Star Wars: The volcanic planet Mustafar

3D Model

The model represents Mustafar, a fictional small terrestrial planet of the Star Wars saga which is characterized by a strong volcanic activity due to tidal effects caused by the close proximity of two gas giant planets. The volcanic activity of Mustafar recalls that of Io, the innermost of the Galilean moons of Jupiter. As Mustafar, Io is characterized by an extreme geologic activity (with more than 400 active volcanos) resulting from tidal heating from friction generated in its interior because of the close proximity with Jupiter and the other Galilean moons. In recent years, thousands of extrasolar planets have been discovered. Among these, an emerging class is that of highly volcanic exoplanets, also referred as lava worlds, magma ocean worlds, or super-Ios. An example is 55 Cancri e, a terrestrial planet probably covered in lava and orbiting around the star 55 Cancri.

Credits: Textures modified from solarsystemscope.com. Soudtrack by John Williams.