Alternate Planets, Suns, Stars, and Solar Systems Thread

4 * pi * r^2

Okay, that's rather too pithy because planets are not necessarily spherical, but it gives the general approach. You figure out the mathematical shape of the planet and then calculate the area that results.
Do you think the description I have for my system on the previous page is somewhat realistic?
 
rnt finale tava system.png
Here's a base map for a project I've been working on for about a year now. It's the Proxima Centauri system (or Tava, if you're using endonyms), in a timeline called Road Not Taken. (Inspired by the Turtledove short story of the same name.) A brief synopsis is; Aliens with 1830's technology attack Earth in 1917. Shenanigans ensue.

The Tava Belt is a rough collection of minuscule asteroids that orbit very close to the star. It's not likely that the belt will survive the next hundred thousand years, as drag from occasional flares, as well as gravitational influences whittle down their velocity.

Aoerba (Follower) is a Mars-sized rocky planet that orbits at an incredible 0.005 AU, and as such is super heated by Tava's light. Nonetheless, Yivarkans (the native species) colonized areas around the poles, where the heat was more bearable. A large impact crater can be found, seemingly formed within the last 13,000 years. Its name comes from the fact that it's never seen far from Tava in the sky, and so early Yivarkans personified it as a follower of the star.

Turen (Dirt/Home, etymologists are split 50/50 ITTL) is the largest rocky planet in the system. 96% the size of earth, with similar gravity, day lengths, air composition, and even temperature, this planet more than any other is a visage of our own planet. (Ignore that it orbits at 0.014 AU, and that the years are 18 days long) The flora on the surface is purple due to retinal being used instead of chlorophyll. The Yivarkans also evolved here, four eyed, four armed humanoids. Unified over the course of centuries under a single religion, their technological advancement eventually led them to unlocking gravitation engines (and therefore spaceflight) at ~1830s technology. This resulted in the slow down of further technological advancements. Yivarkans themselves are split into three major sub-species, with Hesdorians (often called Fennec's due to their short stature and large ears) and Glen'aie (often called Arctics due to their polar environment and albino fur) being oppressed by the larger "Standard" subspecies. The two moons of the planet are binary, and are called "the Dancers" due to their slow, 18 hour rotation in the sky.

The Segne Belt (Neighbor Belt) is the second largest in the system, and holds a variety of objects and bases. The large mineral deposits caused this to be one of the first areas colonized by the Yivarkans. Oddly, no large dwarf planets can be found here, the closest one being Ayos, which now houses several bases.

Opel (Watcher) is the largest planet by far, being 45 times the mass of Earth, and orbiting at 1.49 AU. It has 5 major moons, and 19 minor moons, with other historical ones being mined out in the past. Opel's orange coloration looks like the light orange-tan tint of Yivarkan eyes, thus giving it its name. It's largest moon, Eller (Listener), bears life in the form of methane-based slime molds covering wet, low-elevation areas. Eller gains it's name from a myth in where the major moons (visible from Turen) listened to the giant planet tell stories of what it was watching over.

Causac (Red Light) is the second largest planet, with 13 Earth masses, orbiting at 3.63 AU (In a 1:2 resonance with Opel). Its distinctive burgundy color comes from complex componds in its upper atmosphere. Kinisent, the largest moon, was historically settled to extract water for longer journeys, and still remains settled to this day. Its name comes from the distinct deep red it has in Turen's sky, somewhat resembling their star's light.

Two dwarf planets, Roches and Kess, have irregular orbits between Causac and Sijsiv, and may be flung out of the system after an encounter with the former.

Sijsiv (Dissapointment) is a Mercury sized iceball, pock-marked with craters and canyons. However, this seemingly wasn't enough to the Yivarkans who settled here, who changed its name from El-Eta (Bright Star) upon the discovery of its admittedly mundane surface. The new name stuck, and so the planet is forever known as disappointing. Not good for tourism.

The Nisi-Yeip Belt (Outer Belt/Further-than Belt) marks the end of the system, excluding the Oort cloud. Many dwarf planets and other icy worlds exist out here, none too exciting. Rrivv Ga’p (Gray Stone), Servi (Pink Flower), Nisi-Viver (Far Rock), and the Ethi (Twins) binary dominate this cold, icy expanse.

But even further out, some even scraping the Oort cloud, some colonies are seen. Starbound, New Karelia, and Halfway (settled by the United States, Union of Sovierign States, and European Federation) were colonized by humans as they entered the Tava system during the end of the Centauri-Human War. These outposts represent the final frontier of the Tava system, and nowadays, both Humans and Yivarkans find new bodies to examine and settle.

Thanks for checking this out! If you have any questions, lmk. I'd be happy to answer lore about any body or history ITTL. Have a good one!
(Edit: error with attaching the image)
 
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