lunara

Lunara is a fictional natural satellite in the Starward Continuum, a science fiction setting used for world-building. In the setting, Lunara orbits the gas giant Celaeron in the outer system. The moon measures about 350 kilometers in diameter and is ice-covered with a high albedo. Its surface shows a mix of heavily cratered highlands and smoother plains near the equator, with polygonal patterns suggesting a partially frozen subsurface.

Geology and potential habitability: The crust consists largely of water ice with trace minerals. Data from orbit and lander missions imply a subsurface ocean beneath tens of kilometers of ice, potentially kept liquid by tidal heating from Celaeron. Evidence of cryovolcanism has been detected in polar regions.

Discovery and exploration: In the fictional chronology, Lunara was first observed by long-range telescopes in 2089; a reconnaissance mission, the Aegis probe, landed in 2105, returning ice and mineral samples. A long-term research outpost, Lunara Station, has operated since 2113, focusing on oceanography and ice dynamics.

Current status and uses: Lunara is studied for resources and for subsurface ocean research, and appears as a habitat and mining site in Starward Continuum stories and games. The lunar environment is depicted as harsh and isolated, with life considered possible only in the subsurface.

Etymology: The name Lunara combines Luna, meaning moon, with the suffix ara, used for celestial bodies in the setting’s languages.