Planetary Classification

While astronomical databases provide the specific information on each world, the following common set of shorthand descriptors has evolved for general use.

Masses are reported in either Terrestrial masses (Earth/Sol = 1) or Giant (Jupiter/Sol = 1)

Belt Numerous small bodies sharing an orbital zone without sufficient mass to become spherical (and thus dwarf). Example: Asteroid Belt/Sol

Cinder Terrestrial mass worlds, usually atmosphereless, orbiting close enough to the star to have a surface temperature >200 celcius. Not to be confused with Hot Giants. Subclassification of Rockball. Example: Mercury/Sol

Desert Terrestrial sized low atmosphere worlds with limited surface liquids. Example: Mars/Sol

Dwarf Small worlds without atmospheres but large enough to become roughly spherical. Example: Ceres/Sol

Exotic Worlds with unusual chemistries excluding them from Habitable/Garden classification. Not to be used as a qualifier for other descriptors Example: Titan/Jupiter/Sol

Garden (Hospitable) Worlds capable of sustaining

Gas Giant Massive atmosphere worlds below stellar range. Masses in Jupiter multiples Example: Jupiter/Sol

Habitable Not instantly fatal to unprotected being the way other terrestrial sized bodies may be but excluded from Garden categorisation due to unsuitable atmospheric pressure or temperature. Example:

Hot Giant Subclassification of Gas Giants orbiting inside the "goldilocks zone" distinguished due to different atmospheric processes and normally lower atmospheric depth caused by stellar wind erosion

Iceball Low temperature terrestrial sized worlds usually with minimal atmosphere Example: Pluto/Sol

Inferno (Greenhouse) Terrestrial sized dense atmosphere worlds with high temperatures. Often recorded previously as greenhouse due to "runaway greenhouse effect". Mass in Earth multiples Example: Venus/Sol

Rockball Any terrestrial sized world not fitting one of the other categories. Used as a default category until more accurate data is available. Common category for significant sized moons Example: Luna/Earth/Sol

Water Terrestrial sized worlds with greater than 90% permanent liquid cover.