be _very_ uninhabitable in the depth of winter, which lasts a long time due to the 2x year length. I wouldn't surprised to see hibernation as a common trait in northern animals.

Re: Planet Generation

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett (Post 841856)

Calculate the temperature at apastron (maximum separation) and periastron (minimum separation). You will find the result interesting.

Umm, how do I do that? I didn't see that in Space

Re: Planet Generation

Ok I go the temperatures, and wow, maybe I should tone down the eccentricity

Re: Planet Generation

A planet functions as a substantial heat sink, so living on an eccentrically orbiting planet won't be quite as extreme as summering on Venus and spending the winter on Mars.

Re: Planet Generation

Stay away from deserts on the interior of a continent, though.

Re: Planet Generation

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanW (Post 841984)

A planet functions as a substantial heat sink, so living on an eccentrically orbiting planet won't be quite as extreme as summering on Venus and spending the winter on Mars.

True, but who wants runaway greenhouses in summer, and runaway glaciation in winter? Exactly how much a life bearing planet can "hold" it somewhere in the middle is anyone's guess.

Re: Planet Generation

Maybe it could have a vast underground eco system.

Re: Planet Generation

Quote:

Originally Posted by D10 (Post 841999)

Maybe it could have a vast underground eco system.

That's what I did way back in my D&D days with my eccentric planet evolved race. Some animals hibernated in deep underground caverns and created a whole separate type of life. Maybe I just wanted my albino apes to show how my flyndarans saw humanity on our eternal spring planet. :)