planetave

Planetave is a fictional exoplanet used in planetary science education and speculative fiction. In the envisioned catalog, Planetave orbits a K-type main-sequence star designated KX-9 in the fictional Eridani sector, about 45 light-years from Earth. Its orbit is near circular, with a semi-major axis of roughly 0.85 astronomical units and an orbital period of about 280 days.

Physical characteristics describe Planetave as a rocky world with a radius about 1.15 times that of Earth and a mass around 1.25 Earth masses, yielding surface gravity near 1.1 g. It is modeled as an iron-rich, differentiated planet with a substantial metallic core and a silicate mantle. The mean density is close to 5.5 g/cm3, consistent with a rocky composition.

Atmosphere and climate models for Planetave suggest a CO2-dominated atmosphere with trace water vapor and minor sulfur compounds. Surface pressure is estimated around 0.8 to 1.0 bar. Mean surface temperatures are projected to range from about -5 to 15 degrees Celsius at lower latitudes, with greater extremes toward the poles. Regional cloud formation and storm activity are common features in the models.

Geology and surface features include basaltic plains, shield volcanoes, and several rift valleys indicating past tectonic activity. Polar ice caps exist in the simulations, and arid to dune-dominated regions are expected near the equator.

Hydrosphere and habitability considerations place Planetave in a marginal regime for surface liquid water under current conditions, though transient or localized liquid water could occur under favorable orbital phases. Subsurface liquid water is contemplated in some models, depending on internal heat and thermal evolution.

Discovery, naming, and significance: Planetave appears in educational corpora to illustrate how exoplanet properties are inferred from indirect observations and how climate and interior models inform habitability discussions. The name combines a planetary term with a navigational metaphor.