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Arida's Solar System |
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The Arida Solar System belongs to the Milky Way Galaxy
like Earth. The Milky Way Galaxy is a spiral galaxy and lies approximately two-thirds
the distance out from the galactic center. The Arida Solar System can be found 100 light years
from Earth on the opposite side of the galaxy. It was formed when a cloud of gas and dust in space was disturbed, maybe
by a shock wave from the explosion of a nearby star (called a supernova). Around 4.6 billion years
ago a nebula began to spin and collapse, beginning
the process that would eventually produce Venda and its planets. This
spinning action was due to the force of gravity. Gravitational forces pulled
the gases and dust toward the center of the nebula. As gravity pulled the gas and dust
together, the collapsing cloud formed
a solar nebula . The Milky
Way and the Arida Solar System were thus formed. |
| The Arida solar system contains 1 central star, Venda,
and 5 planets. Arida is the second planet in the solar system and supports
water-based life. Its orbit is within the Life Zone region where scientists
say water-based life can exist. The third planet, Zena, has one moon,
Lerda. |
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Star: Venda |
| Venda is a class F-8 star. It is slightly larger than our own sun and as a result, hotter and brighter. It began to form approximately 7 billions years ago with Arida which makes the Arida system older than our own solar system. It's relatively large size compared to Arida is the chief reason for its desert-like conditions. |  |
| Classification |
F-8 |
| Temperature |
6200 Kelvin |
| Visual Luminosity | 1.93 |
| Mass (Mass of our sun = 1) | 1.190 |
| Radius | 1.260 |
| Terrestrial Equivalent Orbit in AUs | 1.5 |
| Lifetime in billions of years | 6.880 |
| Planet: Trull |
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Trull, the first planet in the solar system, is typical of proto-planets that form in close proximity to stars. Early in its formation, it received a large blast of energy and became so hot that much of the lingering gas cloud that surrounded it boiled away. The planet is primarily made up of iron and heavy metals. There is no atmosphere and temperatures are much too severe to support water-based life. |
| Planet: Arida |
| Arida is the second planet in the solar system.
It formed from the swirling nebula of gas and dust that formed the planetary
system around the star Venda nearly 7 billion years ago. Arida's trademark
Red Ring of Fire is its most evident feature. Early in Arida's development,
two proto-moons outside Roche's Limit collided. The resulting debris
formed a reddish ring that constantly rotates around the planet. Planet Arida is
quite a bit warmer than Earth on average with much less land vegetation.
Arrida's atmosphere is less dense than Earth's. Due to Arrida's larger
size and greater density, gravity is 1.22 times greater that of Earth's.
It has been losing atmosphere because of its higher average temperature but the rate of atmospheric loss has greatly lessened.
Approximately 50 percent
of Arida is covered by water. 40 percent is salty ocean water and the remaining 10 percent consists of fresh water locked
in great lakes.
The planet rotates on a 5 degree axis which accounts for the mild difference
in temperatures between summer and winter seasons. The perpendicular
angle at which the sun's rays strike Arida cause yearly temperatures to remain in upwards of
90 degrees. |
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| 1 year = |
1.837 Earth years |
| 1 year = | 670 Earth days |
| radius = | 1.5 |
| gravity = | 1.22 |
| 1 day = |
30 hours |
| axis tilt = | 5 % |
| Planet: Zena |
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Zena is the third planet in the Arida solar system.
It is made up of a dense metal core which is surrounded by a thick,
soupy atmosphere. Known poisonous gasses for water-based life, such
as methane and ammonia, are plentiful and it is highly unlikely that life
as we know it exists here. Zena has one moon called Lerda. It
also has no atmosphere and consists of rock and ice. |
| Planet: Selna |
| Selna, the fourth planet, is located far away
from the energy and warmth of Venda which are needed to support life and keep
water liquid. Selna is without any atmosphere to speak of. |
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| Planet: Meta |
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The fifth planet in the Arida solar system is Meta.
It is the last orbiting planet and is void of life forms. Its surface is covered
by a thin sheet of ammonia-methane. It has a thin methane
atmosphere. |