Eithalica (planets)
|
Type |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of bodies |
4 |
|
Total mass |
23.05 × 1024 kg |
|
Axial radius |
24.97 × 106 m |
|
Siderial day |
… |
|
Synodic day |
… |
|
Orbital period |
… |
|
Axial tilt |
… |
Eithalica (pronounced “eye-THAL-ik-ah;” ipa: /aiθˈælɪkə/) is a planetary system of four bodies, or a “quadruple planet.” It is home to two intelligent species:
- Klevem, a humanoid species, and
- Yalengem, a flying tetrachromat with pronounced bioluminescence, sometimes described (by real-life observers) as “fairylike.”
The celestial bodies of Eithalica include Eith, which is the one in the center and the largest (by a slim margin); and three outer bodies or “moons” (see below):
Celestial Classification
Eithalica is a unique system that resists conventional classification.
In this wiki and other real-life English works, the outer bodies of Eithalica are called “moons” in a virtual sense, and for simplicity. However, a moon is defined as a naturally occurring satellite, i.e. a body which orbits another. To say that one body orbits the other, and not vice versa, is to presume a hierarchy between the two which in the case of Eithalica and each of its moons is very tenuous.
Theoretically all bodies in a system exert at least some gravitational force on all other bodies in the system, but for most planets the masses involved are defined by a hierarchy so enormous that it’s unmistakable and indisputable. Often the influence of the smaller bodies on the larger is negligible.
In real-life astronomy, most disputes on this topic so far concern possible dwarf planets. Every one of Eithalica’s bodies is too large to be remotely considered a dwarf planet, yet it still rests at an utmost edge of these definitions—a new, different edge.