CRETAK
CAPITALISED TEXT represents placeholder names
CRETAK is the second planet from AZAN and the only planet in the AZANI SYSTEM that harbours life—both indigenous and human.
Map of CRETAK showing the planet’s topography, plate boundaries, and tropic/polar circles.
Continents: PICARD (southern continent), EZRI (northwestern continent), DEGRA (central continent) & JANNAR (northeastern continent).
Plate Boundaries: Blue (convergent), Red (divergent) & Green (transform).
Circles of Latitudes: Tropic Circles (21º north and south), Polar Circles (69º north and south)
Credit: Artifexian, WorldbuildingPasta
| Physical Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.862 MEarth
1.112 x 1025 kg |
| Surface Area | Total: 708,840,823 km2
Land: 212,508,383 km2 (29.98%) PICARD: 88,410,997 km2 (12.47%) EZRI: 61,557,164 km2 (8.68%) JANNAR: 44,913,690 km2 (6.34%) DEGRA: 14,860,657 km2 (2.10%) Ocean: 496,332,439 km2 (70.02%) |
| Density | 1.136 ρEarth
6.262 g/cm3 |
| Radius | 1.179 REarth
7510.51 km |
| Horizon Distance | ~5.127 km
(excl. atmospheric effects) |
| Gravity | 1.340 g
13.144 m/s2 |
| Escape Velocity | 1.257 VEarth
14.06 km/s |
| Axial Tilt | 21°
(Prograde Rotation) |
| Rotation Period | 1 dlocal
(22hr 48 mins) |
| Albedo | 0.29 (Bond)
0.359 (Geometric) |
| Surface Temperature (Avg.) | 287 K
14°C |
Physical Characteristics
CRETAK is best categorised as a “super-Earth”, due to its comparatively high mass, radius, density, and surface gravity. Its structure consists of an outermost silicate crust, a molten silicate mantle, a liquid iron outer core (whose flow generates the planet’s magnetic field) and a solid iron inner core. The planet’s surface is comprised of landmasses and liquid water oceans. The landmasses account for 29.98% of the total surface area and are broken up into four main continents. In order of decreasing area, they are: PICARD, EZRI, JANNAR, DEGRA. The current layout of the continents, in conjunction with the planet’s axial tilt (see next section), gives rise to a moderate global climate with a diverse array of climate zones across the planet. Our simulations indicate that the landmasses last formed a supercontinent about 450 million years ago, and the models predict the next supercontinent on CRETAK will occur within the next few 100 million years.
Orbital Characteristics
A day on the CRETAK is about 22.8 Earth hours long, with the star rising in the east and setting in the west. Temperate and polar regions on CRETAK are subject to moderate seasonal variation in heating due to the planet’s rotational axis being tilted with respect to the plane of the ecliptic. In the tropics (21° south to 21° north), the sun is directly overhead for at least one day per year, whereas in the polar regions (69° to
90° north and south), the sun never rises or sets for a at least one day per year. CRETAK orbits its star at an average distance of 1.54 AU. Though this distance varies throughout the year, the planet remains at all times within the system’s habitable zone—a region of space stretching from 1.42 to 2.05 AU where temperatures are such that liquid water can exist on its surface.
| Orbital Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Semi-major axis | 1.54 AU
230.384 million km |
| Perihelion | 1.529 AU
228.675 million km |
| Aphelion | 1.551 AU
232.093 million km |
| Eccentricity | 0.00742 |
| Orbital Period | 1 Local Year
(1.730 Earth Years) 665.04 Local Days (631.790 Earth days) |
| Inclination | 0° (ecliptic)
11.198° (to AZAN's equator) |
| Orbital Direction | Prograde |
| Natural Satellites | 1 (DAX) |
Atmosphere
CRETAK’s atmosphere consists of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, though notably, its carbon dioxide content is rather high. It is suspected that this is a result of the increased volcanism occurring as a result of JANNAR beginning to rift apart. The high levels of CO2 have raised the planet’s temperature such that it is within human tolerances. Atmospheric surface pressure and density are also rather high, which impacts the local flora and fauna. CREATK’S atmosphere is divided into three circulation cells per hemisphere: a Hadley cell extends from the equator to 30° north and south, a Ferrel cell extends from 30° to 60° north and south, and a final polar cell extends from 60° north and south to the poles of the planet. At noon, when the star is at its zenith, the sky is a pale blue colour. Near sunrise and sunset, the sky turns a deep, dark blue colour fading to warmer orange and red hues near the horizon.
| Atmospheric Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Surface Presure | 1.48 atm
149.924 kPa |
| Surface Density | 1.818 kg/m3 |
| Composition | 79.09% Nitrogen (N2)
19.79% Oxygen (O2) 1% Argon (Ar) 0.12% Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Trace gases |
| Circulation Cells | Three per Hemisphere
Cell 1: 0 - 30° N/S Cell 1: 30 - 60° N/ Cell 1: 60 - 90° N/S |
CRETAK sky colour at noon (left) and at sunset (right)
(Credit: panoptesv.com)
Atmospheric Pressure and Prevailing Winds during Northern Hemisphere (top) Summer
(Credit: Vanga-Vangog)
Atmospheric Pressure and Prevailing Winds during Northern Hemisphere (top) Winter
(Credit: Vanga-Vangog)
Precipitation in Northern Hemisphere (top) Summer. The bluer the region the wetter it is.
(Credit: Vanga-Vangog)
Precipitation during Northern Hemisphere (top) Winter. The bluer the region the wetter it is.
(Credit: Vanga-Vangog)
Oceans
The ocean circulation on CRETAK is broadly typical for planets of its class; however, the sea separating Northern EZRI and Northern JANNAR is notable. Each winter it is all but cut off for the global circulation system by the encroaching sea ice. Additionally, the basin’s unique configuration gives rise to an abnormally large, longitudinal gyre that transports both warm and cold waters far further south than is typical. This, in part, explains the unique climates experienced on the coasts bordering this sea.
Ocean Circulation during Northern Hemisphere (top) Summer
(Credit: Vanga-Vangog)
Ocean Circulation during Northern Hemisphere (top) Winter
(Credit: Vanga-Vangog)
CRETAK-DAX System
CRETAK is orbited by a single natural satellite called DAX. The moon raises tides on CRETAK and, due to its angular size, gives rise to both total and annular eclipses on the CRETAK.
Life on CRETAK
Native Life
The majority of plants on the surface of CRETAK have evolved to photosynthesise the peak wavelengths of light emitted by the star. As such, most plants on Home World are a blue/teal colour, though other plant colours are also present.
Human Life
TBC