Planetaarsel

Planetaarsel is a fictional planet that appears in science fiction literature, tabletop role-playing games, and related media as a setting for exploring planetary science, colonization, and cultural interaction. The name combines the familiar term planeta with a fictional suffix -arsel, used by different authors to mark a distant world.

In physical terms, depictions of planetaarsel vary by work. It is commonly described as a terrestrial planet with a diverse surface featuring deserts, polar ice caps, and temperate regions. Some narratives grant it an active geology with plate tectonics and volcanism; others emphasize a shallow atmosphere and limited climate stability. The planet is sometimes portrayed with a shallow subsurface ocean or aquifer, and a biosphere limited to certain regions.

Orbit and habitability: in most traditions, planetaarsel orbits a main-sequence star at a distance that places it within or near the habitable zone; orbital eccentricity and axial tilt are varied across works. A subset of stories imagines tidal locking or strong seasonal cycles, influencing settlement strategies and resource distribution.

Discovery and use: the planet serves as a canvas for exploring terraforming, resource management, and interspecies contact. It has been used to frame stories about exploration, colonization logistics, and the social consequences of frontier life. Because it is fictional, specifics differ between authors and game systems.

See also: fictional planets, exoplanets, planetary science in fiction, Arrakis (for comparative purposes).