Astronomical classification (Galhaf)

Galhafan astronomers use similar categories to Earth astronomers, but there are some minor differences. There are also certain conventions in use for naming of various objects using names derived from Classical Sanle. Eastern Odiran languages typically use names derived from Classical Blafu. The same classifications and rules are used by the Eastern Odiran languages, with the names (except for the earliest-named objects) being translations of each other.

Star

Stars are defined in essentially the same way as on Earth, except that brown dwarfs are definitively excluded. A star is thus defined as any object capable of sustained hydrogen fusion.

In Ivetsian, astronomers do not use the common word "star", instead using the term fivaska from Classical Sanle pib tkab meaning "steadfast star" or "stationary star".

Planet

Planet (zuzheftakh from zhodèv tkab "traveling star") is defined much more broadly than on Earth, and is further subdivided into several categories. Its definition is any object large enough to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium other than stars. It thus includes our categories of planet, dwarf planet and also large satellites. It is further subdivided into three categories

Major planets and dwarf planets

Major planets are planets which orbit a sun directly and are at least 5 × 10²¹ talents in mass (3.81889 × 10²³ kg), a definition chosen to ensure that the historically-recognized planets would continue to be classified as major planets, while dwarf planets are those below that limit which orbit a sun. This definition is not without its critics, and some astronomers define the difference between "major planet" and "dwarf planet" differently, and some drop the distinction all together. There is thus no single standard list of major planets.

Both major and dwarf planets have names that end in -takh or the variants -dakh and -ska, all derived from the Classical Sanle tkab (star). As a general rule, -ska is used after vowels, -dakh after n, and -takh after other consonants. The first planets discovered had names that were descriptive. Two major planets discovered by Kasshi astronomers were originally named after political leaders, but those names were not used outside of the Kasshi Empire and allied states. And even within the Empire, those names have been replaced. Today, planets may be named after:

• Place names
• Historically significant individuals (only individuals dead for at least 200 years may be used, and no one considered to be controversial; famous historical astronomers are a common choice)
• Concepts from other sciences
• Characters from classical literature
• Their discoverer (minor planets only)

Due to the difficulty in determining whether distant objects are dwarf planets or asteroids, a name used for an asteroid may not be used for a planet and vice versa, to enable the alternation of the -takh and -ezh suffixes. Likewise, satellites may not use names used by asteroids or planets. There are some exceptions that were named before this rule was adopted, but no new exceptions are permitted.

Dependent planets

Planets which orbit another planet, that is, the largest satellites. They may be named with -takh/-dakh/-ska like planets or they may be named like other satellites. All thus have dual naming, except Sasalh which never takes either suffix and Nihandz, due to the fact that it would become Nyatakh, resulting in ambiguity with the major planet Nyatakh.

Asteroids

The first-discovered asteroids were considered to be planets, and were named like other planets. The very first asteroid was named Jishiska (tiki tkab, "little star"), which was later adopted as the name for the entire category. After the number of known asteroids began to grow, they were removed from the planet category, and the -takh element in their names was replaced with -(h)ezh (from giz "Rock"). The first asteroid was renamed Dakuhezh (tak-lo giz "First rock"). Asteroids can be named after almost anything, with the exception being that they cannot be named after controversial individuals. Every asteroid also has a number.

Comets

Essentially the same as our definition. Comets end with the suffix -(a)mbro short for -(a)mbroska from the noun umbroska "comet" from mro tkab "long star"

Satellites

Satellites which are large enough to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium are considered a type of planet, called "dependent planets". Those that are not large enough to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium are classified as simple satellites. An informal distinction between "major satellites" and "minor satellites" is sometimes recognized but, unlike with the planets, there has been no attempt at a formal definition. Satellites are named with the suffix -(h)andz (with the exception of Galhaf's moons), which may be replaced with -takh/-dakh/-ska in the dependent planets. The suffix -(h)andz is derived from the Classical Sanle ald "child", first used with the names of Zheftakh's three largest moons, which are visible from Galhaf, and were considered "children" of Zheftakh metaphorically. Ironically, due to the fact that all three are now classified as dependent planets, two can take the -takh suffix instead of -(h)andz. Nihandz always uses the -(h)andz suffix, as it would become Nyatakh with the -takh suffix, and thus, would be ambiguous with the major planet Nyatakh

See also

• Planets of Chihazh - A list of all the commonly-recognized Major Planets