View source for Laythe

Laythe  is is the innermost moon of jool and the second-largest moon in the kerbol system kerbolar system after tylo . it is also the only moon with an atmosphere in the kerbolar system. although in the analogous position of io it has more in common with the saturnian moon titan due to its dense atmosphere and bodies of liquid. laythe also has a breathable atmosphere meaning jet engines can operate in flight here. by far laythe is one of the most kerbin -like celestial bodies in the kerbolar system. synopsis synopsis synopsis  do you like gleaming oceans sandy beaches and breathable air pack your bags and take a trip to the jewel of jool laythe the kerbin-like atmospheric density is sure to keep you comfortable whether you\'re picnicking on the shore or studying impact craters. if it ever feels too familiar just look up to enjoy a stunning view of the resident giant green gas giant   surface surface surface laythe laythe\'s surface is mostly covered in vast oceans of liquid water with relatively little water ice at the poles. laythe also has barren ring-shaped islands spread evenly across its surface which are actually the rims of huge impact craters peeking through the deep ocean. the water on laythe has nearly double the salt content that kerbin kerbin\'s oceans do which could partially explain how the oceans remains in a liquid state here. it is not well-understood how laythe manages to maintain a habitable environment at its distance from kerbol even despite having a thinner atmosphere. it is likely that a massive impact in the distant past may have been responsible for creating this strange environment as evidenced by the massive impact craters. since no tectonic or volcanic activity has been detected on laythe it is possible that the temperatures are a result of the residual heat from the ancient impact. the high levels of radiation on laythe especially within its oceans may also be residue from the impact. tidal forces come primarily from both jool and tylo and they both generate gentle tides across laythe. not only does laythe have an induced magnetic field but resides in a region of jool jool\'s massive magnetosphere that shields it from powerful radiation protecting the surface from jool jool\'s intense radiation. atmosphere atmosphere atmosphere laythe laythe\'s atmosphere has approximately 60 the barometric pressure on kerbin. it is composed predominantly of hydrogen and oxygen with a large amount of carbon dioxide and ammonia. these greenhouse gases may also contribute to the anomalously high temperatures of laythe at its distance from kerbol. the weather on laythe is also much tamer than on kerbin due to its lower average temperatures. a murky haze is present possibly due to a high concentration of organic compounds like tholins. habitability and life habitability and life habitability and life despite its similarity to kerbin laythe does not seem to have an extensive ecosystem of any kind. the oceans are rich in organic compounds which would suggest the presence of life but none have been detected. shells and bone fragments can be found along the shores of laythe suggesting that it once had life teeming in the oceans but must have went extinct. most of these organic remnants can be dated back to about 1 000 years ago meaning whatever event that sterilized much of laythe must have happened very geologically recently. one specific region of laythe called the heart lake possibly caused by an oblique impact still has bacterial life swimming in the pristine waters of this lake. it is unclear whether these lifeforms were transported onto laythe via panspermia or it is just an isolated ecosystem that survived the mass extinction event. due to the high amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere laythe can be seen as an ideal world for kerbals to colonize extensively. science regions science regions science regions orbital situation orbital situation orbital situation class \"fandom-table\" science regions altitude range science multiplier - high orbit 200 000 m - 3 723 645.81113302 20.0 - low orbit 50 000 m - 200 000 m 24.0 - atmosphere 0 m - 50 000 m 10.0 surface regions surface regions surface regions laythe has seven surface science regions in total. class \"fandom-table\" science regions science multiplier - ocean 30.0 - poles 30.0 - hills 30.0 - shores 30.0 - shallows 30.0 - lakes 30.0 - heart lake 30.0 discoverables discoverables discoverables version history  0.1.5.0  * improved atmospheric visuals.  0.1.2.0  * height fog added. * updated terrain scatter.  0.1.1.0  * fixed laythe laythe\'s atmosphere rendering incorrectly in map view. * fixed laythe laythe\'s ocean appearing jagged pixelated and jittery after splashing down.  0.1.0.0  * initial release.
[[Category:Celestial bodies]]
[[Category:Moons]]