Rakatan was an inhabited Federation planet in orbit of the star in the Ordover system, and was 15.69 light years from the Tellun system.
Specifics
Rakatan was one of the most geologically active planets in the Federation. It appeared blue-gray from orbit, though its oceans contained just microscopic life. It had an atmosphere high in carbon dioxide and pollution from volcanic gases, and low in oxygen. Neither algae nor grass had evolved, but a type of slime mold grew there.
It did not have continental crusts, except arguably for its largest volcano, Rakatan Mons. If dilithium existed on the world, geologists believed it most likely would be found within pegmatite veins at least five kilometers under the volcano, too deep for mining.
History
In the 2250s, a number of seismic stations were installed on the surface, coordinated by the Johnston Observatory on its moon Skaftar, which was established to study the planet's geological activity.
In 2273, an Elasian mining camp was founded 2,237 meters above the base of Rakatan Mons, under claims that the planet belonged to Elas.
The USS Enterprise visited Rakatan when geologists thought signals might have been emanating from Rakatan Mons. Eventually a silicon-based sentient civilization of "magma creatures" was found living within it. (TOS novel: Firestorm)
Points of interest
Geography
- Mazama Mons
- Rakatan Mons
Outposts
- Seismic Station Three