Kyron

Kyron (Kia-ron) is a temperate extrasolar superhabitable moon, located 60.19 million light years from Earth. It orbits a gas giant named Phoenix. It is one of 3 major moons orbiting Phoenix, and the largest of the 3 major moons orbiting the planet. Phoenix itself has 66 total moons, most being small dwarf moons. Kyron is also the second largest moon in its star system. The gas giant is one of 8 planets orbiting the star, Boriallas. The system is located in the galaxy NGC 6384. This moon is home to almost 27 million different species of organisms, from single-celled subglacial organisms to large terrestrial mammals, Kyron is a very diverse world. Kyron's ESI is 0.984, or 98.4% similar to Earth.

## Kyron

A superhabitable moon in a distant galaxy, a world even better than our own.

## Surface Conditions

### Atmosphere

* N2 43.1%
* O2 30.3%
* H2O 24.9%
* CO2 1.55%

## Additional Information

### Life

Organic multicellular (marine, terrestrial)

## Moon Information

Kyron is a world incredibly similar to our home planet, but is much older than our own, being approximately 6.1 billion years old. The moon has an atmosphere only 1.2x denser than our own, large oceans and continents, an active core and conditions also able to harbor life. The moon has a thin geologically active crust, with a large mantle and molten iron core. Kyron's core spins much like the Earths, which generates a powerful magnetic field, shielding the moon from radiation from its host star, and the planet it orbits. Like most planets and moons with magnetospheres, it is not as strong towards the poles of the moon, causing beautiful vibrant and colorful auroras. Along with a strong magnetic field, Kyron also has an atmosphere, nearly identical to Earth's. The surface pressure is 1.23 atm, or around 18.07 psi, for reference, Earth's atmospheric pressure at the surface is 14.69 psi. The pressure on Kyron would feel the exact same as if you were standing on the surface of Earth. Kyron's atmosphere is composed mainly of Nitrogen, along with Oxygen, and Water vapor (H2O) and small amounts of Carbon dioxide (CO2). Along with these main chemicals and elements, the atmosphere also contains small amounts of Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Argon, Neon, and Carbon monoxide (CO). Although having an atmosphere composition similar to Earths, breathing would remain a challenge to humans due to the very large quantities of Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, and Water Vapor. Kyron has a relatively stable temperature, kept constant around the entire atmosphere due to the wind moving heat around the atmosphere, keeping the temperature at a constant throughout its orbit on both the dark and light sides of the moon. Kyron is also slightly tidally heated by Phoenix; due to the fast speeds it moves around its parent world and being tidally locked. The moon takes around 40 days to complete an orbit around Phoenix, and one solar day is around half the time it takes to complete an orbit, and it is tidally locked at a 1:2 ratio. One solar day is just under 19 days. Due to Phoenix's strong gravitational influence ok Kyron, It is the main influence of the moon's tides, causing them to rise and fall by four meters per solar day. Kyron's mass is very similar to Earths, only being slightly less. However, the radius is slightly larger than Earth, but due to the slightly lighter mass, the surface gravity is slightly less than Earth, being only 0.9578 g (9.41 m/s). Most life on Kyron exists towards the shores, as that is where it is warmer, and the soil is richer in nutrients that some plants need to grow.

## History

* ~6.1 billion years ago: Kyron forms in orbit around a young Phoenix along with its other major moons.
* ~6 billion years ago: Kyron orbits quite close to Phoenix and orbits along its equator, it is the 3rd farthest moon from the gas giant.
* ~5.8 billion years ago: A young planet crosses close to a young Kyron, and its gravitational influence on the moon as it passes causes Kyron's orbit to become inclined and irregular.
* ~5.5 billion years ago: Kyron is now slowly drifting away from Phoenix at a rate of 2 mm per year.
* ~5.2 billion years ago: asteroids bombard Kyron's surface, containing crystalline salt and ice, which evaporates into the moon's atmosphere, becoming a thick layer of clouds.
* ~5.1 billion years ago: after the end of the bombard period, the surface and atmosphere of the moon began to cool rapidly, causing water vapor to rain down in large global storms.
* ~5 billion years ago: Kyron now has a global ocean, with water much saltier than Earths.
* ~4.8 billion years ago: Kyron's active crust begins to push up small volcanic islands, which in turn became the first land on the moon.
* ~4.6 billion years ago: as more continents emerge from the oceans, Kyron's new magnetic field magnetic field clears radiation from the moon's atmosphere.
* ~4.5 billion years ago: the first unicellular organisms form around hydrothermal vents deep in the moon's oceans.
* ~4.3 billion years ago: first major super volcano erupts, enshrouding the atmosphere in toxic smoke, blocking out sunlight and causing global cooling, although this doesn't affect the life in the oceans.
* ~4.2 billion years ago: Long after the gas from the eruption clears, life forms in the ocean begin to become more advanced, now intaking CO2 from the water and atmosphere and resulting in a biproduct of oxygen.
* ~4 billion years ago: first multicellular life in the ocean's forms, although still simple, they are rapidly cleaning the atmosphere of CO2.
* ~3.9 billion years ago: removal of CO2 from the atmosphere causes rapid global temperatures to drop, triggering first ice age on Kyron.
* ~3.7 billion years ago: organisms in the ocean continue to evolve and adapt, now being able to develop more due to less CO2 in the oceans.
* ~3.4 billion years ago: first fish and complex life in the oceans, and the global cooling ends
* ~3 billion years ago: the atmosphere is now mostly nitrogen and oxygen, with a lot of water vapor and some CO2 left.
* ~2.8 billion years ago: first complex organisms move to land, where plants and grass spread throughout the entire moon.
* ~2.5 billion years ago: a dwarf moon impacts Kyron and kills a lot of terrestrial life, causing another period of global cooling, although it does not last as long as the first one.
* ~2.3 billion years ago: a supercontinent forms, but breaks up turning the land into large continents, with hundreds of small islands.
* ~2 billion years ago: first terrestrial ecosystems
* ~1.6 billion years ago: another supercontinent forms, but breaks back up into smaller continents.
* ~1.5 billion years ago: second major super volcano eruption, wiping out a significant portion of terrestrial ecosystems, but eventually they recover.
* ~1.3 billion years ago: Kyron's magnetic field flips, resulting in another mass extinction, but restabilizes.
* ~1 billion years ago: a 3rd super continent, breaks apart again. By now life is flourishing all over the entire moon.
* ~850 million years ago: a third ice age, killing a lot of species again.
* ~570 million years ago: some life forms begin to develop larger frontal lobes and larger brains, resulting in some intelligence, but not on a human level.
* ~320 million years ago: Phoenix's magnetic field flips, which partially protects Kyron from radiation, although it does not affect Kyron much.
* ~256 million years ago: having moved further from Phoenix, Kyron's orbit is now stable and stops moving farther from the gas giant, and slowly becomes tidally locked over millions of years.
* ~120 million years ago: a small dwarf moon impacts Kyron, although it is not as devasting as the first impact from billions of years prior.
* ~53 million years ago: continents have now separated again and have made other continents.
* ~790,000 years ago: ecosystems develop more now since mass extinctions are less common and the moons crust becomes more dormant for the time being.
* ~22,000 years ago: vast ecosystems and large animals evolve, with there now being aerial birds, fish, and terrestrial mammals.
* TODAY: Kyron is a lush and fertile world with special life forms, and exotic landscapes.

## Geography

Kyron's surface is much like Earths, with large continents vast lakes and oceans, tall mountains, caves, volcanoes, and islands. The way Kyron's continents are structured is not like the Earth. The Earth's continents are structured with large oceans that separate them, as with Kyron, the continents and oceans look like they have been mixed up, although the land to water ratio is still somewhat similar to Earths, with 60% of Kyron's surface being ocean or water, and 40% being terrestrial land. Kyron has very tall mountains and numerous active volcanoes, along with many dormant super volcanoes, which erupt on the surface every few million years. Most volcanic eruptions are relatively small, only affecting the areas around the eruption, but can still devastate ecosystems and certain species. Kyron also has large vast deserts, which can be devoid of complex life, but can still host simple life forms, and some species of complex life. Kyron's deserts are also home to large dunes of sand and scattered oases, with freshwater ponds and protection from sand. The mountainous regions and higher altitudes of Kyron are a very different place on the moon, with the peaks being rigidus and also very cold. The tallest mountain on Kyron is 13.6 kilometers above sea level. The way the terrain works on Kyron is towards the coasts, it is usually much warmer, but the farther inland you go, the higher the altitude and the colder the landscape gets. This results in the greener areas being always towards the coasts. Kyron's oceans are also similar to Earths, with some oceans reaching great depths, and the deepest part of Kyron's oceans is around 5.1 kilometers deep, with the pressure reaching around 438 times Earth's surface pressure (438 atm). Kyron has underwater volcanoes and Earthquakes, which cause Tsunamis and continental drift, meaning the landscape changes every few hundred million years. Near the coasts, towards the equator, is where large forests, jungles, and the beautiful landscapes reside. Some jungles are so large that an individual jungle can host up to 3-5 million different species of plants, animals, and other life forms. Here, the temperatures are warmer, and the seasons are less noticeable than towards polar or subpolar regions. At the poles, it the sun can be in the sky for as long as 5 months, and also enshrouded in darkness for the same amount of time. The temperature towards the poles always stays below 0 °C (273 K). The landscapes are much like mountainous landscapes, with large glaciers and icy landscapes, but the poles also hold much of Kyron's fresh water supply. For the most part however, temperatures around the entire moon remain constant and at good levels.

## Origin of life

Kyron has a diverse biosphere, which spans across the entire world leaving no areas uninhabited by some form of organism. Life on Kyron is theorized to originate from Abiogenesis, starting off as single celled organisms which split and reproduce asexually, and over time they evolved into much larger and more complex organisms. Small organisms are very similar to single celled organisms on Earth, with most of them going through the process of photosynthesis, which enriched Kyron's atmosphere with plenty of oxygen. However, there are some unique life forms on Kyron which inhale other elements and chemicals in the moon's atmosphere. Most, if not all complex small and large terrestrial life forms have a special organ which allows them to survive the high concentrations of water vapor in the atmosphere, by taking in the Water vapor and carbon dioxide, as well as oxygen, but in this special organ H2O and CO2 bond to become O2 and CH4, which are the biproducts of the chemical reaction. the chemical in this organ allows the two chemicals to mix to become extra oxygen, in which the organism keeps in its body, and exhales the methane, along with excess carbon dioxide, and this is how most animals can survive the different concentrations of chemicals in Kyron's atmosphere which humans could not. Evolution on Kyron played out very similarly to on Earth, with the most fit organisms being able to survive and reproduce long enough to create sustainable populations. Life on this moon has also survived many mass extinctions caused by natural phenomena and other events or environmental effects. Volcanic eruptions were some of the most common reasons why species or large populations were killed off, but now some organisms have evolved to be naturally more resistant to volcanic eruptions. The high concentrations of water and CO2 in the atmosphere made it difficult for life to evolve, but as Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park once said, "Life always finds a way." After evolving resistance and adapting to atmospheric conditions, life quickly became more complex and spread throughout the oceans of the moon. The first land-based organisms were thought to be plants, which could not survive very far from water sources, but they adapted to rainstorms and quickly spread over the surface of Kyron. Followed by lizards and reptiles which were the first organisms to use eggs to reproduce to help them leave the ocean. These complex life forms today can grow much larger than life on Earth due to the atmosphere being over 30% oxygen, and being larger helps them avoid oxygen sickness, which would otherwise kill them. Reptiles eventually evolved into more complex organisms, which started the animal boom on Kyron and today the moon has marine, terrestrial, aerial, and even subglacial life.

## Biosphere

The biosphere of this moon is separated into different climates, since creatures are very different based on where they are found on the surface. Although the biology of most creatures is the same, the ecosystems they live in can be a whole different world, the way they operate, or have evolved. Most species have adapted to the conditions of their environment and live in select biomes that they can't leave or handle the different changes of other areas, which presents the problem that most species are often limited to a closed environment, keeping them from spreading to other areas.

### Rainforests

The rainforests of Kyron are the most diverse areas in terms of species and organisms, with the most abundant life forms being plants, although there are many large mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and even fish. Predators in the rainforests usually the same color as the very lush and dense trees, for example the Inklaumpa, (In-clom-pa) a feared apex predator of Kyron's jungles, which hunts many large mammals and also hunts birds, fish, and some reptiles. This animal blends right in with the lush environment, and hunts by waiting in a bush, where it uses a special extendable arm to grab prey and choke it, before consuming it. Smaller animals will also use camouflage to their advantage, especially reptiles in these rainforests, which are hunted the most by other mammals. Most mammals are larger than humans due to the large quantities of oxygen in the air, which allow them to grow bigger, although being big can be a disadvantage in the Jungles. Smaller mammals like to hide in the canopies of the trees, meanwhile larger mammals, predators, like to hide at the bottom of trees and in bushes, waiting for whatever unsuspecting animal happens to walk past. These jungles also have some rivers and lakes, which large populations of fish live, which are easy prey for other animals and can reproduce fast, balancing the ecosystem here. Kyron's rainforests are undeniably the most diverse places on the moon.

### Deserts

Kyron's deserts are not what you think they are. Most of the deserts are very cold, and not too many complex life forms can survive, however in areas where the moon gets more sunlight, the deserts can reach warm temperatures although they never exceed 37 °C. Life that lives here often seek out shade or dig under the sand for warmth. The deserts are home to many plants, which absorb water from seasonal rains and melted snow, which is the main water source for animals in the deserts. Some animals have lots of fat layers which allow them to stay warm when it is cold in the deserts. In the winter, it can snow and often reach very cold temperatures, which is where those fat layers come in handy. Like Earth, there is not a lot of water in these deserts, it is either frozen or limited to small oases which are scattered throughout the desert areas. The most prominent predator which lives in Kyron's deserts are a snake like reptile called the Raviper, (Ra-viper) which hunts similarly to venomous snakes. It bites a prey animal and injects highly toxic venom, which effects its victim's nervous system and causes a paralysis and kills it, before the Raviper swallows its prey whole. These reptiles can reach up to 15 feet in length, which can make them easy to avoid if you are a smaller animal. Deserts also are home to numerous insects, some poisonous and venomous, some harmless. Kyron's deserts, despite being a hostile environment, still are homes to many organisms across the surface.

### Coral Reefs

Arguably the most beautiful areas on Kyron are its coral reefs, home to some of the most colorful organisms and coral anywhere on the moon. These reefs are home to about 70% of all life in the oceans of Kyron and can stretch for hundreds of kilometers in size. They are found mostly in shallow waters as reefs cannot survive in places with low sunlight levels, and they also reside near coastal jungles, making them good hunting spots for animals from the jungles, birds, and other fish as well. The coral themselves are large structures made up of calcium carbonate, which is the same structure that makes up coral on Earth as well, though this coral can grow to much larger sizes due to the excess amount of oxygen. The larger coral can house more fish, and other organisms like organisms similar to sea sponges, sea cucumbers, and many crustaceans as well. Large fish are the dominant predators here, controlling the populations of fish and playing a vital role in preventing overpopulation, which could kill these reefs. The balance between these species is what makes the reefs a functioning ecosystem on Kyron, allowing these reefs to have lived for billions of years without much change. If you ever pay a visit to Kyron, check out these colorful and beautiful reefs, but watch out for large fish, the largest of which can reach lengths of up to 50 feet, which might see you as food!

### Mountains

The mountains of Kyron might look like they are devoid of life, but these delicate ecosystems are home to the only aerial life known on the moon, and the mountains are there launching points. Giant sky whales are an aerial species which live their entire lives in the sky, only ever seeing the ground at the start, and end of their lives. These animals lay eggs on the ground which usually means the end of the life for the mother. The babies that hatch from these eggs must take to the skies by jumping off the mountain edges on Kyron. These animals graze on floating seeds from plants below, allowing them to have a sustainable food source. Although these creatures aren't safe from all danger, some birds hunt these creatures, which can fly at great speeds to bring down these large herbivores, using the updrafts from mountain winds to constantly stay in flight. These reasons are why mountain areas are still teeming with life, because some animals rely on their updrafts to hunt, and live. The colder temperatures also make it a nice area for these sky whales, as their predators do not like cold temperatures, and hunt the most in the summer, when it is warm and there is fresh water flowing down from the mountain peaks.

## Weather

The weather on Kyron depends based on where you are, but overall, it is usually cool throughout the surface and can get especially cold in the winters. Temperatures have been recorded to be -101 °C during the winters at higher altitudes, meanwhile close to the shorelines the temperature can reach a coldest of -2 °C, and at the equator at low altitudes, the temperature always stays a comfortable 18 °C, and usually doesn't drop below that. It can also get very hot down at the equator, with temperatures reaching up to 41 °C on the hottest days. Combined with the moons 19-day rotational period, nights can get quite cold, and days can get quite hot, although it is not hot or cold enough to kill anything, nor would it be hot or cold enough to kill humans if they lived there. Kyron's climate zones are split up into 3 subcategories as stated below.

### Tropical zones

The tropical zones lie towards the equator in between 30° N and 30° S in latitude, where the most light from Borialla reaches the surface. Temperatures here remain constant throughout the Kyron year, always staying above 18 °C, allowing life to flourish in these zones. The tropics are also the wettest areas of the moon, with rain being constant and even hurricanes and tropical storms being somewhat frequent. Some tropical storms can be very powerful, and since the atmosphere scatters heat throughout the tropics, this ensures that this region never cools to an extent where ice can form. The tropical zones are where the most fertile land is, which is why these areas are home to so many creatures. In the event something caused this zone to cool down, life here could take a toll as they wouldn't be used to cooler conditions. Unfortunately, there is a constant looming threat of this happening due to the number of volcanoes near the equator, which sometimes erupt, but most times eruptions are small and do not cause too much havoc. Overall, if you want to live anywhere on this moon, the Tropics are a great place to be.

### Temperate Zones

The temperature zones are cooler, more seasonal areas of Kyron. They lie above and below the equator of Kyron, at above 30° N and 30° S in latitude, and these areas experience the best seasonal changes throughout the Kyron year. Here, the coldest it can get is -18 °C and the warmest it can get is 34 °C. Great areas for animals that have adapted to seasonal climates. Fresh water is also abundant here, melting down from the mountain peaks in the spring and flowing down in large rivers which supply animals with fresh water. Temperate forests are very lush and are homes to hundreds of thousands of species who thrive in these areas that they are adapted for. Some animals that live here decide to migrate down to the tropical zones during winter, other animals either hibernate, or endure the cold temperatures for a couple of months. During the summer, warmer air flows up through gulf streams from the equator, which can cause natural disasters like flooding, tornadoes, and also hurricanes. Most animals will take shelter in caves or burrows, and even trees during these storms to protect themselves. Ground based organisms usually end up dying to these disasters, which keeps their populations at bay. In the winter, snow forms on top of mountain peaks, and large snowstorms can effect the environment as well, which is when most creatures migrate or hibernate. If you like seasonal changes, then living here would be your place.

### Polar Zones

The Polar zones are the most hostile environments on Kyron, lying above 60° N and 60° S in latitude, temperatures here never rise above 0 °C and half the year can be in darkness, while the other half is in the sunlight. Most organisms here are small fish or crustaceans that live below the icy poles in warmer oceans around geothermal vents, as living on the surface would prove to be a challenge. Year-round snows are very common, which few complex organisms can survive. Although there are no tropical storms, or hurricanes here, the cold weather already proves to be hard enough to live in. There is very little vegetation, so most animals here are carnivorous, and eat other animals to keep themselves alive. During the month-long nights, animals will hide in warmer areas, like caves, or semi aquatic animals will go beneath the ice sheets to keep themselves warm. During the long days, they will come out to hunt for food, or to try and eat small planktons or aquatic fauna that can be found in the shallower areas of the polar oceans. Some animals can go months without eating but must eat a large meal before they can go dormant again. If you love the winter, the poles of Kyron is your place to be.

## Gallery

Kyron and PhoenixKyron's surface from spaceStorms raging over Kyron's surfaceOne of Kyron's many island beachesPhoenix seen in the sky from a great plateauPhoenix, and the galactic core seen from the surfaceKyron's aurorasKyron's crescentSunset on KyronIsland chains on the surfaceA map of Kyron