tHE VELA SYSTEM: ANAN

Name: Anan

Mean orbital radius: 1.22m km

Rotational period 30hrs

Diameter: 11900km

Orbital period: 7.37 days

Rotational period 30hrs

Atmosphere:

            Pressure: 1.05 bar

            Composition:             77% nitrogen

                                                21% oxygen

                                    2% other, mostly carbon dioxide and argon

Density: 5.21 g/cm^3

Surface g: 8.86m/s/s

Orbital inclination: 3°

Magnetic field: moderate, fairly stable similar to Earth’s

Summary: life bearing satellite, more information here

Surface coverage:

Planet is widely dominated by oceans. Landmasses cover only about 20% of the surface, these are mostly scattered island chains, there are no large continents, but rather large groupings of large islands (Iceland sized is about average for the large islands of which there about 20 or so). Large polar ice caps at both poles, those most of this ice mass unsupported by land, seasonal effects do not greatly effect its coverage, but brash ice does break off and drift into the ocean as far the fiftieth latitudes.

Geology:

Planet is dominated by oceans, and much of the crust is still under survey, gravitational imaging shows geology is roughly in line with Earths. The planet is tectonically active, much more so than earth, thought that tidal effects generated by Maloth have generated a more fluid mantle, and places stress on the plates. Plate interaction has failed to generate continents, though large amounts of the small landmasses form along their edges, either from rock pushed up, or by volcanic origins

Climate:

Climate is tropical to the fortieth latitudes, temperate to 60’s. Seasonal changes are not very pronounced, consequently the weather is quite moderate at all times, though hurricanes do form, and some of these can continue unabated to travel right around the world, these are mainly confined to the tropics.

Life:

This satellite harbours indigenous life, and appears from paleontology the first of the two satellites to harbour life. Most biomass can be found in the ocean, though the greatest diversity is found on the land, the hundreds of separated islands house wide ranges of advanced plants and animal life. The most remarkable ecosystem is in the ocean where a reef analogue has developed, but as well as forming on the borders between land an sea, also freely drifts in the ocean currents. There is no intelligent life on this world, though a high degree of intelligence has been observed in some species of lizard analogue, but they look to be far from society still. Federation biologists have banned any colonies from near their habitat (restricted to three landmasses and many islands), and demand a non-interference policy.

Colonies:

No major colonies have been founded, though the federation has declared that the planet is fit for colonization. Surface population remains has remained in the region of 6 million between the earth years of 2150-2200, and does not look to expand much further. Habitation has occurred primarily in the southern tropics, where there are several large landmasses. There are few colonies more northerly of this, and the expansion of these this region has been limited by the discovery of some potentially sentient species.

Extra notes,

If an intelligent race does emerge on Anan, then the federation must take measure to completely remove their presence on this world, which is the standard policy regarding primitive civilizations. For this reason it is useful for the population in the Vela system to remain low.