The fourth planet of the Keser-Tefireth system, Geburah is the second smallest planet in the system. It is believed that Geburah – like Chesed – developed an atmosphere early in the formation of the Keser system, but lost it to Keser’s solar wind and the periodic shock waves produced by Ain’s novae. The planet has a striking golden appearance with traces of orange and red. Asterologists have noted that Geburah had an active geologic past. There is evidence of seismic and volcanic activity. The golden appearance is the result of the precipitation of a fine layer of sulfur and sulfur oxide over the planet’s surface. Geburah has the tallest volcanoes in the system. Several of the lava cones are more than 50,000 ft (10,100m) tall. There is also evidence of massive calderas. The largest of these is 534 km in length.
Pronunciation & Astronomical Name[]
(Geb´ür•å) aka Keser 4
Astronomical Characteristics[]
The mean distance of Geburah from Keser is about 208.8 million km; its period of revolution is about 769 standard days, more than twice that of Earth. At those times when the Keser, Chesed, and Geburah are aligned (i.e., in opposition) and Geburah is at its closest point to the sun (perihelion), its distance from Chesed is about 56 million km; this occurs every 15 to 17 standard years. At oppositions when Geburah is at its greatest distance from Keser (aphelion) it is about 101 million km from Chesed. It rotates on its axis with a period of about 44 hr 17 min.
Physical Characteristics[]
Geburah has a striking golden appearance, and in its most favorable position for viewing, when it is opposite the sun, it is twice as bright as Sirius, the brightest star. Geburah has a diameter of c. 13,800 km, just over half the diameter of Chesed, and its mass is only 11% of the Chesed's mass. Geburah has an extreme day-to-night temperature range, resulting from its thin atmosphere, from about 299A at noon to about -200A at midnight; however, the high daytime temperatures are confined to less than 3 ft (1 m) above the surface.
Satellite System[]
Geburah has two natural satellites. The innermost of these, Pachad, is about 11 km in diameter and orbits the planet with a period far less than Geburah's period of rotation (7 hr 39 min), causing it to rise in the west and set in the east. The outer satellite, Din, is about 6 km in diameter.