Selected Astronomical Terms & Physical Parameters

 Astronomical Terms

AU — (an Astronomical Unit ~ the radius of the Earth’s orbit) 150 million km, or about 93 million miles
parsec — 3.26 light years
apogee — "highest" point in an orbit
perigee — "lowest" point in an orbit.

Primary Components of an Earth-type Atmosphere

Nitrogen: 78%
Oxygen: 21%
Argon: 0.9%
Carbon Dioxide:0.04%

Star System Exploration Zones*

Inner — Liquid Water “LWZ” < 2 AU
Inner, Extended — LWZ plus Asteroid Belt, i.e. the “LWAZ.” This zone is (very roughly) < 4 AU
Middle — Gas Giant Zone. “GGZ.” IApproximately. 4 - 30 AU in extent.
Outer — Kuiper Belt Zone. “KBZ.” Approximately. 30 - 50 AU. Strictly speaking, Gas Giants can occur anywhere in a stellar system.

*Note: These are the default zones for a main-sequence, G-type star of about one solar mass. Strictly speaking, Gas Giants can occur anywhere in a stellar system. By convention, however, scout ship pilots tend to reference the zones of the Home System as shorthand when discussing their survey missions.

Asteroid Types

Carbonaceous — C-type
Silicate — S-type
Metal Rich — M-type
Basaltic (aka "Volcanic") — B-type