Zheth

Zheth, commonly referred to as Craehlil V, is the fifth planet in the Craehlil System of the Orion Arm of the Milkyway Galaxy, orbiting Craehlil at a distance of 4.21 AU. A frozen metallic world marked by high-albedo surface plates and continent-sized impact basins, Zheth is often overlooked due to its bleak terrain and absence of traditional biospheric value. Its surface consists of fused nickel-iron plains interspersed with ancient scar fields from asteroid and planetoid collisions, many of which predate the Vey’Zari. Subsurface magnetic anomalies suggest an active metallic core, and periodic crustal flexing causes localized magnetic pulses detectable even from deep space.   Though hostile and geologically stagnant by conventional standards, Zheth is home to scattered deep-core extraction facilities, long-range sensor pylons, and cryptic automated outposts of unknown origin—some predating current factions. Its vacuum-thin atmosphere offers no shielding, and temperatures routinely plummet to cryogenic lows. However, the planet serves as a long-range telemetry anchor, signal relay platform, and archival storage ground for both clandestine and historical data caches. Syndicates occasionally repurpose Zheth’s craters as deorbiting platforms for obsolete satellites or dropzones for weapons testing in near-zero pressure. While permanent habitation is unfeasible, its strategic positioning and mineral rigidity make Zheth a quiet cornerstone in the system’s broader data and surveillance lattice.

Zheth

Astrographical Information

Galaxy

Milky Way

Galactic Arm

Orion

System

Craehlil System

Orbiting

Craehlil

Orbital position

Fifth Planet

Orbital Distance

4.21 AUs (630,833,055 km)

Orbital characteristics

Aphelion 4.32 AU (647,493,230 km)

Perihelion 4.10 AU (614,172,880 km)

Semi-major axis 4.21 AU (630,833,055 km)

Eccentricity 0.073

Orbital period (sidereal) 2,964.7 days

Average orbital speed 13.9 km/s

Mean anomaly 236.5°

Inclination

  • 1.8° – Craehlil's equator;

  • 0.9° – invariable plane;

  • 2.4° – J2000 ecliptic

Longitude of ascending node 143.6°

Time of perihelion 412.5 days

Argument of perihelion 91.7°

Moon(s) 3

Physical Information

Diameter 10,992 km (6,832.7 mi)

Mean radius 5,496 km (3,416.4 mi)

Equatorial radius 5,509 km (3,424.5 mi)

Polar radius 5,485 km (3,408.2 mi)

Flattening 0.0044

Circumference

  • 34,600 km; equatorial

  • 34,448 km; meridional

Surface area 380,000,000 km²

  • Land: 100% exposed crustal metal

  • Water: 0% (no known hydrosphere)

Volume 6.933 × 10¹¹ km³

Mass 5.41 × 10²⁴ kg

Mean density 7.11 g/cm³

Surface Gravity 13.5 m/s²

Moment of inertia factor 0.310

Escape velocity 13.1 km/s

Synodic rotation period 57.8 Hours

Sidereal rotation period 54.9 Hours

Equatorial rotation velocity 298.2 m/s

Axial tilt 7.6°

Axial Precession 32,100 years (minor due to lack of atmospheric drag)

Albedo

  • 0.42 geometric

  • 0.31 Bond

Temperature 36–211 K

Surface Temperature

  • -237°C (-395°F) Min

  • -185°C (-301°F) Mean

  • -62°C (-79.6°F) Max

Surface absorbed dose rate 0.8 μGy/h

Surface equivalent dose rate 1.1 μSv/h

Apparent magnitude +2.2" to +6.1"

Absolute magnitude (H) 6.91

Atmosphere

Surface pressure

0.004 kPa; ~0 atm (trace residual gas)

Composition by volume

  • 82.1% Argon

  • 7.6% Neon

  • 4.3% Methane (ice-trapped release events)

  • 3.5% Helium

  • 2.0% Volatile residues (metallo-organic offgassing, industrial byproducts)

  • 0.5% Xenon and trace gases (residuals from prior orbital industry)


Comments

Please Login in order to comment!