Valvomoon

Valvomoon is a fictional natural satellite commonly depicted in science fiction and speculative astronomy. It serves as an example object for discussions of moon formation, tidal interactions, and remote sensing.

In most depictions, Valvomoon orbits the gas giant Valdor in the Val system at roughly 350,000 kilometers. It is tidally locked to its planet, showing the same face, with a diameter around 2,400 kilometers. The surface is described as heavily cratered with patches of bright icy terrain; some narratives posit a subsurface ocean sustained by tidal heating. The orbital period is about 1.9 days.

Geology and interior discussions usually describe Valvomoon as a differentiated body with a rocky core and an icy mantle. Evidence of past cryovolcanism or tectonic activity is sometimes invoked to explain surface features, while a conductive crust and potential ocean layer are common elements in many versions.

Discovery and role within its fictional universe typically attributes its discovery to orbiting probes and space telescopes in the Val system. In real-world usage, Valvomoon appears in educational simulations and fan wikis as a model for crater dating, gravity measurements, and orbital dynamics, helping illustrate how data from moons with subsurface oceans might be interpreted.

Cultural significance arises from its use as a case study of ocean worlds and tidal heating around gas giants. Valvomoon is frequently referenced in discussions of habitability constraints, planetary geology, and the methods used to infer internal structure from remote sensing data.