Alpha Pyravii System

## α Pyv System

The Alpha Pyravii System (α Pyv) is a system of planets, dwarf planets, minor planets, moons, and all objects that orbit Alpha Pyravii.

## Stars

#### Alpha Pyravii A (Feng)

Pronunciation: /ˈæɫ.fə paɪ.ˈɹeɪ.vaɪ eɪ/ *AL-fə pye-RAY-vye AY*

Also known as Feng, this yellow dwarf star is of spectral type G2V, similar to Algo. It has six planets orbiting it.

#### Alpha Pyravii B (Huang)

Pronunciation: /ˈæɫ.fə paɪə.ˈɹeɪ.vaɪ biː/ *AL-fə pye-RAY-vye BEE*

Also known as Huang, this yellow dwarf star is of spectral type G7V, similar to Algo. It has six planets orbiting it.

#### Alpha Pyravii C (Zhuque)

Pronunciation: /ˈæɫ.fə paɪə.ˈɹeɪ.vaɪ siː/ *AL-fə pye-RAY-vye SEE*

Also known as Zhuque, this red dwarf star is of spectral type M6V, a seventh the mass and size of Algo. It has nine planets orbiting it.

## Alpha Pyravii A System

#### Vucubcaquix

Pronunciation: /ˌvʊ.kʊb.kə.ˈkiːʃ/ vuu-kuub-kə-KEESH

A hot Juvin orbiting extremely closely to Alpha Pyravis. Being so close to its star means that it is very hot. Vucubcaquix is so hot that it has ballooned to be larger than Juvin despite having less than half its mass and its clouds are made of silicates and metals instead of water like on Algodoo. It is also tidally locked and has a large permanent storm on its day side. It has no moons, likely due to it being so close to Alpha Pyravis A.

#### Hoozdo

Pronunciation: /ˈhuːz.dəʊ/ HOOZ-doh

A medium-sized desert planet orbiting near Zipactul. Hoozdo's surface is sandy and it has a thick, poisonous atmosphere full of silt and gases like carbon monoxide surrounding it. It is thought that it is in the process of becoming an Aphreen-like planet. Fossilised remains of lifeforms have been found on Hoozdo, suggesting that it once had life before getting roasted. No moons orbit this desert planet.

#### Zipactul

Pronunciation: /zᵻˈpɑk.tʊɫ/ zih-PAHK-tuul

Once touted as one of the most Algodoo-like planets found, Zipactul was disappointing to say the least. When Zipactul's mass was measured, it was found to be more than eleven times more than Algodoo despite it being less than twice its size. Not only that, Zipactul turned out to be a sweltering, humid and swampy planet with temperatures reaching 90°C in the summer. The poles and high-elevation areas are pretty much the only places that are even remotely survivable. Two moons orbit this mega-Algodoo.

#### Akili

Pronunciation: /ˈə.kiː.li/ ə-KEE-lee

A large ice giant. It is much larger than most other ice giants, being roughly twice the mass of Norex. Akili is of particular interest as it is situated in the habitable zone, meaning that its moons could host life due to Akili itself having no solid surface. Akili harbours 32 moons, of which two, the Rojares-sized Suabma and Ocea, host native life forms.

#### Arranka

Pronunciation: /ɑ.ˈɹɑŋ.kə/ ah-RAHNG-kə

One of the largest gas giants found, Arranka is nearly ten times more massive than Juvin. Arranka is covered with pale blue and white water clouds, reflecting 85% of light that hits it. With its huge size, it dominates its sub-system and harbours 168 moons orbiting it, along with an impressive set of bright, silvery rings that stretch out to 600 thousand kilometers away from the centre of the planet. The fifteen largest moons of this gas giant, Firix, Ezemi, Sulvo, Mlun, Ka'a, Kreun, Ekero, Jevac, Xere, Vezc, Iriln, Zyl, Kyal, Iiake and L'zel, are rounded by their own gravity.

Pyraxvo

Pronunciation: /paɪ.ˈɹæks.vəʊ/ pye-RAKS-voh

Pyraxvo is the largest L4 (leading) trojan of Arranka and is one of the two trojans of Arranka that is large enough to be rounded by their own gravity, the other being Ceccan. It has a large binary companion called Jarunva.

Ceccan

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛ.t͡ʃɑːn/ SEH-chahn

Ceccan is the largest L5 (trailing) trojan of Arranka and is one of the two trojans of Arranka that is large enough to be rounded by their own gravity, the other being Pyraxvo. No moons orbit Ceccan due to its tiny size.

#### Avan

Pronunciation: /ˈɑ.vɑn/ AH-vahn

Avan is the sixth and final planet in this sub-system and is an unusual planet. When it was first discovered, it was thought to be a rocky, terrestrial planet. However, when it transited its star, it turned out to be much larger than expected, suggesting either a thick icy shell or a tiny ice giant. Avan turned out to be an ice giant, heavily influenced by the much larger Arranka orbiting nearby. Nevertheless, it has a set of rings around it and seven moons, Veni, Lyot, Xinu, Draug, Mien, Veen, and Zuma. Xinu and Draug are the only two rounded moons and are both smaller than Hadion.

## Alpha Pyravii B System

#### Ouzelum

Pronunciation: /ˈuː.zə.ləm/ OO-zə-ləm

A hot terrestrial planet orbiting extremely closely to Alpha Pyravis B. Being so close to its star means that it is very hot. In fact, it is so hot that it rains molten rock all over its day side, scorching its surface with lakes, seas and oceans of lava. It is tidally locked and has no moons, likely due to it being so close to Alpha Pyravis B.

#### Piasa

Pronunciation: /piˈɑː.sə/ pee-AH-sə

An Algodoo-sized planet. Despite it being similar in size and mass to Algodoo, it orbits so close to Alpha Pyravis B that its atmosphere has mostly been blasted away by Alpha Pyravii B's strong stellar winds. No moons orbit this scorched world.

#### Sphinx

Pronunciation: /ˈsfɪŋks/ SFINKS

Once touted as one of the most Algodoo-like planets found, Sphinx was even more disappointing than Zipactul. Sphinx turned out to be a bone-dry desert planet devoid of life. It is thought it once had life, but the increasing luminosity of Alpha Pyravii B has since evaporated away the oceans it once had. The only refuge from the unforgiving heat of the star is near the poles. One moon, Scarab, orbits this planet.

#### Ahuizotl

Pronunciation: /ɑːˈwiːt.səʊ.təɫ/ ah-WEET-soh-təl

An Algodoo-like planet, Ahuizotl is the only habitable planet in this sub-system. It is slightly larger and heavier than Algodoo, almost like an "elder brother" to Algodoo. It was, in fact, the second planet outside the Algo system to be visited by a manned mission. Ahuizotl has four moons, Xolotl, Quetzal, Hoatzin and Jacana, orbiting it.

#### Gryphon

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹɪ.fᵻn/ GRIH-fihn

A cold desert planet in this sub-system, Gryphon is like a much larger version of Rojares, but covered by a thick layer of ice. One moon, Dor, orbits this icy planet.

#### Tengu

Pronunciation: /ˈtɛŋ.guː/ TENG-goo

A super-Algodoo with an extremely thick hydrogen and helium atmosphere. After discovering that Avan, a similar planet orbiting around Alpha Pyravis A, is an ice giant, Tengu was expected to be somewhat similar. However, Tengu turned out to be a gas dwarf, a type of super-Algodoo with a thick hydrogen and helium atmosphere but still has a solid or liquid surface underneath all that gas. Six moons orbit this tiny gas planet.

## Circumbinary planets

#### Zilant

Pronunciation: /ˈzɪ.lɑːnt/ ZIH-lahnt

An extremely cold and distant world, Zilant was missed in earlier surveys due to its distance from the stars and its dimness; it is comparable to Etida in terms of temperature and size. Once discovered, Zilant was thought to be a small brown dwarf and was given the designation "Alpha Pyravii D", before its mass estimates revealed it to actually be a gas giant under twice the mass of Juvin. Zilant has at least 50 rings, alongside 100 moons, of which six are large enough to pull themselves into ellipsoids; Şahmara, Ajdaha, Aqyılan, Vĕreşĕlen, Zmey, and Tulpar. Zmey's large size has allowed it to hold on to a submoon; Zmiy, and a thick atmosphere dominated by helium, since that is pretty much the only substance that has yet to freeze or condense at these cryogenic temperatures.

## Alpha Pyravii C System

#### Thorondor

Pronunciation: /ˈθɒ.ɹɒn.dɔː/ THO-ron-dor

A Glaucerm-like planet, Thorondor zips around Alpha Pyravis C in just 10.5 hours. Being tidally locked, its surface is heated to a glow on its day side but there is a large ice cap on the night side. It has no moons, likely due to it being so close to Alpha Pyravis C.

#### Odile

Pronunciation: /əʊ.ˈdiːɫ/ oh-DEEL

Like Aphreen, Odile is smothered by a thick, poisonous atmosphere full of carbon dioxide that causes a runaway greenhouse effect, causing the planet's surface to be heated to a glow all over. It has no moons, likely due to it being so close to Alpha Pyravis C.

#### Sarimanok

Pronunciation: /sɑː.ɹᵻ.mə.ˈnɒk/ sah-rih-mə-NOK

A hot rocky planet orbiting closely to Alpha Pyravis C. Being close to its star and being about 30 percent of the mass of Algodoo means that Sarimanok is an uninhabitable, bone-dry desert planet. It has no moons, likely due to it being so close to Alpha Pyravis C.

#### Ziz

Pronunciation: /zɪz/ ZIHZ

A medium-sized tundral planet orbiting in the habitable zone of Alpha Pyravis C. Ziz is constantly being irradiated with ionising radiation from Alpha Pyravis C's mighty flares. Nevertheless, life still developed on Ziz, but it evolves at a rapid pace compared to Algodoo's life. Ziz has three tiny, unnamed asteroid moons.

#### Huma

Pronunciation: /ˈhuː.mɑː/ HOO-mah

A desert world similar to Rojares, a small, red, dusty planet. It is the second-smallest planet in this sub-system and has one moon, Martlet.

#### Vidhopnir

Pronunciation: /vi.ˈðəʊp.nɪə/ vee-DHOHP-neer

An ice giant. Vidhopnir is an ice giant roughly the size of Norex, with a large ring system similar to Chronox's. Due to it receiving more stellar radiation, Vidhopnir's atmosphere more resembles that of the gas giants than the ice giants, though on a much smaller planet. Vidhopnir has 24 moons, including six, Mekeldo, Fythav, Dyonag, Raega, Tetago, and Iarezo, that are large enough to be ellipsoidal.

#### Lamassu

Pronunciation: /lə.ˈmɑː.suː/ lə-MAH-soo

A super-Algodoo similar to Tengu and Avan. Like the other two gas dwarves, Lamassu has a solid surface underneath its thick hydrogen and helium atmosphere. However, the surface is pitch black as the atmosphere blocks all of Alpha Pyravis C's light, which there isn't much of anyway so far away from it. It has thirteen moons, the largest being Imdugud, and many rings at various angles all around it, making it look like a desk toy, and making approaching it in a spacecraft extremely difficult.

#### Garuda

Pronunciation: /gɑː.ˈɹuː.dɑː/ gah-ROO-dah

An ice giant, Garuda resembles a colder version of Norex. Garuda is the largest and most massive of the planets in the Alpha Pyravis C sub-system, which poses a problem; how did such a large planet form so far out? The Alpha Pyravis C system shows no signs of ever having a large gas giant comparable to Juvin or even Chronox. Other than its paradoxical position, Garuda is otherwise largely unremarkable, save its large, silvery rings. Garuda has 33 moons, of which three are large enough to pull themselves into ellipsoids; Api, Paani, and Khangarid.

#### Furaribi

Pronunciation: /fᵿ.ɹə.ˈɹiː.bi/ fuuh-rə-REE-bee

An ice giant, Furaribi is so cold that its clouds are mostly made of neon instead of methane, giving it a salmon-pink colour, unlike the blue-hued Lamassu and Garuda. Furaribi poses the same paradox as Garuda as to how such a planet can form so far out. Furaribi has 17 thin, dusty rings circling it, alongside 26 moons, of which seven are large enough to pull themselves into ellipsoids.

## Trivia

* This system is a blend of the real Alpha Centauri and Nova Kirbani from the now-defunct Kerbal Star Systems mod for *Kerbal Space Program*.
* The names of the central binary, Feng and Huang, are taken from the name of the Chinese mythical bird *fenghuang* (凤凰), whilst Zhuque (朱雀) is another Chinese mythical bird. Both are often compared to or mistaken for the Greek phoenix, tying them back to their constellation Pyravis, the firebird.
* The planet Gryphon and his moon Dor are both a reference to *Harry Potter* and a pun - put together, their names sound like the name of the *Hogwarts* house *Gryffindor*.
* Like Etida from the Algo system, both Tengu and Lamassu look like cold gas dwarves or mini-Neptunes, but actually have rocky surfaces and permanently overcast skies.