The Last Planet

The last planet explored by Laure in the Cloud Universe:

unlike the others, it has an atmosphere - thin, mainly noble gases;
he wants to check element distribution on the surface;
the charged ionosphere prevents him from radioing the orbiting Jaccavrie;
nebular friction causes the planet to spiral towards its primary;
surface temperature is about 50 degrees Centigrade;
very little water;
large red dust storms;
a fiery ring of refracted light;
a jumbled plain;
chaotic terrain;
bare mountains;
gleaming black and brown rock;
deep purple sky;
hard ground;
1.22 Gs caused by planetary density;
strong wind;
high radiation;
heavy metals and radioactives -

- suddenly an exploding sky. Our old friend, the lethal unexpected.

As on Satan and Mirkheim, Poul Anderson creates drama in an uninhabited and uninhabitable environment.