Hera (For Mark/anahata.c) by Chipka
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Description
Though Hera exists far from the reaches of Sol Space, it is recognized—at least in passing—as a twin to the Sol System “ice giant” planets of Neptune and Uranus. Hera possesses an atmosphere composed primarily of hydrogen and helium with traces of hydrocarbons and nitrogen. The presence of water, ammonia and methane ices are responsible for the planet’s designation as an ice giant. The atmosphere of Hera forms approximately 10 – 15 percent of the planetary mass and extends 10 -35 percent of the way towards the planetary core, where it reaches pressures of about 10 GPa. Increasing concentrations of ammonia, methane, and water are found in the lower regions of the atmosphere.
Lower atmospheric reaches condense into a superheated liquid planetary mantle. Here, temperatures reach an average of 3000 to 5000 K. The mantle is equivalent to 15 – 20 Earth masses and is rich in water, methane, and ammonia. As is customary in planetology, this mixture is commonly referred to as “icy” despite its true condition as an extremely dense, superheated fluid with high electrical conductivity. In terms of Hera’s distinct planetary morphology, this region is commonly referenced as a water/ammonia ocean. Probe telemetry indicates that at a depth of about 8000 km, conditions are such that methane decomposes into diamond crystals that continuously precipitate toward the core. The mantle largely consists of a layer of ionic water where the water molecules break down into a complicated soup of hydrogen and oxygen ions. Deeper down, superionic water condenses, in which the oxygen crystallizes but the hydrogen ions float freely within the oxygen lattice.
The core of Hera is composed if iron, nickel and silicates. Probe data indicates that Hera’s core possess a mass 1.4 times that of Earth. The pressure at the center is 8Mbar, millions of times more than that on the surface of the earth. Additional probe measurements measure a core temperature of 5,800 kelvin.
Our interest in Hera lies not in the planet itself. Diamond precipitates are common enough, as are other readily-exploited mineralogical riches. It is the fifth moon of Hera (Hera-V) that has drawn scientific attention for close to three decades. Slightly larger than Luna, Hera-V is composed primarily of silicate rock. It possesses an iron core and a tenuous atmosphere (composed primarily of oxygen.) Much of the surface exists as an icy crust over a vast water ocean. The subsurface ocean remains in liquid state due to gravitational (tidal) flexing, as a result of such flexing, tectonic activity is a common feature of this diminutive, watery moon. Hera-V possesses an induced magnetic field, generated through interaction with Hera’s. Most intriguingly, however, Hera-V possesses life. Primitive, extremophilic quasi-bacterial forms, but life, nonetheless…the Hera extremophiles represent the very first examples of non Solar-bound life discovered. Even as prokaryotic life forms, the Hera extremophiles are a boon to contemporary biological science as their development is likely to shed new light on the evolution of life within the Sol system. Because of the presence of life, the entire Hera system is off limits to industrial and colonial development
* * *
I have no idea where any of this came from, but as I became aware of a particular birthday, while listening to the soundtrack to The Social Network, I found myself thinking of far away places…maybe it’s because of news of a birthday, in conjunction with moody, brooding music by Trent Reznor ant that other guy. And so, with music oozing out of my laptop speakers and an image, freshly extruded from The Gimp, I’d like to make a birthday dedication to Mark/anahata.c. I wracked my mind to come up with an appropriate gift and I just figured: why not a world? And so, Hera was born.
As always, thank you for looking, viewing, and reading, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (19)
NefariousDrO
Wow, you've really out-done yourself on this one, both visually and with the story. That's fantastic!
geirla
great picture! And great commentary too! You've really done your research.
CoreyBlack
Wow! This is great! And what a gift for Mark. I suspect you might encounter a bit of trouble trying to gift wrap it, but... I like this a lot. The detailing and description are fantastic. Diamonds,huh? Great stuff here and a nice dedication for Mark.
MrsRatbag
LOL @ Corey! You could try getting that textile artist who drapes buildings and landscape features with fabric, maybe he could wrap it for you? Great work, Chip; only Chip would create a planet as a gift!
beachzz
Yes, gift wrapping this could be tricky, but think of the impression it would make!! Another wonderful space image and a great birthday dedi for Mark!!
kgb224
Amazing work and dedication my friend.
durleybeachbum
A whole world as a pressy! Gosh!
flavia49
superb work
jac204
Fantastic birthday present for Mark. Do enjoy this extraterrestial series of yours.
anaber
It´s a GREAT dedication and a GREAT dedi for Mark:)in all meanings!I think it´s perfect.I like it a lot.Great image!
gonedigital
FABULOUS! Love the color of the planet and the rings. Beauty!
Orinoor
I completely believed your fiction, how wonderful and the image too! Mark is very lucky to have such a friend.
helanker
And it is a wonderful dedication for Mark. SO beautifully done indeed. Love it.
sandra46
super fantastic dedication for Mark! great work!
KatesFriend
Excellent artwork. The rendering of the ice giant, Hera, is very consistent with similar bodies explored in our own star system. Uranus of coarse is first to come to mind though your giant seems to be a slightly more upstanding citizen of our vast cosmopolitan universe. The expose is committed to depth and detail as any good guide should. Very scholarly and concise - the 4098 character limit has a way of inspiring brevity. And your devotion to detail of Hera's characteristics (right down to the lesser known phenomena of 'diamond rain') leaves us open to greater amazement when you unveil the true star of this feature - the moon Hera V. Even though the satellite is smaller in physical size and page space it's effect to the narrative punches well above its weight class. For all of Hera's exocticness, Hera V is where the real mysteries of the universe are to be found. And, an induced magnetic field, really cool idea.
danapommet
Beautiful image and birthday dedi. Imagine a birthday gift of a world. Dana
evielouise
great story line and the art is awesome as all get out! out of this world ??(play on words) sorry lol
minos_6
I like the depth this image has due to the planetary rings. this is beautifully done, and of course your narrative fits perfectly. finally, I have to be impressed with the title, both for my ancestry and as a BSG fan!
anahata.c
chip, if you gave me a pebble from the side of an alley on the far west side of an outskirt town of an outskirt city on a planet whole galaxies removed, it would be a beautiful gift. With the beautiful art and opulent words you give here everyday, the love encased in all of your comments, and the devotion you have to those you love personally, if you just said "hi" it would be a gift. Hera I know mainly as a Greek goddess, who was---I think---both a wife & sister of Zeus (pretty f-d up family, Z!), and probably a lot of other relations to the rest of the Greek 'heavenly' clan; and was considered a goddess of the heavens. So: It's fitting that your poetic tome made of geological, astronomical & biological images would be about a goddess of the heavens'. Christo, btw, was the artist Denise was thinking of, ie who wraps buildings in tarp; and really, if you were a real friend, you'd have called Christo, paid him a billion dollars, asked him to wrap this planet---not the jpg, mind you, the actual freakin' planet---and send it to me ASAP, and FedEx. I guess that's asking a bit much, but hey...You know, you're one of the few people I've known who can make poetry out of tectonic & geologic details, including the beautiful fact of a planet made of crystals & atmosphere as much as solid matter. (Even the sentence containing "diamond precipitates are common enough..." shows how you are always looking beyond the here & now to places far removed & equally magical.) (Btw, did I ever do the 'tectonic' joke? There's only one, so jot it down: You go to a dinnerware store & ask for tectonic plates. That's the whole joke, Chip! Trust me, that took me 5 years...) This is beautifully written as always, and on a day when my father had passed 3 days earlier & I was struggling to find ground anywhere, this upload was comforting because it helped free me of the 'need' for ground, and helped me feel that the loss was of the air---the atmosphere (literally "breath sphere"), and it was ok to be there for a long while. "Let it die," she said. And the others said: "Hera: With this death will come another life, and with that, another & another & another..." "That's not what I had in mind," she said. "Your mind is clogged by your love for one planet," they admonished: "Stretch it to the ends of the cosmos, and you'll understand..." Thank you Chip, this was splendid---as everything you do is. I'm sorry I'm late, but I was here the day you posted this, and I'll always be grateful for what you give to me & to everyone else in your odyssey through the pathways of the soul...A beautiful piece of poetry for my birthday...