Artemis

Artemis (aka HD 15241-2) is the main planet in which the story of Untold Dawn unfolds - humanity's first colony in the stars, approximately 15 light years from Earth. Professor Callysto announced its discovery in the year 2145; the Artemis Expeditor landed at Callysto Crater on its surface in 2169.

Astronomical Facts

Artemis's system revolves around a K-type orange dwarf star, HD 15241, originally colloquially known as 'Peeper'. A survey done in 2174 by colonist Cameron Perez instead resulted in the name 'Riganna', courtesy of Roark McKay. (Riganna is another name for the Celtic goddess Rhiannon, who is associated with motherhood, rebirth, wisdom, and mystery.)

HD 15241's planetary system contains five sub-stellar bodies, counting Artemis itself but not including asteroids, moons and planetoids. Two of these five bodies sit within HD 15241's 'Goldilocks zone', having the required temperature for liquid water and to develop life. A third is a little too close to the star, being reduced to a blistering ball of silicon, and a fourth is too far - a frigid iceball. The last body is a sizable Jovian-class gas giant, sitting on the other side of an asteroid belt from the farthest terrestrial planet.

Artemis has one moon, Diana - a brownish-grey rock that resembles Earth's moon, but is far larger in the sky due to its proximity.

Planetary Geography

Artemis closely resembles Earth in many ways, with 94% Earth gravity, atmospheric pressure of 0.94atm, and a mass equal to 1.02 earths. The blue-green skies are at least largely familiar, if tinted slightly by the warmer light of its sun. Even its days and years are close enough to parity that the same calendar can be utilized, with only minor adjustments under the hood. Sitting comfortably within the habitable zone, 0.7 AU away from its star, Artemis's rich, green flora can be seen from orbit, giving proof of native life likely compatible in some way with Earth's. Combine all this with its average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius in the northern hemisphere, and Artemis was an obvious choice for the MBC's colonial efforts.

Due to the massive distance between the Solar System and Artemis, only overarching geographical patterns are known about Artemis. The Artemis Mission is eventually planned to act as not only colonizers of this planet but explorers, unraveling mysteries such as the patches of bare desert seen on its surface with no consistent pattern or obvious cause.

There is one very significant difference between Earth and Artemis, however. The atmosphere on Artemis is composed of ~60% carbon dioxide, ~16% argon, ~10% oxygen, and trace amounts of nitrogen and helium. This makes for a deceptively deadly atmosphere to humans, being scentless but leading to certain asphyxiation on an average of 60 to 140 seconds.

History

After Professor Callysto discovered it, one of the best candidates for human life due to its near-earth conditions and strategic presence in its own solar system, individuals from the most diverse backgrounds eagerly submitted their applications for the missions, with recruitment centers sprouting in the most unexpected places: town halls, educational institutions, malls and even hospitals.

Professor Callysto’s mission is the first of many projects that are being planned around Artemis. Several mega-corporations have been calling for Artemis to be the host of a sprawling colony city, although the project is considered wildly ambitious. Nevertheless, billionaires and several groups have pledged to support such an endeavor.

The resources of Artemis have been a major point of interest to several groups; there’s a notable interest to lay the foundations of a logistic network between Artemis and the Solar System. Such a project, although likely to take several years, is on the final stages of conversations. The colonists’ exploration will take a vital role in its fruition.

There’s also interest in using the planet as an exile for the most deadly criminals, setting up the colony with a ultra-security jail, taking advantage of the vast unbuilt space of Artemis – a luxury that is no longer present in Planet Earth. This jail would be nearly a death sentence for the criminals, who would be under the care of colonists that would act as jailors and devote their time to handling them.

Although debate back at Planet Earth is at its all-time high, for now the colonization efforts are the only certain and approved thing to happen in the coming years. Perhaps, with the enterprise of some of the colonists, more efforts will receive the green light.