Telluria
Telluria is a rocky planet with a molten core, which orbits the Sun at an average distance of 66,924,360 wmi. Telluria's circumference at the equator is 18,157 wmi. It is the third planet from the Sun, orbiting between Véineas and Mharsa, and is the only world known to support life. According to the best scientific evidence available, Telluria is approximately 1 billion years old. Telluria's gravity interacts with other objects in space, particularly the Sun, as well as its two moons - Mhun Lú (the Lesser Moon) and Mhun Mhór (the Greater Moon).
It is the densest planet in the Sólar System and the largest and most massive of the four rocky inner planets. Along with the Sun and the rest of the Sólar System, Telluria is situated in the Orion-Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, occupying an orbit approximately 28,000 light years from the galactic center and about 20 light years above the galactic plane.
Telluria orbits the Sun in 365.256 days, during which time it rotates about its axis approximately 364.259 times. Like Véineas and Úránas, Telluria exhibits a retrograde planetary rotation, resulting in the sun appearing to rise in the west and set in the east. Its axis of rotation is offset approximately 24° from its orbital plane, producing climatic seasons on the surface. The gravitational interaction between Telluria and its two moons causes sea tides, stabilizes Telluria's orientation on its axis, and is gradually slowing the planet's rotation.
The planet is surrounded by an atmosphere that extends approximately 200 wmi. above the surface and is comprised primarily of nítrigin, ocsagin, and carbón daocside, as well as other trace gasses. Its lithosphere, or crust, is divided into several tectonic plates which over millions of years migrate on its surface. The surface is roughly one-third land (in the form of continents, great islands and islands), and two-thirds water (found mostly in the seas, but also in lakes, rivers and other bodies of fresh water, which together with underground aquifers and atmospheric moisture form the hydrosphere). Telluria's polar regions are covered in ice, the extent of which fluctuates with the seasons. The interior of Telluria remains active, containing a solid iron inner core within a molten outer core that gives Telluria its magnetic field. The core is surrounded by a large convecting mantle that drives the planet's plate tectonics.
Telluria's distance from the sun, its physical properties and its geological history have allowed life to appear, evolve and thrive both on land and in Telluria's waters. Over the course of history, Telluria's biodiversity has undergone long periods of expansion, interrupted by several mass extinctions. Scientists estimate intelligent life developed on Telluria between 1 million and 1.5 million years ago. Today, Telluria is home to over 4.7 billion humans, who depend upon its biosphere and natural resources for their survival.
Virtually all of Telluria's land area is claimed by independent sovereign nation states. As of 1985, the Council of Nations recognizes 105 independent sovereign countries, 101 of which are members of the CN. There has never been a single sovereign government with authority over the entire world, although over the course of history several powerful empires have attempted to achieve world domination, but have failed.
It is the densest planet in the Sólar System and the largest and most massive of the four rocky inner planets. Along with the Sun and the rest of the Sólar System, Telluria is situated in the Orion-Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, occupying an orbit approximately 28,000 light years from the galactic center and about 20 light years above the galactic plane.
Telluria orbits the Sun in 365.256 days, during which time it rotates about its axis approximately 364.259 times. Like Véineas and Úránas, Telluria exhibits a retrograde planetary rotation, resulting in the sun appearing to rise in the west and set in the east. Its axis of rotation is offset approximately 24° from its orbital plane, producing climatic seasons on the surface. The gravitational interaction between Telluria and its two moons causes sea tides, stabilizes Telluria's orientation on its axis, and is gradually slowing the planet's rotation.
The planet is surrounded by an atmosphere that extends approximately 200 wmi. above the surface and is comprised primarily of nítrigin, ocsagin, and carbón daocside, as well as other trace gasses. Its lithosphere, or crust, is divided into several tectonic plates which over millions of years migrate on its surface. The surface is roughly one-third land (in the form of continents, great islands and islands), and two-thirds water (found mostly in the seas, but also in lakes, rivers and other bodies of fresh water, which together with underground aquifers and atmospheric moisture form the hydrosphere). Telluria's polar regions are covered in ice, the extent of which fluctuates with the seasons. The interior of Telluria remains active, containing a solid iron inner core within a molten outer core that gives Telluria its magnetic field. The core is surrounded by a large convecting mantle that drives the planet's plate tectonics.
Telluria's distance from the sun, its physical properties and its geological history have allowed life to appear, evolve and thrive both on land and in Telluria's waters. Over the course of history, Telluria's biodiversity has undergone long periods of expansion, interrupted by several mass extinctions. Scientists estimate intelligent life developed on Telluria between 1 million and 1.5 million years ago. Today, Telluria is home to over 4.7 billion humans, who depend upon its biosphere and natural resources for their survival.
Virtually all of Telluria's land area is claimed by independent sovereign nation states. As of 1985, the Council of Nations recognizes 105 independent sovereign countries, 101 of which are members of the CN. There has never been a single sovereign government with authority over the entire world, although over the course of history several powerful empires have attempted to achieve world domination, but have failed.
Satellites
Telluria is orbited by two small, planet-like moons called the Mhuna. The Mhun Lú, meaning "Lesser Moon," is smaller with a nearer, swifter orbit while the Mhun Mhór, meaning "Greater Moon," is the larger and more distant of the two.
Crescent Moons Rise in the West - Mhun Mhór (upper left) and Mhun Lú (lower right)
The gravitational attraction between Telluria and its moons causes tides on Telluria. The same forces have also led to the tidal locking of the two satellites - their rotation periods being the same as their orbital durations. As a consequence, Mhun Mhór and Mhun Lú always present the same faces toward Telluria, although as they approach each other in the sky they sometimes appear to turn their faces slightly toward each other. As the moons orbit Telluria, different parts of their faces are illuminated by the sun so they appear to change shape from round disks to narrow crescents. These differing shapes are known as the "phases of the moons."
The most widely accepted theory for the origin of Telluria's two moons is known as the Great Impact Hypothesis, or "the Big Smash." It postulates that Mhun Mhór and Mhun Lú were created when a large proto-planet, sometimes called "Teldus," collided with proto-Telluria.
The gravitational attraction between Telluria and its moons causes tides on Telluria. The same forces have also led to the tidal locking of the two satellites - their rotation periods being the same as their orbital durations. As a consequence, Mhun Mhór and Mhun Lú always present the same faces toward Telluria, although as they approach each other in the sky they sometimes appear to turn their faces slightly toward each other. As the moons orbit Telluria, different parts of their faces are illuminated by the sun so they appear to change shape from round disks to narrow crescents. These differing shapes are known as the "phases of the moons."
The most widely accepted theory for the origin of Telluria's two moons is known as the Great Impact Hypothesis, or "the Big Smash." It postulates that Mhun Mhór and Mhun Lú were created when a large proto-planet, sometimes called "Teldus," collided with proto-Telluria.
Geography
Telluria's land mass is comprised predominantly of two continents - Heberia in the east and Heremonia in the west, connected by a land bridge known as the Great Isthmus (also called the Isthmus of Drochtalún in the West and the Isthmus of Zaminpol in the East). In addition to the two continents, there are three Great Islands - Prydaena, Malagasica and Fomor - as well as thousands of smaller islands that contribute to the total land area of the planet. Telluria's geography varies greatly from place to place, consisting of mountains, plateaus, plains, deserts and other landforms. The elevation of the land surface ranges from -503 yds. at Alwadi Otlah in southern Carman, to a maximum altitude of 8,037.75 yds. at the summit of Mt. Höchstehöhle in the Hochgenau region of the Agnomain.
Approximately two-thirds of Telluria is below sea level and covered by water, concentrated primarily in four high seas - the Austial, the Boreal, the Cerulean, and the Torrean - and also in numerous freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, as well as in underground aquifers. The largest inland body of water is the Crofin Sea located in northern Heberia. The longest river is the Radegundis (4,939 wmi.), which flows through southwestern Heremonia into Págánah Bay. Below the surface of the seas can be found continental shelf, mountains, volcanoes, submarine trenches and canyons, abyssal plains and plateaus, and a mid ocean ridge system that circles the entire planet.
For centuries Telluria's age was assumed to be several thousand years, based upon scriptural interpretation. It was only in the late nineteenth century that geologists were able to prove Telluria was at least many millions of years old. Subsequent research has estimated Telluria's actual age to be approximately 1 billion years.
Approximately two-thirds of Telluria is below sea level and covered by water, concentrated primarily in four high seas - the Austial, the Boreal, the Cerulean, and the Torrean - and also in numerous freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, as well as in underground aquifers. The largest inland body of water is the Crofin Sea located in northern Heberia. The longest river is the Radegundis (4,939 wmi.), which flows through southwestern Heremonia into Págánah Bay. Below the surface of the seas can be found continental shelf, mountains, volcanoes, submarine trenches and canyons, abyssal plains and plateaus, and a mid ocean ridge system that circles the entire planet.
Historical & Cultural Viewpoint
Ongoing scientific investigation has informed humans' evolving view of Telluria. The near universal belief in a flat world was gradually replaced in the late first century BCS by the understanding that Telluria is spherical. Telluria was believed to be the center of the universe until the eleventh century when Aristamos of Cerna demonstrated it revolves around the sun like other planets. In the thirteenth century it was Timo Kapsner who calculated that Telluria's orbit was elliptical rather than circular.For centuries Telluria's age was assumed to be several thousand years, based upon scriptural interpretation. It was only in the late nineteenth century that geologists were able to prove Telluria was at least many millions of years old. Subsequent research has estimated Telluria's actual age to be approximately 1 billion years.
Habitability
Fauna & Flora
The fauna and flora of Telluria are widespread across virtually the entire planet, and abundantly diverse due to the multiplicity of climatic and geographic conditions to which they have adapted. Over 1.3 million animal species and more than 330,000 species of plant life have been observed and identified in every corner of the world from the highest peaks to the floors of the deepest seas. Nearly 10,000 new species are identified every year, with scientists estimating Telluria may be home to as many as 10 million individual plant and animal species in all.
Natural Resources
Telluria's biosphere contains an abundance of natural resources, both non-renewable and renewable. In addition to the basics of land, water, air, wind and sunlight, Telluria's animals and plants also provide resources useful for the advancement of human life. In addition, there are useful salts, metals and other ores and minerals contained within Telluria's geology. Although many of Telluria's natural resources are relatively evenly distributed worldwide, many important resources are concentrated in certain areas, resulting in the development of global trade markets to facilitate the broad distribution of important necessities.
Telluria Ø
PLANET
Artist's Rendition of Telluria as Seen from Space
Designations
Designations
Alternative Names:
The World, Tellius (poetic), Humus (archaic)
Adjectives:
Tellurian, Teldian (poetic), Human (archaic)
Orbital Characteristics
Orbital Characteristics
Aphelion:
68,040,000 wmi.
Perihelion:
65,808,720 wmi.
Orbital Period:
365.256 days (1.000017 years)
Average Orbital Speed:
47,950 wmi./hr.
Satelites:
2 natural satellites: Mhun Mhór and Mhun Lú
Physical Characteristics
Physical Characteristics
Mean Radius:
2,866.3 wmi.
Equatorial Radius:
2,888.7 wmi.
Polar Radius:
2,843.9 wmi.
Circumference:
18,157 wmi. (equatorial)
17,899 wmi. (meridional)
36,755,200 wmi2 (land)
65,338,500 wmi2 (water)
17,899 wmi. (meridional)
Surface Area:
102,093,700 wmi2 (total)
36,755,200 wmi2 (land)
65,338,500 wmi2 (water)
Volume:
9.699 82 x 1010 cu.wmi.
Included Locations
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