Minmus

Minmus/Data

Minmus is the smaller moon of Kerbin. From the surface of Kerbin or Mun, it is a cyan speck one or two pixels wide which appears to slightly oscillate vertically. This is a result of viewing its rotation from afar. Up close, it is off white in appearance with what seem to be icy buttes, large hills, and frozen lakes. The highest areas are over 5.7 km in altitude. It requires more delta-v to reach Minmus orbit than Mun orbit, however it is easier to land on the surface and return.

Orbital characteristics

The synodic period from Kerbin's surface is 14 days, 3 hours and 1 second (1220401 seconds). A synchronous orbit around Minmus is possible at an altitude of 357.94 km.

It is important to be careful when attempting to return to Kerbin from Minmus, as Minmus' high orbit makes it very easy to escape Kerbin's sphere of influence entirely. However, this means that a base on or in orbit around Minmus would make a convenient refueling station for vessels leaving the Kerbin system.

Surface Temperature

Calculation of the expected surface temperature for Minmus, using recieved energy from kerbol and Sefans Law for the radiated power, gives a temperature of -50 degrees celsius. Whilst this is lower than measured values it lends support to the theory that Minmus is a captured comet. It could not have formed at its present location but has an albedo high enough to prevent catastrophic sublimation of its icey composition. A high salt content will also slow the sublimation process. This value of temperature was calculated using: An emissivity of 0.9 (close too but lower than compacted ice), an albedo of 0.6 (close too but lower than the real icey moon Europa) and the luminosity of 3 Yotta Watts for Kerbol. If the same calculation is performed for Kerbin with typical Earth values of emissivity and albedo, a temperature of positive 15 degrees celsius is obtained.

Topography

Minmus has a very uneven surface, with substantial areas over 5 km high and a maximum terrain elevation of 5725 m. The vast majority of the surface is rolling hills, with lakes of a solid substance (such as ice or salt) concentrated near the equator. The addition of science in version 0.22 allows surface samples, and the taking of a surface sample form Minmus says that it is a "crystalline substance, definitely not edible though". With version 0.23, there are now at least 8 biomes.

The lakes are almost perfectly flat and mostly at datum altitude (0 m). Minmus also has some mesas, one of which is near Minmus's north pole, which are so high compared to Minmus' sphere of influence, that they still count as in orbit according to the navigation tools. Unless the player manually switches the navball to Surface mode, this makes landing on these plateaus more challenging, as the direction marker and speed will not automatically correct for the rotation of the surface.

For most landings which are not on a plateau or in a lake, the touchdown altitude is usually between 2000m and 2500m.

Jumping on this moon will make the kerbonaut ascend 10m from the ground.

Biomes

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  Biome map

Minmus has multiple Biomes which yield different Science results:

• Highlands
• Midlands
• Lowlands
• Slopes
• Lesser Flats
• Flats
• Great Flats
• Greater Flats
• Poles

Science

Although the science-multipliers of Minmus's surface and orbit are quite low compared to that of other planets and moons (but a little higher than Mun), Minmus is comparably easy to reach and to return from and has a very large number of biomes which all yield different science results. This makes it - together with Mun - the main source of science points during the midgame.

Reference Frames

Time warp	Minimum Altitude
1×	Any
5×	3 000 m
10×	3 000 m
50×	6 000 m
100×	12 000 m
1 000×	24 000 m
10 000×	48 000 m
100 000×	60 000 m

Gallery

• 

  A full projection map of Minmus as of version 0.15 and above

• 

  A topographic map of Minmus made with the ISA MapSat plugin

• 

  A topographic heightmap of Minmus made with the ISA MapSat plugin

• 

  Mun and Kerbin as seen from the surface of Minmus

• 

  A lander escaping Minmus

• 

  A space base on Minmus

• 

  Combination of rover and mobile base, this monster truck proved top heavy in the low gravity of Minmus

Trivia

• The name "Minmus" may be derived from the Latin word "minimus", which denotes the smallest member of a group of beings or creatures. Minmus is the smallest member of the Kerbin system.
• It's also possible that Minmus is named after Saturn's moon Mimas.
• Minmus is also the name for the fifth and smallest toe on the foot.
• It is possible to land and takeoff from Minmus with the EVA jetpack at 100% fuel.
• If 2HOT Thermometer is used on surface, it shows a temperature of -0.007, which is just enough for water to freeze.
• If SC-9001 Science Jr. is used near or on Minmus in career mode, it will state that its test samples start to glow due to radiation. This might cause Minmus to have a higher temperature than Mun

Changes

0.23

• Biomes added.

0.17

• Minmus is no longer tidally locked to Kerbin.
• Minmus' mass reduced.
• Synchronous orbit is now possible. Previously, it would have required an altitude of 4 302.99 km, outside Minmus' sphere of influence.

0.15

• Initial release

See also

• Tutorial on travelling from Kerbin to Minmus