Earendel System
Not to be confused with Earendel.
| Earendel Dark Nebula | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Astrographical Information | |
| Quadrant | Delta |
| Rim | Mid |
| Grid | J7 |
| Sun | 1, Earendel |
| Planets | None |
| Societal Information | |
| Native Species | None |
| Immigrated Species | Rendelians Empyreans |
| Population | Transient scientific population |
| Governmental Information | |
| Affiliation | Empyrium |
The Earendel System is a star system located in the Mid Rim (J7), which is part of the Empyrium. It contains a single white dwarf supernova remnant, contained by a close-bound remnant cloud, and has no planets. The system is itself contained by an even larger supernova remnant that gives the system its common name - the Earendel Dark Nebula. The system is highly anomalous and especially dangerous, only a select few know how to access the core of the system, which permits the transient scientific population there access.
Up until 408 CE, the Earendel system was dominated by a gargantuan Population III star of the same name, until "mysterious circumstances" caused the star to unexpectedly go supernova. This was due to the Flavros Project being test-fired on the star, which artificially hastened a low-power supernova that left behind orbiting luminous clouds of stellar gases around the stellar remnant. Additionally, the volatile nature of the energy that suddenly entered the star dissipated as it travelled into the interstellar medium, quickly cooling and forming a dark nebula that obscured the light from within and behind it (from an observer.) This phenomenon can be observed with a good telescope from anywhere in the galaxy, but is especially prominent in the night sky as a "void" in the surrounding reaches of the Mid Rim. The Earendel stellar remnant is thus the only source of light within the dark nebula, and its precariously low luminosity poses significant challenges for navigators outside of the star's reach. Effectively, one must navigate in pitch darkness with no reference frame - one can be an incredibly skilled pilot, but inadequate knowledge of the nebula would certainly result in disappearing.
History
Earendel was first discovered in 1560 BCE (641 BI) by the Rendelians, a space-faring race from the northwestern Outer Rim planet Kamarend. They constructed the original space station orbiting the star, and operated it for around 1800 years before they learnt of the Empyrium. Earendel would then be admitted to the Empyrium in 251 CE (1170 IC) as a free system, despite having no natural satellites.
