14: Thalassa Phoenix Tulip

Thalassa, also known as Neptune IV is the second-innermost satellite of Neptune. It has no atmosphere and is composed of rock rich in carbonaceous material, much like C-type asteroids and carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.

Thalassa's rocky surface is covered with deep channels leading into an intricate underground tunnels system. Protected from the surface and well below the extreme surface temperatures is the home of the Phoenix Tulip.

As these plants grow, they absorb methane and ethane to produce one of the most unique blooms in the solar system. The plant blooms approximately once every ten Earth years, producing a halo of magnetic energy that glows like fire in order to attract pollinating insects.

Artwork Date: February 2022

Created using GAN machine learning AI system running on RTX-3090