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: 0.22 AU, 265K equilibrium
Habitability ScoreUninhabitable
0
Contributing Factors
water47
Limited water content - mostly frozen
geology40
Extreme volcanic activity may be hazardous
rotation10
Near tidally locked - one hemisphere perpetually scorched, other frozen, narrow habitable twilight zone only
Organic Chemistry50
Carbon and hydrogen present - organic chemistry possible
atmosphere16
Atmosphere present but composition not ideal for life (partially stripped by slow rotation)
temperature0
Challenging but potentially habitable temperature (large moon stabilizes the axial tilt - steady seasons) (runaway tidal heating keeps the surface molten regardless of orbit)
magnetic Field100
Magnetic field provides radiation protection (a large close moon may help stir the core dynamo (speculative))
Physical Properties
Mass
1.00x Earth (5.97e+24 kg)
Radius
1.00x Earth (6,371 km)
Surface Gravity
1.00x Earth (9.8 m/s²)
Surface Temperature
265 K (-8 °C / 17 °F)
Rotation Period
24.0 hours/day
Orbital Environment
Star Type
M-type (Red Dwarf)
Distance from Star
0.22 AU (32.9 million km)
Orbital Period
69 days
Atmosphere
Volcanic outgassing - sulfur compounds and vaporized rock
Elemental Composition
Ni - Nickel
18.6%
Si - Silicon
16.3%
Fe - Iron
14.0%
Surface Characteristics
Runaway tidal heating drives volcanism across a cold crust - lava lakes and sulfur plains between frozen plains
Outside the synchronous orbit: slowly receding, like Luna (~cm per year).
Tidal braking locked the planet to its moon: one face forever moonward.
Moon 2merged2.5% - 18.7 radii
Merged with an adjacent moon: too close for both to hold a stable orbit.
Moon 3stable0.00045% - 23.5 radii
Small and distant: a quiet, stable companion.
Moon 4receding0.35% - 8.2 radii
Outside the synchronous orbit: slowly receding, like Luna (~cm per year).
+5 temperature: large moon stabilizes the axial tilt - steady seasons-85 temperature: runaway tidal heating keeps the surface molten regardless of orbit+5 magneticField: a large close moon may help stir the core dynamo (speculative)