Difference between revisions of "Jool"

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'''Jool''' is a [[w:Gas giant|gas giant]] and the sixth planet of the [[Kerbol]] star system. It is the 6th planet from [[Kerbol]], making it one of the harder planets to reach.  It is one of the most appealing targets for missions, however, because of its large and complex system of five moons: '''[[Laythe]]''', '''[[Vall]]''', '''[[Tylo]]''', '''[[Bop]]''', and '''[[Pol]]'''. Orbits well-aligned with the orbital plane, and many intersections with moon orbits can easily be captured by a couple moons with little to no ΔV before having to correct your orbit.
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'''Jool''' is a [[w:Gas giant|gas giant]] and the sixth planet of the [[Kerbol]] star system. It is the [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]] analog for Kerbal Space Program. Aside from Kerbol, Jool has the largest diameter and greatest mass of all celestial bodies. While its distance from [[Kerbin]] makes it difficult to reach, it is one of the most appealing targets for missions due to its large and complex system of five moons: '''[[Laythe]]''', '''[[Vall]]''', '''[[Tylo]]''', '''[[Bop]]''', and '''[[Pol]]'''.  
  
 
== Atmosphere ==
 
== Atmosphere ==
[[File:JoolAtmosphere.png|thumb|left|Aerobraking in Jool's atmosphere.]]
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{|
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[[File:JoolAtmosphere.png|thumb|right|Aerobraking in Jool's atmosphere.]]
  
Although Jool has a radius ten times greater than [[Kerbin]], its [[atmosphere]] begins just twice as high (138.2 km). It is extremely dense, well suited for aerobraking from a high-speed interplanetary intercept. Orbiting just outside the atmosphere will give you a period of 94.7437 minutes, and a speed of 6,785 m/s. You typically do not need to go lower than 100 km to aerobrake.
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Although Jool has a radius ten times greater than Kerbin, its [[atmosphere]] begins just twice as high (138.2 km). It is extremely dense, well suited for aerobraking from a high-speed interplanetary intercept. Orbiting just outside the atmosphere will give you a period of 94.7437 minutes, and a speed of 6,785 m/s. You typically do not need to go lower than 100 km to aerobrake.
  
 
In general, the atmospheric pressure on Jool at an altitude expressed in meters is:
 
In general, the atmospheric pressure on Jool at an altitude expressed in meters is:
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[[File:Kerbal_landing_on_jool.png|thumb|left|The effects of landing on Jool's "surface" as a Kerbonaut]]
 
[[File:Kerbal_landing_on_jool.png|thumb|left|The effects of landing on Jool's "surface" as a Kerbonaut]]
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Closer to the surface, the physics of the game start to break down.  Due to its extremely thick atmosphere, terminal velocity is so low that lighter spacecraft will not even need parachutes or retrorockets.  It is not impossible to land on its solid surface, though spacecraft are inevitably and invariably devoured by the [[Kraken]]. If a Kerbonaut is put on EVA he will not be destroyed, making one-way sacrificial landings possible. However, as seen near the end of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkeb5-u3-lY this video], the Kerbonaut will start to glitch out and shake uncontrollably. This only happens if you're on time warp 4. The game will later glitch and cut to a black screen with the altimeter going through numbers rapidly. Unless you restart the game, Kerbin's atmosphere will be missing.
 
Closer to the surface, the physics of the game start to break down.  Due to its extremely thick atmosphere, terminal velocity is so low that lighter spacecraft will not even need parachutes or retrorockets.  It is not impossible to land on its solid surface, though spacecraft are inevitably and invariably devoured by the [[Kraken]]. If a Kerbonaut is put on EVA he will not be destroyed, making one-way sacrificial landings possible. However, as seen near the end of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkeb5-u3-lY this video], the Kerbonaut will start to glitch out and shake uncontrollably. This only happens if you're on time warp 4. The game will later glitch and cut to a black screen with the altimeter going through numbers rapidly. Unless you restart the game, Kerbin's atmosphere will be missing.
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|}
  
 
== Natural Satellites ==
 
== Natural Satellites ==
[[File:JoolLaythe.png|thumb|left|The ocean moon [[Laythe]], about to transit Jool.]]
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{|
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[[File:JoolLaythe.png|thumb|right|The ocean moon [[Laythe]], about to transit Jool.]]
  
Jool has five natural satellites:
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Jool has five natural satellites, each with an orbit well-aligned with Jool's orbital plane:
* The ocean moon [[Laythe]], currently the only moon possessing an atmosphere, is the closest to Jool and second largest of its moons. Due to its high orbital velocity, it is somewhat challenging to reach. Next to [[Eve]], its size and composition make it the most similar celestial body to [[Kerbin]]
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* '''[[Laythe]]''', an ocean moon, is the only moon with an atmosphere. It is the closest to Jool and second largest of its moons. Due to its high orbital velocity, it is somewhat challenging to reach. Next to [[Eve]], its size and composition make it the most similar celestial body to [[Kerbin]].
* The ice moon [[Vall]], which is the third largest and second closest. Its orbital path and velocity sit almost exactly between Layth and Tylo.
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* '''[[Vall]]''', an ice moon, is the third largest and second closest of Jool's moons. Its orbital path and velocity sit almost exactly between Layth and Tylo.
* The rocky moon [[Tylo]], similar to Kerbin's [[Mun]], although it has similar gravity to [[Kerbin]]. While having the largest SOI, making it easiest to encounter, achieving orbit and landing are exceptionally difficult due to it's large gravity well coupled with lack of atmosphere.
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* '''[[Tylo]]''', a rocky moon, has gravity similar to [[Kerbin]] and terrain similar to Kerbin's [[Mun]]. It has the largest SOI of Jool's moons, making it easy to encounter, but achieving orbit and landing are exceptionally difficult due to its large gravity well and lack of atmosphere.
* The captured asteroid [[Bop]], the smallest body orbiting Jool. Due to its distant, erratic orbit and low gravity, it is also challenging to reach.
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* '''[[Bop]]''', a captured asteroid, is the fourth largest of Jool's moons. Due to its distant, erratic orbit and low gravity, it is also challenging to reach.
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* '''[[Pol]]''', named after a Pollen grain which it resembles, is Jool's smallest and most distant moon. It is yellow and green, and its terrain is rocky and uneven, with tall, spiky mountains.
  
*In 0.18, a new moon was added, [[Pol]], named so after a Pollen grain which it resembles. A yellowish/greenish moon, rocky and uneven with tall spiky mountains. It orbits Jool beyond Bop and is around twice as large. An image can be found [http://i.imgur.com/SshEN.png here].
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Laythe, Vall, and Tylo are in a Laplace resonance, with orbital periods of 1:2:4 respectively. Despite the fact that the moons can easily eclipse both each other and Jool, they do not.
 
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[[Laythe]], [[Vall]], and [[Tylo]] are in a Laplace resonance, with orbital periods of 1:2:4 respectively. Despite the fact that the moons can easily eclipse both each other and Jool, they do not.
 
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==
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* Jool has roughly the same equatorial radius as the planets Earth and Venus.
 
* Jool has roughly the same equatorial radius as the planets Earth and Venus.
 
* The sunsets and sunrises on Jool are a shade of yellowish brown.
 
* The sunsets and sunrises on Jool are a shade of yellowish brown.
 
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* Like Jool, Jupiter's nearest three moons (Io, Europa, and Ganymede) have a Laplace resonance of 1:2:4.
* Like Io, Europa, and Ganymede, Joolean moon have a Laplace resonance 1:2:4
 
  
 
== Changes ==
 
== Changes ==
 
;{{Version|0.18|}}
 
;{{Version|0.18|}}
* Added a new farther out moon named Pol.
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* Added a new, more distant moon named Pol.
 
;{{Version|0.17|}}
 
;{{Version|0.17|}}
 
* Initial Release
 
* Initial Release

Revision as of 19:44, 21 February 2013

Template:Planetbox

Jool is a gas giant and the sixth planet of the Kerbol star system. It is the Jupiter analog for Kerbal Space Program. Aside from Kerbol, Jool has the largest diameter and greatest mass of all celestial bodies. While its distance from Kerbin makes it difficult to reach, it is one of the most appealing targets for missions due to its large and complex system of five moons: Laythe, Vall, Tylo, Bop, and Pol.

Atmosphere

Aerobraking in Jool's atmosphere.

Although Jool has a radius ten times greater than Kerbin, its atmosphere begins just twice as high (138.2 km). It is extremely dense, well suited for aerobraking from a high-speed interplanetary intercept. Orbiting just outside the atmosphere will give you a period of 94.7437 minutes, and a speed of 6,785 m/s. You typically do not need to go lower than 100 km to aerobrake.

In general, the atmospheric pressure on Jool at an altitude expressed in meters is:

The effects of landing on Jool's "surface" as a Kerbonaut

Closer to the surface, the physics of the game start to break down. Due to its extremely thick atmosphere, terminal velocity is so low that lighter spacecraft will not even need parachutes or retrorockets. It is not impossible to land on its solid surface, though spacecraft are inevitably and invariably devoured by the Kraken. If a Kerbonaut is put on EVA he will not be destroyed, making one-way sacrificial landings possible. However, as seen near the end of this video, the Kerbonaut will start to glitch out and shake uncontrollably. This only happens if you're on time warp 4. The game will later glitch and cut to a black screen with the altimeter going through numbers rapidly. Unless you restart the game, Kerbin's atmosphere will be missing.

Natural Satellites

The ocean moon Laythe, about to transit Jool.

Jool has five natural satellites, each with an orbit well-aligned with Jool's orbital plane:

  • Laythe, an ocean moon, is the only moon with an atmosphere. It is the closest to Jool and second largest of its moons. Due to its high orbital velocity, it is somewhat challenging to reach. Next to Eve, its size and composition make it the most similar celestial body to Kerbin.
  • Vall, an ice moon, is the third largest and second closest of Jool's moons. Its orbital path and velocity sit almost exactly between Layth and Tylo.
  • Tylo, a rocky moon, has gravity similar to Kerbin and terrain similar to Kerbin's Mun. It has the largest SOI of Jool's moons, making it easy to encounter, but achieving orbit and landing are exceptionally difficult due to its large gravity well and lack of atmosphere.
  • Bop, a captured asteroid, is the fourth largest of Jool's moons. Due to its distant, erratic orbit and low gravity, it is also challenging to reach.
  • Pol, named after a Pollen grain which it resembles, is Jool's smallest and most distant moon. It is yellow and green, and its terrain is rocky and uneven, with tall, spiky mountains.

Laythe, Vall, and Tylo are in a Laplace resonance, with orbital periods of 1:2:4 respectively. Despite the fact that the moons can easily eclipse both each other and Jool, they do not.

Gallery

Trivia

  • Jool has roughly the same equatorial radius as the planets Earth and Venus.
  • The sunsets and sunrises on Jool are a shade of yellowish brown.
  • Like Jool, Jupiter's nearest three moons (Io, Europa, and Ganymede) have a Laplace resonance of 1:2:4.

Changes

0.18
  • Added a new, more distant moon named Pol.
0.17
  • Initial Release