Puck

Puck is a fascinating moon in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With a Puck radius of 81 km, making it 78.7× smaller than Earth's size, this celestial body presents unique characteristics that distinguish it from other objects in our cosmic neighborhood. Positioned at an average distance of 86,000 km (0.001 AU) from the Sun, Puck occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As a moon, Puck demonstrates the incredible diversity of natural satellites that orbit larger celestial bodies throughout our Solar System.

The Puck physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The Puck radius measures 81 km, making it 78.7× smaller than Earth's size. The Puck mass of 2.90e+18 kg represents 2059310.3× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence.

The Puck orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The Puck orbit has a semimajor axis of 86,000 km (0.001 AU), placing it 1739.5× smaller than Earth's distance from the Sun. The Puck orbit is nearly circular with an eccentricity of 0 (167.0× smaller than Earth's orbital eccentricity), resulting in relatively stable solar heating throughout its year. The Puck orbit takes 0.00 hours to complete (41424136.0× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 0.32° indicates how much the Puck orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This low inclination means Puck follows a path very close to the plane where most planets orbit, suggesting a stable formation history.

The Puck rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The Puck axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, Puck experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about Puck's position in space. The mean anomaly of 0° indicates the planet's current position in its orbit relative to its perihelion. The argument of periapsis of 0° shows how the orbit's orientation changes over time due to gravitational perturbations. The longitude of ascending node of 0° defines the reference point where the orbit crosses the ecliptic plane.

The Puck temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The Puck average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make Puck inhospitable to life as we know it, with any atmosphere likely frozen solid on the surface. Compared to Earth's average temperature of 15°C (59°F), Puck presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being closer to the Sun than Earth, Puck receives more intense solar radiation, contributing to its temperature profile.

The Puck escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The Puck escape velocity of 0 m/s determines how easily objects can break free from its gravitational pull. This relatively low escape velocity means that gases and light molecules can easily escape into space, making it difficult for Puck to retain a substantial atmosphere. The Puck flattening of 0.0000% indicates how much the planet's rotation affects its shape. This minimal flattening suggests a nearly spherical shape, indicating either slow rotation or a very rigid internal structure.