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'''Terearth''' is a small, hemi-spherical planet that possesses rather unusual cosmological features.
[[Image:Known_world1.png|thumb|250px|right|The Known World]]
'''Oberon''' is a small, spherical planet that is physically very similar to Earth which makes it quite unusual in a cosmological sense.


== Size ==


[[Image:comparison.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Planet comparison]]Terearth, as a planet is unusually small. From poles to the equator, Terearth is about 2000 miles (3200 km). For those of you who have difficulty imagining how small that is, a comparison image is to the right.
==Size==
Oberon, as a planet is approximately the same size as Earth. From poles to the equator, Oberon is about 11000 miles (17700 km). This size is known fairly accurately (via an experiment of measuring shadows at noon at two locations a set distance apart), just as it was calculated on Earth.




== Position in the Universe ==
== Position in the Universe ==
Most learned scientists agree that Oberon is at (or very close to) the centre of it's local planetary system, if not the centre of the Universe itself. The sun and moon ([[Puck]]) orbit Oberon on a regular and predictable pattern. There are arguments that the stars themselves also slowly orbit Oberon, although those who believe the stars to have special religious significance dispute these findings.


Most learned scientists agree that Terearth is at (or very close to) the centre of it's local planetary system, if not the centre of the Universe itself. The sun and moons orbit Terearth on a regular and predictable pattern. There are arguments that the stars themselves also slowly orbit Terearth although those who believe the stars to have special religious significance dispute these findings.




Recently there appears to be some evidence that there are other planets orbiting Terearth but as these can only be viewed with sophisticated optics, it is assumed they are either very small or very far away. In fact there is much suspicion that they are not planets at all but that they are in fact additional moons of Terearth.
==Gravity==
Oberon has gravity. This is lucky as otherwise many objects fail to fall to the ground and it would make going to the toilet a rather unpleasant (and messy) experience. The acceleration due to gravity on Oberon has never been precisely measured but it appears to be about the same as that of Earth.




==Constants==
As far as the inhabitants of Oberon are concerned, light travels very, very, very fast (much faster than, say, an arrow). In a very real sense, light travels 'at the speed of light' and is the fastest thing known. However, unlike in our reality, the speed of light is not entirely constant and can be altered by very powerful magics.


== Physical data ==


The world of Terearth is, effectively, a smooth hemi-sphere on one side and jagged rocks on the other.


The "smooth" side is the habitable side - the side with the land and sea on.
==Satellites==
Oberon has two satellites:
* A moon, called ''[[Puck]]''.
* The Sun.




The non-spherical half of the planet is said to resemble a vast mountain range, with peak hundreds of miles high. In the centre of this region is the immense chain than links Terearth to the Celestial Anchor. This is a highly dense artefact which holds the planet firmly in its place in the cosmos.  
==Oberon's Sun==
Oberon gets its daylight from its Sun which, as everyone knows, is very hot and very bright. Its distance from Oberon has never been accurately measured but as flight and teleportation are both possible on Oberon most people know that it isn't 'close'. Estimates from a few tens to many thousands of kilometres have been calculated but the topic is much in dispute. As the Sun is 'very far away' but is still visible it can also be assumed to be 'very big' but again just how big is not a simple thing to work out.


=== Gravity ===
Despite Terearth having approximately the same dimensions as Mercury, the planet's gravitational pull is actually very similar to that of our own planet. The acceleration due to gravity, g, works out at exactly 9.5m/s (or 97% of ours). This relatively high gravity for such a small celestial body is still largely unexplained but there are a number of theories;
#Terearth's gravity could come not from it's own mass but, in part, from Terearth's own orbit about the Celestial Anchor, and the weak gravitational effect of it's two moons.
#Terearth may have a core which is not iron (as with Earth) but some other element, with a much higher density.
#Terearth's gravity may be artificially higher than expected through some unexplained artefact or magic.


 
It is the movement of this sun that determines the years on Oberon, which are of a similar length to our own years.
Regardless of the actual reason, all that it's inhabitants really need to know is that they don't fly off the surface off the world (at least, not often).
 
=== Magnetism ===
Terearth's "magnetic pole", as with the magnetic pole of Earth, "flips" every million or so years. Terearth's magnetic north pole headed south a few hundred thousand years and so, technically, a compass from Earth would point towards the south if used on Terearth.
 
 
The inhabitants of Terearth are, largely, unaware of this fact and those that are aware of it do not tend to go around shouting about it for fear of starting a panic. Those that have magnetic compasses just have the other end painted red.
 
 
Note that, unlike Earth, Terearth suffers none of the magnetic declination that is observed on Earth. On Terearth, magnetic South and geographic south are exactly the same thing. For more information on "magnetic declination" on Earth see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_north
 
=== Constants ===
As far as the inhabitants of Terearth are concerned, light travels very, very fast (much faster than, say, an arrow). In a very real sense, light travels 'at the speed of light'. However, unlike in our reality, the speed of light is not entirely constant and can be altered by very powerful magics.
 
 
 
== Satellites ==
 
Terearth has two natural satellites named Arko and Bezla.[[Image:Arko.jpg|right|thumb|100px|Terearth's moon, Arko]]
Bezla is a pale green, spherical, ringed moon, which resembles a small Saturn. From Terearth, Bezla appears to be the same relative size as our own moon. However, as Terearth itself is only slightly larger than Earth's moon, this would presumably make Bezla either very small or considerably further away.
Arko is the larger of the two (about 30% larger in the night sky than Bezla)and looks like an irregular lump of rock.
 
 
It is the phases and position of Arko that regulate the Imperial calendar. Arko also appears to have an effect on the tides, although there is debate amongst Terearth's scientists as to how strong this interaction is.
 
 
Oddly it is the phases of Bezla that affect those inflicted with the curse of lycanthropy. Bezla is also factored into most calculations required for astrology and of the Dark Arts.
 
 
Image from http://www.solarviews.com
 
 
 
== Terearth's Sun ==
 
Like our Earth, Terearth has a single yellow star. It is the movement of this star that determines the years on Terearth, which are of a similar length to our own years.

Latest revision as of 17:56, 2 November 2024

The Known World

Oberon is a small, spherical planet that is physically very similar to Earth which makes it quite unusual in a cosmological sense.


Size

Oberon, as a planet is approximately the same size as Earth. From poles to the equator, Oberon is about 11000 miles (17700 km). This size is known fairly accurately (via an experiment of measuring shadows at noon at two locations a set distance apart), just as it was calculated on Earth.


Position in the Universe

Most learned scientists agree that Oberon is at (or very close to) the centre of it's local planetary system, if not the centre of the Universe itself. The sun and moon (Puck) orbit Oberon on a regular and predictable pattern. There are arguments that the stars themselves also slowly orbit Oberon, although those who believe the stars to have special religious significance dispute these findings.


Gravity

Oberon has gravity. This is lucky as otherwise many objects fail to fall to the ground and it would make going to the toilet a rather unpleasant (and messy) experience. The acceleration due to gravity on Oberon has never been precisely measured but it appears to be about the same as that of Earth.


Constants

As far as the inhabitants of Oberon are concerned, light travels very, very, very fast (much faster than, say, an arrow). In a very real sense, light travels 'at the speed of light' and is the fastest thing known. However, unlike in our reality, the speed of light is not entirely constant and can be altered by very powerful magics.


Satellites

Oberon has two satellites:

  • A moon, called Puck.
  • The Sun.


Oberon's Sun

Oberon gets its daylight from its Sun which, as everyone knows, is very hot and very bright. Its distance from Oberon has never been accurately measured but as flight and teleportation are both possible on Oberon most people know that it isn't 'close'. Estimates from a few tens to many thousands of kilometres have been calculated but the topic is much in dispute. As the Sun is 'very far away' but is still visible it can also be assumed to be 'very big' but again just how big is not a simple thing to work out.


It is the movement of this sun that determines the years on Oberon, which are of a similar length to our own years.

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