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A Celestial body is any natural phenomena that occurs within the void of wildspace, including suns, planets, moons, planetoids, asteroids, comets, nebulae and a host of other bodies.[1] The tremendous variety that is possible mandates that the only accurate definition for the term is: "any significant conglomeration of matter that is wheeling about wildspace". In general, however, a celestial body is usually a planetary body. Most have a regenerating atmosphere which is usually, but not always breathable, and can have any shape, though "spherical" is the most common.[2]

Celestial Body Classification[]

Most spacefarers and cartographers have adopted a standardized system to classify various celestial bodies. When referring to a celestial body, a three character code is used for easy reference. First is a definition of size, second describes the body's shape, and lastly describes the type of celestial body being dealt with.[3]

Size Classes[]

Size classes give information about the diameter of a celestial body:[4][5]

  • Size A - Less than 10 miles in diameter
  • Size B - 10-100 miles in diameter
  • Size C - 100-1,000 miles in diameter
  • Size D - 1,000-4,000 miles in diameter
  • Size E - 4,000-10,000 miles in diameter
  • Size F - 10,000-40,000 miles in diameter
  • Size G - 40,000-100,000 miles in diameter
  • Size H - 100,000-1,000,000 miles in diameter
  • Size I - 1,000,000-10,000,000 miles in diameter
  • Size J - More than 10,000,000 miles in diameter

Shape Classes[]

Shape classes give information about the general shape of the celestial body:[6]

  • Amorphous or flexible in shape
  • Belt of smaller objects in a single orbit
  • Cluster of smaller objects in a small area
  • Cubic
  • Elliptical
  • Flatworld
  • Spherical

Two special shape classes exist for planets that do not conform to one of the above shapes:

  • Regular (a regular shape that isn't otherwise listed)
  • Irregular (a shape that isn't listed)

Type Classes[]

Type classes give information about the substance which is most abundantly found in the composition of the celestial body:[7]

  • Air (also called a gas cloud)
  • Earth (also called a world)
  • Fire (also called a sun)
  • Water (also called a water world)

Some sages add a fifth element:

Supplemental Notes[]

Supplemental notes give additional information about a celestial body.[8] Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Presence of and number of moons
  • Lack of atmosphere (known as a voidworld)
  • Lethal atmosphere
  • A hollow planet
  • Large extradimensional gates
  • Xenophobic natives (marked by an 'X')

See also[]

Appendix[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. Dale "Slade" Henson, War Captain's Guide, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Introduction, Concepts of Arcane Space section, pages 4-5
  2. Jeff Grubb, Concordance of Arcane Space, 1989, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Bodies section, chapter 1: Arcane Space, page 6
  3. Jeff Grubb, Concordance of Arcane Space, 1989, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Body Classification sidebar, pages 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42
  4. Jeff Grubb, Concordance of Arcane Space, 1989, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Body Classification sidebar, page 34
  5. Dale "Slade" Henson, War Captain's Guide, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Body Classification sidebar, page 6
  6. Jeff Grubb, Concordance of Arcane Space, 1989, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Body Classification sidebar, page 36
  7. Jeff Grubb, Concordance of Arcane Space, 1989, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Body Classification sidebar, pages 36, 38, and 40
  8. Jeff Grubb, Concordance of Arcane Space, 1989, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Body Classification sidebar, pages 40 and 42
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