Zheftakh
| Mean distance from Chihazh | 368,541,000 km 2.46354 AU 3.50141 GAU |
| Perhelion | 353,274,000 km |
| Aphelion | 383,808,000 km |
| Orbital period | 1,701.18 d 4.65768 yr |
| Eccentricity | .0415 |
| Sidereal day | |
| Solar day | |
| Diameter | 145,000 km |
| Mass | 1.846 × 1028 kg 9.723 Jupiter-masses |
| Surface gravity | 234 m/s² 23.9 g |
| Moons | Many (3 visible from Galhaf) |
Zheftakh is the second-largest[1] planet orbiting Chihazh
Contents
Naming
Zheftakh is ultimately derived from the Classical Sanle Zhev tkab "Great Star", via Old Kassan wa-zeftëkábë through Classical Kasshian waZheftakav and Central Neokasshian Uzheftakha. In modern Ivetsian, the -takh suffix has come to be reinterpreted as meaning simply "Planet". Many other languages, particularly in East Odirá, derive their name for that planet from the Classical Blafu Lílí (néma) vále meaning "Fast (free) star", the "free" adjective indicating a superior planet and the "fast" indicating its relatively fast motion through the ecliptic, in comparison with the outermost classically-known planet, Ozatraftakh.
Physical structure
Zheftakh is a large gas giant, a super-Jupiter. Its mass falls a little short of the minimum mass needed for deuterium burning. It thus falls just short of being a brown dwarf. As a gas giant, it is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, with a possibly rocky core. Zheftakh emits more radiation (primarily in infrared) than it receives, due primarily to gravitational energy.
Rings
Zheftakh is surrounded by a prominent ring system, considerably larger than Jupiter's in our own solar system, though not nearly as dramatic as that of Saturn
Satellites
Zheftakh has dozens of satellites, the largest three of whom are visible from Galhaf and were thus given names in ancient times. The satellites were referred to by Sanle astronomer as the "children" of Zheftakh: ák ald (Inner Child), kum ald (Middle Child) and nikh ald (Outer Child), which in modern Ivetsian became Handz[2], Humandz[3], and Nihandz[4]. By analogy, the ald root (-andz in Ivetsian) has become a standard suffix for the names of satellites (with the exception of Galhaf's own moons). In modern times, Handz and Humandz also have alternate names Yutakh and Hundakh. These three are locked into a 1:2:4 orbital resonance.
Observational history
Because of Zheftakh's large size, it is often the brightest planet seen from Galhaf, hence its name, which also happens to function quite well as a description of its actual size. Observations of Zheftakh and the three largest moons date back to ancient times. Observations of these moons played a significant role in the history of astronomy, giving early support to heliocentric views. In particular, the observation that the satellites had regular periods but that the angular range of their movements varied according to the relative angle between Zheftakh and Chihazh proved that the distance between Zheftakh and Galhaf varied in a way that could only be explained by the two orbiting Chihazh.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Largest if one classifies Havatrakh as a brown dwarf
- ↑ ák ald -> Old Kassan w-akáldë -> Classical Kasshian wakadda -> Central Neo-kasshian Ukhand
- ↑ kum ald -> Old Kassan wa-kumáldë -> Classical Kasshian wakumadda -> Central Neo-kasshian Ukhumand
- ↑ nikh-ald -> Old Kassan wa-nikáldë -> Classical Kasshian wanikadda -> Central Neo-kasshian Unikhand
