Celestial Bodies

Within wildspace are the celestial bodies: planets, suns, moons, asteroids , and a host of other items collectively lumped together under the heading "planetoids." Most celestial bodies have an atmosphere of some sort although it is dangerous to assume that this is an inviolable rule.
Celestial bodies extend upward in size to that of the sun, and downward to the size of asteroids and planetoids. The tremendous variety that is possible (and proven) in celestial bodies mandates that the only accurate definition for the term is any significantly large conglomeration of matter that is wheeling about in wild-space. In general, however, a celestial body is a planetary mass. Most have a regenerating atmosphere. Celestial bodies can have any shape, though the most common is spherical. Still, there are flat worlds, elliptical worlds, cubic worlds, amorphous worlds, ring-shaped worlds, hollow worlds.
Celestial bodies usually, but not always, have an atmosphere which is usually but not always, breathable. The depth, or thickness, of the atmosphere is directly related to the size of the body. The larger the body the deeper the atmosphere. Again, these are general rules and exceptions abound .
Some celestial bodies are aflame, fueled either by internal reactions or by significant access to the elemental plane of fire. Such bodies are called suns and provide most of the heat and warmth for the celestial bodies within any particular system.

Celestial Body Classification

Celestial bodies are divided into various types and classifications for easy reference by celestial engineers and cartographers. When referring to a celestial body or bodies, a three-character code is used. First Is a definition of size, second a symbol Indicating shape, and lastly a word describing the type of celestial body being dealt with. (See CAS p.34)

Size Classes

• Size A Less than 10 miles across
• Size B From 10-100 miles across
• Size C From 100-1 K miles across
• Size D From 1-4K across (Pluto 1.5K, Mercury ~3K)
• Size E From 4K-10K across (Earth 8K, Mars 4.2K)
• Size F From 10K-40K across
• Size G From 40K-100K across (Neptune 31K, Saturn 72K, Jupiter 87K)
• Size H From 100K-1M across (Sun 865K)
• Size I From 1M-10M across
• Size J 1M across or greater

Earth, and most earthlike fantasy campaigns, are Size E.

Landing/Takeoff Time

Movement in Atmosphere, time to take off and land. Effects of weather. CAS p.51

• Size Class A: 10 rounds (1 turn)
• Size Class B & C: 2 turns
• Size Class D: 3 turns
• Size Class E: 4 turns
• Size Class F: 6 turns
• Size Class G: 12 turns
• Size Class H: 24 turns (4 hrs)
• Size Class I: 48 turn s (8 hrs)
• Size Class J: 96 turns (16 hrs)

Shape Classes

Shape classes give information about the general shape of the celestial body:

• Amorphous (flexible)
• Belt (smaller objects in a single orbit)
• Cluster (smaller objects in a small area)
• Cubic
• Elliptical
• Spherical

Two special shape classes exist for planets that do not conform to one of the above shapes:

• Regular (a regular shape that isn't otherwise listed)
• Irregular (a shape that isn't listed)

Type Classes

Type classes give information about the substance which is most common on the celestial body:

• Air (also called a gas cloud)
• Earth (also called a world)
• Fire (also called a sun)
• Water (also called a water world)
• Some sages add a fifth element:
• Plant (also called a liveworld)

Supplemental Notes

Supplemental notes give additional information about a celestial body. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Presence of and number of moons
• Lack of atmosphere
• Lethal atmosphere
• A hollow planet
• Large extradimensional gates
• Xenophobic natives (marked by an 'X')