Norala IV
Par'tha Expanse |
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Norala IV | |
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Stellar Cartography | |
Region | Par'tha Expanse |
Sector | Freeworlds Region |
System | Norala system |
Sun(s) | 1: Norala |
Moon(s) | 2 |
Class | P |
Physical | |
Diameter | 12875km |
Atmosphere | Nitrogen-oxygen with ozone and carbon dioxide content, Earth-normal pressure |
Hydrosphere | Moderate, 69% surface water |
Climate | Frigid |
Gravity | 1.1 G |
Primary terrain | Ice caves, tundras, frozen plains, mountain ranges, canyons |
Points of interest | Klondike Caverns (main settlement), various mining outposts |
Length of Day | 23h |
Length of Year | 549d |
Native species | Human |
Other species | Tellarite, other Federation species |
Societal | |
Official Language | Federation Standard |
Population | about 200 |
Technological Classification | N |
Major cities | none |
Imports | Foodstuffs, high tech, low tech, medicinal goods |
Exports | minerals; some precious metals and gems; ice (for water, oxygen extraction) |
Affiliation | Federation mining colony |
Government | colonial |
Norala system | Star · I · II · III · IV · V · Belt |
Details: Located in the Freeworlds Region of the Par'tha Expanse, Norala IV orbited the orange dwarf star Norala on a wide elliptical orbit. Beyond Norala IV was a large asteroid belt, known as the Noralan Asteroid Field, from which small asteroids regularly broke off, crashing into Norala IV's surface as meteorites. The planet consisted of a molten metallic core with dichotomous crust. Its surface is mostly covered by a frozen ocean, except where volcanically active mountain ranges pierce its surface. Massive oceanic currents beneath the southern hemisphere and the tidal pull of Norala IV's two moons caused regular seismic activity, resulting in a constantly shifting landscape of caves and tunnels.
Its orbit and axial tilt resulted in consistently icy weather patterns. Daytime temperatures reached levels unbearable to most species and rarely rose above freezing, even in the planet's relatively mild equatorial regions. The gale force winds and intense snowstorms that regularly wracked the windswept surface magnified the extreme cold of the planet.
Buried deep in Norala IV's equatorial region was a fissure range where phosphor-spice grew. The frigid biosphere included a minimal food chain: few predator species, some omnivore species, a few rodent species, ice worms and lichens.
The average planetary temperature was around -61ºC; however at Klondike Caverns, located near the planet's equator, daytime temperatures could reach -32ºC; however night-time temperatures got as low as -60ºC.