Why is this a Volcanic World?Runaway tidal heating from its moons drives volcanism across a cold crust - the planet is kneaded like Io.
Resonant, close-in moons pump orbital eccentricity, and the resulting tidal flexing dissipates enormous heat in the interior. Only a fraction of the surface is molten at once, so the ground between the vents stays as cold as the orbit allows - Io's own equilibrium temperature is about 110 K.
Classification Criteria:
✓ Close-in moons in a resonant configuration✓ Tidal heat flux beyond the runaway threshold- The orbit is not what melted it: 1.21 AU, 287K equilibrium
Habitability ScoreUninhabitable
18
Contributing Factors
water61
Good water content (low gravity lets water escape to space)
geology40
Extreme volcanic activity may be hazardous
rotation10
Near tidally locked - one hemisphere perpetually scorched, other frozen, narrow habitable twilight zone only
Organic Chemistry100
All CHNOPS elements present - building blocks of life
atmosphere16
Atmosphere present but composition not ideal for life (partially stripped by slow rotation)
temperature15
Optimal temperature range for liquid water and life (runaway tidal heating keeps the surface molten regardless of orbit)
magnetic Field30
No magnetic field - vulnerable to solar radiation
Physical Properties
Mass
0.40x Earth (2.39e+24 kg)
Radius
0.74x Earth (4,694 km)
Surface Gravity
0.74x Earth (7.2 m/s²)
Surface Temperature
287 K (14 °C / 57 °F)
Rotation Period
17.0 hours/day (faster than Earth)
Orbital Environment
Star Type
G-type (Yellow (Sun-like))
Distance from Star
1.21 AU (181 million km)
Orbital Period
1.33 years
Atmosphere
Volcanic outgassing - sulfur compounds and vaporized rock
Elemental Composition
O - Oxygen
20.4%
H - Hydrogen
13.6%
C - Carbon
10.2%
Surface Characteristics
Runaway tidal heating drives volcanism across a cold crust - lava lakes and sulfur plains between frozen plains
Tidal braking locked the planet to its moon: one face forever moonward.
Moon 2merged0.0025% - 7.1 radii
Merged with an adjacent moon: too close for both to hold a stable orbit.
Moon 3receding0.10% - 5.4 radii
Outside the synchronous orbit: slowly receding, like Luna (~cm per year).
-85 temperature: runaway tidal heating keeps the surface molten regardless of orbit
Habitability
✓ Conditions suitable for life detectedThis planet exhibits the necessary conditions to support biological processes, including stable temperatures, liquid water, and protective magnetic fields.