Astronomy

From Obsidian Fleet Database

Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies and other phenomena that originate outside of planetary atmospheres. It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe.

The Starfleet Science Corps undertakes the study of astronomy though the usage of specialized laboratories aboard starships or starbases.

1 Sub-Fields of Astronomy
2 Planetary Classification
3 Star Chart of Local Space
4 Additional

[edit] Sub-Fields of Astronomy

[edit] Planetary Science

Planetary Science is the scientific study of planets, moons, and planetary systems. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation, interrelations and history.

[edit] Stellar Astronomy

Stellar Astronomy is the study of stars and stellar evolution is fundamental to understanding the universe. The astrophysics of stars has been determined through observation and theoretical understanding; and from computer simulations of the interior.

[edit] Galactic Astronomy

Galactic Astronomy is the study of our own Milky Way Galaxy and all its contents, such as nebulae and black holes.

[edit] Extragalactic Astronomy

Extragalactic Astronomy is the branch of astronomy concerned with objects outside our own Milky Way Galaxy. In other words, it is the study of all astronomical objects which are not covered by galactic astronomy.

[edit] Cosmology

Cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of our universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution.

[edit] Planetary Classification

The United Federation of Planets utilizes a standardized categorization system for planets based on various factors such as atmospheric composition, surface temperature, vegetation and size. Each class is designated with a letter, for example, Class M, which is based on the Vulcan terminology "Minshara class", and is the most suitable for humanoid long-term habitation.

Class	Description	Examples	Age (Billions/Years)	Diameter (1000's/Kilometers)	Surface	Atmosphere	Solar System Zone	Lifeforms
Class A	Geothermal	Gothos	0 to 2	1 to 10	Partially molten	Primarily hydrogen compounds	Ecosphere	Unknown
Class B	Geomorteus	Mercury	0 to 10	1 to 10	Partially molten, high surface temperature	Extremely Tenuous to Negligible	Hot	Unknown
Class C	Geoinactive	Pluto, Psi 2000	2 to 10	1 to 10	Low surface temperature	Frozen	Cold	Unknown
Class D	Geoterminal	Regula, Luna	2 to 10	0.1 to 4	Barren and cratered	Negligible	Ecosphere	None
Class E	Geoplastic	Excalbia	0 to 2	10 to 15	Molten, high surface temperature	Hydrogen compounds and reactive gases	Ecosphere	Carbon-cycle
Class F	Geometallic	Janus IV	1 to 3	10 to 15	Volcanic eruptions due to molten core	Hydrogen Compounds	Ecosphere	Silicon-based
Class G	Geocrystalline	Delta Vega	3 to 4	10 to 15	Still crystalizing	Carbon dioxide, some toxic gases	Ecosphere	Single-celled organisms
Class H	Desert	Nimbus III, Rigel XII, Tau Cygna V	4 to 10	8 to 15	Hot and arid, little surface water	Heavy Gases, Metal Vapors	Ecosphere, cold	Drought- and radiation-resistant
Class I	Gas supergiant	Q'tahL	2 to 10	140 to 1,000	Tenuous, comprised of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds	Varying zones, water vapor may be present	Ecosphere, Cold	Unknown
Class J	Gas giant	Jupiter, Saturn	2 to 10	50 to 140	Tenuous, comprised of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds	Varying Zones	Ecosphere, Cold	Hydrocarbon-based
Class K	Adaptable	Mars, Mudd, Elba II	4 to 10	5 to 10	Barren, little surface water	Carbon dioxide, thin	Ecosphere	Single-celled Organisms
Class L	Marginal	Indri VIII, Fallon	4 to 10	10 to 15	Rocky and barren, little surface water	Oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide	Ecosphere	Plants, suitable for humanoids
Class M	Terrestrial	Earth, Vulcan, Bajor, Cardassia Prime	3 to 10	10 to 15	Surface water abundant	Nitrogen, oxygen	Ecosphere	Plants and Humanoids
Class N	Reducing	Venus	3 to 10	10 to 15	High surface temperature due to greenhouse effect	Carbon Dioxide, Sulfides	Hot	Unknown
Class O	Pelagic	Argo	3 to 10	10 to 15	Liquid water covers 80% or more of surface	Nitrogen, oxygen	Ecosphere, Cold	Water-based
Class P	Glaciated	Exo III	3 to 10	10 to 15	Water ice covers 80% or more of surface	Nitrogen, oxygen	Cold	Hardy Plants and Animals
Class Q	Variable	Genesis Planet	2 to 10	4 to 15	Highly Variable	Highly Variable	All	Highly Variable
Class R	Rogue	Founders' Homeworld, Dakala	2 to 10	4 to 15	May be temperate due to geothermal venting	Negligible	*Outside Solar System	Non-Photosynthetic
Class S	Small ultragiant		2 to 10	10,000 to 50,000	Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds	Varying Zones	Cold	Unknown
Class T	Large ultragiant		2 to 10	50,000 to 120,000	Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds	Varying Zones	Cold	Unknown
Class Y	"Demon"	Silver Blood planet	2 to 10	10 to 15	Temperatures can exceed 500° Kelvin	Thermionic radiation	All	Mimetic