Platonic Solid Planet Building Challenge

[Whirligig Girl]

I recently discovered Icosahedral maps.

They're great because you can draw them on a page pretty much just like a regular map, then fold it up into a somewhat-globe-like appearance. Other platonic solids get more spherical, but they're not as easy to draw on as an icosahedron template. The distortion is low, or at least evenly distributed throughout the map, and it represents sizes in proper scale.

So I was bored today, and decided to make a little icosahedral planet map. I then folded it up, taped it together, and called it a successful prototype. You can see it in the below spoiler.

Spoiler

An Icosahedral planet map I folded together. It's a terrestrial planet covered in oceans and grass and ice and stuff. Very similar to Earth. The planet does have a conspicuously absent south polar cap

Some stats:

Radius: 0.8 Earth Radii

Density = 0.78 Earth Density

Surface Gravity = 0.624 Earth Gees

Mass = 0.399 Earth Masses

Habitable: Oh yeah.

Star: G2V

Average temperature: 10 degrees Celsius.

Day Length: 89 hours.

Inhabited: Yeah, dang it.

So I'm making an entire 33 object solar system out of icosahedra.

By the time I'm done with it, I will have:

• One Star (Two if you count the brown dwarf)
• Nine Planets (Ten if you count the brown dwarf)
• One Brown Dwarf
• Three Dwarf Planets
• Eighteen Moons

My System, in order of distance from primary:

Spoiler

Derelth Planetary System - Overview

 

1. TL "The Light": G5V, Gaseous, H-fusion. (Week 1, Day 2)

 

2. TL-1 "Sentinius": Silicates, Rounded, Volcanic. (Week 1, Day 1)

 

-- Asteroid Belt 1

 

3. TL-2 "Gert": Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Tenuous Atmosphere. (Week 2, Day 1, and a guide on how to make them)

 

4. TL-3 "Herrl": Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Atmospheric. (Week 1, Day 3)

5. TL-3 I: Silicate, Irregular.

 

6. TL-4 "Derelth": Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Atmospheric, Oceanic, Oblate.

-- TL-4 I "Roioc": Silicate, Irregular.

7. TL-4 II "Uros": Silicate, Rounded.

 

8. TL-5: Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Atmospheric, Massive.

9. TL-5 I: Silicate/Ice, Rounded.

10. TL-5 II: Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Atmospheric, Oceanic(<10% coverage).

11. TL-5 III: Silicate, Rounded.

--- TL-5 IV: Silicate/Ice, Irregular.

 

--- Asteroid Belt 2

 

12. TL-6: Cloud-Banded, Gaseous, Non-fusing.

--- TL-6 I: Ice, Irregular.

13. TL-6 II: Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Volcanic.

14. TL-6 III: Silicate/Ice, Rounded, Cryovolcanic.

15. TL-6 IV: Silicate/Ice, Rounded, Atmospheric, Cryovolcanic.

16. TL-6 V: Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Tenuous Atmosphere.

 

17. TL-7: Cloud-Banded, Gaseous, Non-fusing.

18. TL-7 I: Ice, Rounded, Stretched.

19. TL-7 II: Ice, Rounded.

20. TL-7 III: Ice, Rounded, Cryovolcanic, Tenuous Atmosphere.

21. TL-7 IV: Ice, Rounded, Subsurface ocean, Atmospheric.

--- TL-7 V: Ice, Irregular.

22. TL-7 VI: Ice/Silicate, Rounded.

 

23. TL-8A: Silicate/Ice, Rounded.

24. TL-8B: Silicate/Ice, Rounded, Tenuous Atmosphere.

--- TL-8AB I: Ice, Irregular.

 

25. TL-9: Flat-Clouds, Gaseous, Non-fusing.

26. TL-9 I: Ice, Rounded, Cryovolcanic.

27. TL-9 II: Silicate, Rounded, Volcanic.

 

29. TL-10 "Voh": Cloud-Banded, Gaseous, D-Fusion.

30. TL-10 I: Silicate/Metallic, Rounded, Oceanic, Dense Atmosphere.

 

31. TL-11: Ice, Rounded.

 

32. TL-12: Ice, Rounded, Seasonal Atmosphere.

--- TL-12 I: Ice, Irregular.

 

33. TL-13: Ice/Silicate, Rounded, Cryovolcanic, Tenuous Atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

So I decided that I liked this a lot. I want to make, like, a bunch of these. So I spent the last few hours writing up challenge guidelines for the Planet Building Challenge. Here they are. I intend to do "Normal" mode, by the way.

THE CHALLENGE:

Spoiler

 

The Solar System contains around 31 or so known objects which are large enough to be in hydrostatic equilibrium (they're spherical). This includes The Sun, the eight major planets, the Earth's moon, the four major moons of Jupiter, the seven major satellites of Saturn, the five major moons of Uranus, Neptune's major moon Triton, and six confirmed dwarf planets (that's including Charon). That's 33 spherioid objects. That happens to be three times the amount of weeks that I have for summer vacation. So my plan is to make three celestial objects every week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) and make a fictional solar system. And why not share the challenge as well?

 

Making a Celestial Object:

 

In order to have "made a celestial object"(called a "planet" for brevity) you must satisfy the following criteria:

 

• You must create an icosahedral map of the planet using the template linked below (or one like it). You must fold it, glue or tape it, and take at least two pictures of it finished as a 3D globe. Note that it doesn't actually have to be an icosahedral globe, that's just the easiest for map-making.
• You must write a paragraph (4+ sentences) of information on the planet.
• You must write a few sentences of information about the planet's life forms (if applicable)
• You must write a few sentences of information about the planet's civilization (if applicable)
• You must write a few sentences about the planet's civilization's space program (if applicable)
• You must find the Semi Major Axis of the planet's orbit.
• You must find the #PlanetMaker stats relative to Earth or Jupiter, depending upon type. GeeASL = (Mass)/(Radius^2) = Radius(Density)
• You must find any star's Luminosity, Mass, Lifetime, Habitable Zone, and Radius in Solar Units.
• Optionally, include either a world map (satellite, hand-drawn, or whatever) and/or a drawing of the planet seen from Space and/or the planet's surface.

 

Rules:

I mean, this is like a pretty informal challenge. There's no prize or anything. But I guess challenges need rules anyway. You can break the rules if you want, except for the first four rules.

• You must follow all of the criteria for "making a celestial object" for each day of the challenge.
• Have Fun.
• The icosahedral map part is actually optional, unless you're me. I *have* to do that, because that's the whole reason I started this. But there does have to be some illustration, however basic, of your planet. Could literally be recolored solar system objects, or MS Paint doodles.
• Planets do NOT at ALL have to be to scale with each other in their globe/map form. They can be, if you really want. They should have different physical sizes though.
• This isn't about being good, it's about being creative. Even if your art looks like crap, as long as your worlds don't look generic you're good.
• The system *can* be based upon another work of fiction, where the system in question is not well defined. For example, making the Klingon's solar system, despite only Qo'Nos, Kling-Sun, and Praxis being known.
• The system shouldn't be a carbon copy of our Solar System. This is about creativity.
• If you'd rather work using your computer, you can replace the icosahedral map and globe with an equirectangular projection mapped to a sphere. Two pictures of that are required as well.

 

Links:

Icosahedron template:

My original Icosahedral Prototype Planet

Worldbuilding Subreddit

Atomic Rockets Worldbuilding Page

Artifexian, a Youtube channel devoted to scientifically accurate world-building.

 

Planetary Classification:

I don't actually like this classification scheme, but let's use it for simplicity:

 

• Dwarf Planet: An object between 190 and 1750 kilometers in radius.
• Major Rocky Planet: An object between 1750 and 5000 kilometers in radius.
• Major Earthsize Planet: An object between 5000 and 8000 kilometers in radius.
• Major Super Earth Planet: An object between 8000 and 15000 kilometers in radius.
• Major Ice Giant Planet: An object between 20000 and 55000 kilometers in radius.
• Major Gas Giant Planet: An object between 55000 and 71000 kilometers in radius, and a mass less than 74 Jupiter masses.
• Brown Dwarf Planet/Star: An object between 74 Jupiter masses and 80 Jupiter masses. Counts as a planet and a star.
• Star: An object greater than 90000 kilometers in radius or greater than 80 Jupiter masses.
• Black Holes with bright accretion discs count as Stars. Dark black holes count as planets. White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars count as Stars.
• Moons: Any object larger than 190 kilometers in radius and orbiting a planet.

 

Challenge Types:

Before choosing a challenge, consider that it took me about 20 minutes to create the first icosahedral planet, given no backstory or prior thought, from drawing the map to the finished globe. Factoring in the amount of time it takes to come up with the backstory for the world, writing the paragraph or so of information about each planet, and artist's block, you're looking at closer to 30 minutes per planet. Assuming 30 minutes per planet for the "time to complete" note in each challenge type.

 

 

Easy Mode: #PlanetAWeek.

Are you in a hurry? Do you not have much free time? Just do the challenge for 8-12 weeks, 1 a week. You should have at least one moon, one star, one dwarf planet, and the rest should be planets. You should have between 8 and 12 objects in total. Total time to complete: 4 to 6 hours. 8.4 minutes per day.

 

 

Normal Mode: #PlanetBuildingChallenge.

Are you bored with nothing to do for around 11 weeks, like me? Do you not want to risk getting into a high production and then suddenly slowing down and ruining everything, like me? Well then do the challenge for 8-12 weeks, making three planets each week. (I'm doing Monday Wednesday Friday.) You should have at least one star, five moons, four dwarf planets, and however many major planets you want. You should have between 24 and 36 objects in total. Total time to complete: 12-18 hours. 12 minutes per day.

 

 

Extreme Mode: #PlanetADay.

Are you high on free time and high on boredom? Are you definitely and completely able to devote a half hour every day to this project? In that case, do the challenge for 6-12 weeks, one planet every day. You should have at least two stars, ten moons, and eight dwarf planets, and any number of major planets you want. You should have between 42 and 84 objects in total. Total time to complete: 21-42 hours. 0.5 hours per day.

 

 

Super Extreme Mode: #PlanetFactory

So you're an insane man or woman or etc, and you want a whole damn star cluster of icosahedra. Well if that's the case case, wow. You're gonna need a new closet for all the planets you're making. Your task, dear Magrathean, is to make three celestial bodies. Every day. For between 6-12 weeks. You should have between 126 and 252 planets. Holy living duck! That's a veritable smorgasbord of planets. You should have at least two stars, twenty moons, and ten dwarf planets, and any amount of major planets you want. Total time to complete: 63-126 hours. 1.5 hours per day.

 

 

Edited June 1, 2016 by GregroxMun

[Sigma88]

[Redacted]

 

I've made you an Icosahedral version of duna

[Whirligig Girl]

3 minutes ago, Sigma88 said:

[Redacted]

 

I've made you an Icosahedral version of duna

Master planet maker here, everybody

[cubinator]

4 hours ago, Sigma88 said:

[Redacted]

 

I've made you an Icosahedral version of duna

You've got pretty much all the prominent features...

I kinda wanna try now!

[blorgon]

Here's Dres:

[cubinator]

Downloaded the template (.gif?? ) and now I'm making Eve!

[cantab]

Pretty neat.

One version, called the "Dymaxion map", was developed by Buckminster Fuller and is an interesting map for use on Earth, showing the continents as nearly all connected at the cost of fragmenting the oceans.

(Source: http://basementgeographer.com/the-dymaxion-map-projection-of-buckminster-fuller/)

The map makes it obvious that one could walk from the tip of South America all the way to the tip of South Africa, with the only water crossing being the Bering Strait which is sometimes frozen over, and the artificial Panama and Suez canals. For this reason it's good for showing things like human migration in prehistory. I wonder if anyone has done that journey in modern times?

Other icosahedral maps may differ in the exact projection used for each face, but it's of minor importance. The bigger choice is how you arrange the various faces. And of course all will be able to fold into a quasi-globe.

[Whirligig Girl]

1 hour ago, cantab said:

Pretty neat.

One version, called the "Dymaxion map", was developed by Buckminster Fuller and is an interesting map for use on Earth, showing the continents as nearly all connected at the cost of fragmenting the oceans.

(Source: http://basementgeographer.com/the-dymaxion-map-projection-of-buckminster-fuller/)

The map makes it obvious that one could walk from the tip of South America all the way to the tip of South Africa, with the only water crossing being the Bering Strait which is sometimes frozen over, and the artificial Panama and Suez canals. For this reason it's good for showing things like human migration in prehistory. I wonder if anyone has done that journey in modern times?

Other icosahedral maps may differ in the exact projection used for each face, but it's of minor importance. The bigger choice is how you arrange the various faces. And of course all will be able to fold into a quasi-globe.

I choose the more rectangular template because it's similar to the rectangular projection that I'm familiar with due to Kopernicus. I also found it on the Atomic Rockets worldbuilding page and fell in love with it.

[Whirligig Girl]

Week 1, Part 1

TL-1: Planet Sentinius.

Parent Star Type: G5V.

Orbit

• Semi Major Axis = 14477262 kilometers
• Orbital Eccentricity = 0.34
• Inclination = 4.34 degrees

Planetary Characteristics (In Earth = 1 units)

• Density = 0.68
• Radius = 0.58
• Surface Gravity = 0.38
• Mass = 0.128

Description

Sentinius (Sen-Ten-Eyy-Uss) is the closest planet to The Light. It was discovered only very recently by the St. Jergnaugh Research Station on the surface of the equatorial bulge of the homeworld, Derelth. This is because the planet was almost always right next to the sun, making observation during the day difficult and observation during the night impossible. It is yellow in color, and thought to be highly volcanic due to tidal influences from The Light. Sending a spacecraft to visit it would be very difficult due to its proximity to The Light, and how fast it is travelling.

 

EDIT: I just noticed the Dispicable Me Minion picture on the door of the room I took the photos in. I just wanted to make it clear, it's not my room.

Edited May 21, 2016 by GregroxMun

[Whirligig Girl]

Week 1, Part 2

Now I'm caught up for this week. I've done monday and wednesday today, and friday's planet will come tomorrow.

 

Star: The Light (TL)

 

Physical Characteristics

• Mass = 0.97 sun
• Luminosity = 0.885 sun
• Radius = 0.977 sun (679699 kilometers)
• Surface Temperature = 0.98 sun (5662 Kelvin)
• Lifetime = 1.08 sun (~11 Billion Years)
• Habitable Zone = 0.893 AU to 1.2878 AU

 

The Light is a G5V type Main Sequence Yellow Dwarf star. Because the civilizations of Derelth all exclusively inhabit the polar regions of the planet, the Light is considered to be part of the mysterious Deep South, the region beyond which is the equatorial bulge of the planet. Because of atmospheric scattering, the Light is usually red/orange in the sky, despite being yellow/white in actuality. It certainly came as quite a surprise when The Light turned out to be one of the stars. It is orbited by several planets and dwarf planets, many of which have moons. Quite a lot of planets, for sure.

Edited May 21, 2016 by GregroxMun

[Whirligig Girl]

Week 1, Day 3

Also sorry for potato camera.

TL-3: Planet Herrl

Parent Star Type: G5V

Orbit

• Semi Major Axis = 107100000 kilometers
• Orbital Eccentricity = 0.03
• Inclination = 0.4 degrees

Planetary Characteristics (In Earth = 1 Units)

• Density = 0.89
• Radius = 0.8
• Surface Gravity = 0.712
• Mass = 0.456

Description

Herrl (Pronounced like the English word "Hurl") is the third planet from The Light. ((The second planet is coming Monday.)) It is red, orange, and brown in color, with patches of yellow and purple in various regions. It has a few craters dotting its ancient surface. It is a warmer planet than Derelth, and the surface temperature can be in excess of 120 degrees Celsius. Its relatively thin atmosphere, combined with the high temperature, made for quite the surprise when the world was visited by the space probe Damobahn 3. The space probe photographed huge brown basins, connected by rivers which seemed to be intricately carved by water. Though the probe detected no presence of water or any other liquid on the surface, geologists could not find any other phenomenon to describe the carved out canyons and river beds.

The Becupiv National Space Probe Agency sent several more space probes and a lander, and were able to piece together what happened to Herrl. At one point in its history, Herrl was undergoing a period of relatively cold climate, similar to the ice ages of Derelth. Herrl was also undergoing a period of volcanism at the time, spewing black volcanic ash and aerosols into the planet's atmosphere. The planet's atmosphere was also much thicker. All of these factors combined: Cold climate, lack of greenhouse effect, thicker atmosphere; meant that liquid water was stable on the surface for several millenia. The planet then warmed back up (somewhat ironically) after the volcanic period ceased.

[Whirligig Girl]

Week 2, Day 1

 

TL-2: Planet Gert

Parent Star Type: G5V

Orbit

• Semi Major Axis = 80051527 kilometers
• Orbital Eccentricity = 0.1
• Inclination = 0.1 degrees

Planetary Characteristics (In Earth = 1 Units)

• Density = 1.2
• Radius = 0.27
• Surface Gravity = 0.324
• Mass = 0.024
• Surface Atmospheric Pressure = 0.082 atm

Description

Gert is a hopelessly dense iron/rocky planet orbiting The Light. It is grey with splotches of muted color streaked across the surface. One of the hemispheres is dominated by copper-oxide highlands, slashed through by several canyon-like scars, likely caused by geological activity. Gert has a thin atmosphere, likely the remnant of past geological activity. It has now all but been stripped away by the solar wind, leaving a thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. It is thought that Gert has an abundance of precious metals such as silver, gold, platinum, and even iron and copper on or just below its surface. It is one of the densest planets in The Light's System.

Out-Of-Character Message

So here's a little bonus, not just a planet, but a look at how I make them! Sorry for the terrible camera and sub-par lighting. I intend to take better pictures of all of the planets with a good camera at the end of this week.

As for the design of this planet, I wanted to see what I could do to make a planet look interesting in monochrome first, and then I added the coloration. It's inspired by the false/enhanced color images of our solar system's hopelessly dense rock: Mercury.

[Whirligig Girl]

TL-10: Planetar Voh

 

 

 

Star Type: Brown Dwarf (Spectral Class T)

Parent Star Type: G5V

Orbit

• Semi Major Axis = 37 AU
• Orbital Eccentricity = 0.02
• Inclination = 3 degrees

Planetary Characteristics (In Jupiter = 1 Units)

• Radius = 0.97
• Mass = 17

Stellar Characteristics (In Sun = 1 Units)

• Mass = 0.016
• Radius = 0.0965
• Luminosity = 4.09600e-6

Description

Voh is a large planet, visible mostly in infrared light. It is the most massive planet in the solar system, unless you qualify it as a star. Voh is a Brown Dwarf object, which blurs the line between planet and star (hence the term planar or planetar). It is thought to be a failed secondary star, much more massive than any of the other gas giants. Where stars fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores, Brown Dwarfs can barely manage to fuse Deuterium.

Extra Info

So I kept forgetting/postponing doing the challenge for whatever reason. I guess I began to lose some interest in the project, and I had quite a bit of stuff to do. I still don't have Week 2 Day 3, Week 3 Day 1, or Week 3 Day 2 yet, but you can probably expect a dump of those bodies as well as Week 2 Day 3 on Friday. I went ahead and posted this now just to show that I'm not dead or anything.  

Edited June 1, 2016 by GregroxMun