Ignis

---

Of the five known planets orbiting around Alpha Centauri A, ignis is the smallest and closest planet to the star. The surface temperature reaches unwelcoming temperatures on the side that faces towards Alpha Centauri A. The planet itself is a barren world and is seen to be very dusty.

The surface

Volcanic activity around the surface is seen from afar - cracks the size of the entires circumference of Ignis itself is surrounding the equator. The volcanic activity is due to the immense force the planet feels when orbiting a star so close, gravity pulls the planet towards the star and creates giant ripples in the material. Friction for the pulling keeps the core from turning cold - the warm liquid hasn't got a chance to cool down.
Temperatures on the surface variates between the extreme temperatures -137.15 Celsius and 426.85 Celsius.
The most extreme case is when looking at the difference in temperature is comparing the surface turned against Alpha Centauri A and the surface turning away from the star. Here the difference is 564 Celsius.

Orbit

Ignis' orbit has an elongated shape (oblong oval). This makes the seasons on Ignis very extreme. When closest to Alpha Centauri A, temperatures reach unbearable heights and the surface facing the star is boiling. When the orbit reaches its farthest point, the planet has a chance to cool down for a moment. These conditions make it hard for the core of the planet to cool down like the Earth's core has.

by CatRobi

by CatRobi

Physical characteristics

Diameter:

4756 km

Surface gravity:

0.41 g (0.41 times the gravity we feel on Earth)

Surface temperature:

Min	Mean	Max
100 kelvin	340 kelvin	700 kelvin
- 137.15 Celsius	66.85 Celsius	426.85 Celsius

Days (Lenght)

One day on Ignis equals to 2.9 days on Earth. That means, that in one year, Ignis will have seen 17.6 sunrises.

Orbit

51.23 days

---

Type

Planet

Ignis' orbit takes 51.23 days (in Earth days) which is a shorter orbiting period than our solar systems closest planet Mercury with an orbit period of 87.9 days.

In one Ignis year, the planet with make 17.6 full rotations around its axis, and one full rotation takes 2.9 Earth days. So an Ignis year is 17.6 Ignis days long. The orbits perihelion is 42.071.700 km (0.28047 AU) and the aphelion is 61.813.400 km (0.41208 AU). Where AU is a unit that compares the distance from Earth to the sun (which is around 150.000.000 km = 1 AU).

Perihelion is a body's closest point to the sun it is orbiting, and Aphelion is the farthest point. The words are formed from the prefixes peri- (Greek: περί, near) and apo- (Greek: ἀπό, away from)

Geology

Because of Ignis' rough nature and hardly inviting climate, it is the planet humans know the least about. Telescopes on Domus has observed the planet and it's chaotic state on the surface since humans colonized Domus.
When saying the planet is in a chaotic state, means that it constantly in between cooling off and staying a planet (the outer layers not disappearing from the gravity pull of Ignis' core) and the immense force from Alpha Centauri A that pulls the planet, creates ripples and cracks in the surface and deep down to the core.
The chaotic state makes it impossible to land any form of scientific gear to explore the planet closer because the rovers will get swallowed by the rage of the cracking surface. Two flybys have been performed over the years, which has made scientists able to take high-quality pictures.
Scientists keep an eye on Ignis and its orbit, due to the fear of change in trajectory. Even a small change could challenge the chaotic stage it is currently in and may be able to rupture the entire planet into small fragments. If this one day were to happen, millions of small pieces could be heading in Domus's direction - which we definitely do not want.