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Titanian type world

Icy worlds with thick atmospheres

Titanian world
Image from Steve Bowers
Uacilla, a titanian world with seas of tarry ethane

These are worlds of varying size and masses found beyond the snow line, but which have managed to develop thick atmospheres and a geologically dynamic surface. The atmospheres of these worlds are typically made of nitrogen and large quantities of methane, eathane and other hydrocarbons. Depending on the dynamics of the world, a hydrocarbon or methane liquid cycle may also be present. Water is also present on these worlds, but because the planets are so cold, the water ice is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 6-7, and indeed plays a similar role to rock on Gaian worlds.


Titan
Image from Steve Bowers
Titan, in the Old Solar System
The surface of the planet is composed of ice "bedrock", and on those worlds with liquid methane cycles, that ice can be eroded down into smaller rocks and pebbles, even sand. Cryovolcanism also typically occurs, with melted or semi-melted water from the warm interior welling up in much the same manner as molten magma.

Biospheres

Muuhome ::
Image from Steve Bowers
Muuhome is an example of a Titanian world with a cold-temperature biosphere. Energy-collecting autotrophs in the Muuh biosphere give this world its distinctive colour.
Life may evolve on such planets and moons, but because of the cold temperatures involved, such life has a very low metabolic rate and rarely develops beyond the simplest of forms. One famous exception to this rule is the Muuh biosphere type, quite widespread in the Rimward sector thanks to an earlier phase of Muuh expansionism.

Examples: Titan; Muuhome.
 
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Appears in Topics
Planetology
 
Development Notes
Text by John M. Dollan
Initially published on 18 November 2008.

 
 
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