LoS: Solar System
- This is an article related to the science fiction role play setting Legacy of Sol.
Age : 4,568 billion years
Location : Local Interstellar Cloud, Local Bubble, Orion-Cygnus Arm, Milky Way
System Mass : 1,0014 Solar masses
Nearest Star :
- Proxima Centauri (4,22 ly [1])
- Alpha Centauri system (4,37 ly)
Nearest Known Planetary System : Alpha Centauri system (4,37 ly)
Stars : 1 ( Sun)
Planets : 8 ( Mercury • Venus • Terra • Mars • Jupiter • Saturn • Uranus • Neptune)
Known Dwarf Planets : Five recognized ( Ceres • Pluto • Haumea • Makemake • Eris)
Known Natural Satellites : 427 (170 planetary • 257 minor planetary)
Known Minor Planets : 834.332 (as of 20/09/2256)
Known Comets : 3345 (as of 20/09/2256)
Identified Rounded Satellites : 19
The "Solar System" is the system that contains the Sun and all of the celestial objects that orbit it, either directly or indirectly. Eight planets orbit the Sun, whose combined mass make up most of the mass in the system, save for the overwhelmingly massive portion that the Sun itself comprises. Other objects found throughout the Solar System are dwarf planets, small Solar System bodies and satellites. The Solar System is most notable for containing Earth and being the origin of the human race. The planets that make up the planetary system are also divided in half by the presence of an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. All four of the bodies closest to the Sun are referred to as terrestrial bodies, due to them being composed primarily of rock and metals, while the outermost four are called gas or ice giants, depending on the nature of the gasses in question. All of these planet have near-circular orbits around the Sun and most have one or more moons serving as their satellites.
Beyond planets and moons, the Solar System is also populated by other entities. The asteroid belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter contains a mass of objects mostly composed of rock and metal, as well as the dwarf planet Ceres. Beyond Neptune lies the Kuiper belt and the shattered disc, both being links of trans-Neptunian objects, some of which have sufficient gravity to take on a roughly round shape and be classed as dwarf planets. Notable examples thereof are Pluto and Eris. In addition to those regions, there is also a wealth of comets, centaurs and interplanetary dust traveling freely between all of these regions. All of the outer planets (Jupiter and beyond) are encircled by planetary rings composed of dust and other small objects captured by the body's gravity, though only Saturn's is very well-known and often referenced.
Ever since starting to journey beyond the surface of the Earth, the Solar System has been consistently revealing more and more secrets, as well as proving or shattering all manner of pre-existing theories. Additional objects continue to be discovered and two new moons of Jupiter had even been found only thirty years ago, despite the heavy population and industrialization of the planet's orbit very early on in the colonization rush. Humanity has spread as far as Neptune by the year 2256, with sights set on exploring the Kuiper belt and shattered disc. Points of interest are primarily the dwarf planets, but there are asteroids that have captured the attention of companies and governments alike. While natural objects still comprise the bulk of what is present in the Solar System, the number of man-made entities spread across its expanse increases exponentially with every passing year. Despite the scale involved, the system as a whole is starting to become a very busy place to live, especially along the predefined interplanetary space lanes.
Below is a comprehensive list of the notable objects found in the Solar System, ordered according to their proximity to the Sun, from closest to furthest.
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. Spherical in shape, it consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields. Truly immense, it has around 109 times the diameter of Earth and approximately 330,000 times the mass. As such, it accounts for over 99% of the mass in the entire system. Chemically, the Sun largely consists of hydrogen, with the rest mostly being helium converted through the nuclear fusion that occurs in its core. The remaining comparatively tiny portion of its mass is made up of heavier elements, such as oxygen, carbon, neon and iron.
Having formed about 4,567 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a region within a large molecular cloud, the Sun became the center of the system, around which all of the objects orbit directly or indirectly. The star's emitted light is the energy that supports almost all life on Earth and several colonies through a process known as photosynthesis. It also drives Earth's climate and weather. The enormous effect the Sun has on Earth has been recognized since prehistoric times, with it being consistently regarded as a deity by older cultures. Today, there is an accurate, scientific understanding of the Sun, but there are still many questions that remain unanswered.
Despite the fact that humanity is slowly expanding away form the Sun, scientific interest in the star persists. One major reason is the fact that understanding it could mean preventing disasters from affecting Earth in the near future. Because of this, Venus and Mercury have always been used as the building sites of research facilities that attempt to closely study the star in ways that are impossible from further away. Funding for these projects had always been historically low, despite everything. But, with the discovery of Xenian on the surface of Mercury, a greater budget has been available for developing human presence so close to the burning star.
Inner Solar System
The inner Solar System is the region that contains all celestial objects in orbit around the Sun from Mercury to the asteroid belt. It does not include objects that move freely between regions such as certain comets and interplanetary dust. The inner Solar System is home to two of the most important planets in the Solar System, Earth and Mars. Earth, which has begun to be commonly referred to as Terra since the last century, is the birthing ground of the human race, while Mars serves as one of the major military and economical centers of the UDN.
Mercury
- Main article: Mercury
The smallest and closest to the Sun of the eight planets, Mercury has always had difficulty finding a place in the new, interplanetary society. While its surface is rich in iron, magnesium silicates and ice water on the poles, its intense exposure to solar radiation and immense temperature fluctuations are considerable challenges that have often outweighed its advantages. For many decades, its resources were considered too difficult to reach and could always be replaced by yields from elsewhere, further from the Sun. Despite this, it did become the target of a few research expeditions and several installations orbit the planet near its terminator to avoid the tremendous heat of the surface side facing the Sun, or the cold on the side removed from it. In late 2238, substantial Xenian deposits were discovered deep beneath Mercury's crust. With many of the larger deposits of the increasingly more valuable substance being in the hands of the CIC and Triton Empire, the UDN is moving swiftly to try and set up extensive mining operations on the planet's surface. Progress has been slow due to the environmental challenges of the small planet.
Venus
- Main article: Venus
Venus is the terrestrial planet second closest to the Sun and which, in many ways, resembles Terra. With roughly the same size and gravity, it was considered a potential target for colonization and even terraforming for many decades. However, closer observation of its surface quickly rendered the methods being developed impractical. Possessing next to no oxygen, a dense and highly toxic atmosphere, sulfuric acid, tremendous volcanic activity, crushing atmospheric pressure and surface temperatures well-above 400 degrees Celsius, Venus is a truly hazardous world. Colonies were also never believed to have the potential of being economically lucrative because there was a far greater abundance in natural resources to be found on other worlds, which immediately skewed priorities away from Venus. Even Mercury, which had never held the spotlight, has seen more development than the Morning and Evening Star. Despite these issues, the UDN and several corporations and research groups do maintain a presence in its orbit with several space stations. Due to the thick presence of deuterium in its upper atmosphere, there are also several facilities dedicated to collecting the resource that is normally refined from hydrogen to serve as fuel for fusion reactors.
Terra
- Main article: Terra
Terra, also referred to as Earth or Gaia, is the third planet furthest from the Sun, and the largest terrestrial planet in the Solar System. Home of the human race, it is unique in not only the Solar System, but across much of the known Milky Way. With an ozone layer and a planetary magnetic field, the planet blocks the most life-threatening parts of the Sun's radiation, as well as stemming radiation carried by the solar wind. Because of this, and the fact that 70% of its surface is covered by water, has allowed life to persist. With roughly six billion human beings and over 8.5 million different species of animals living on its surface, Terra has developed a very sensitive ecosystem that deteriorated rapidly since humanity began its industrialization. Near the end of the Third World War, ecological damage and the resultant climate changes had almost reached a point of no return. However, with the advent of new technology and planning with greater foresight, the planet has since recovered significantly, with some of the damage repaired artificially by corporate-sponsored projects.
Politically, the planet has undergone significant changes since the end of the Third World War, with some nations having coalesced into larger wholes, while others have splintered into tinier factions. Almost all stand united under the banner of the UDN, with the exceptions in poor standing with the rest of the world for their choice. Despite the splintering that has taken place in the Solar System - with the rise of the CIC and the Triton Empire - Terra maintains a special place in the hearts and public eye of most individuals. While animosity between factions exists, few have any desire to scorch the surface of a planet that represents what humanity is capable of doing if they work together; the UDN's initial ideal. The cultural, economical and political influence of Terra is incalculable.
Mars
- Main article: Mars
Asteroid Belt
- Main article: Asteroid Belt
Outer Solar System
Jupiter
- Main article: Jupiter
Saturn
- Main article: Saturn
Uranus
- Main article: Uranus
Neptune
- Main article: Neptune
Kuiper Belt
Shattered Disc
See also
- List of Known Colonies for a full list of all known colonies in the Solar System
