Axum Observatory

 | Property | Details | | :--- | :--- |-| **Image** | ![Observatory Museum](Observatory Museum.png) |+| **Type** | Point of Interest / Axum Structure |+| **Location** | Observatory Island (Center) | | **Coordinates** | -222792, 432315 | | **Depth** | 130m |+| **Access** | Requires power from Karakorum Power Plant |  -The **Observatory Museum** is a large [Axum](Axum) structure located on a plateau far east of the [Lifepod](Lifepod), beyond the [Sparse Plains](Sparse Plains). It is inaccessible while the nearby [Karakorum Power Plant](Karakorum Power Plant) is dormant, but can be entered when it is powered up.+![Observatory Museum](Observatory Museum.png)  -## Lifeforms-* [Pneuma](Pneuma)-* [Water Slug](Water Slug)+The **Axum Observatory**, also known as the Observatory Museum, is a large Axum structure found at the center of Observatory Island, east of the Lifepod and beyond the Sparse Plains. It is inaccessible while the nearby Karakorum Power Plant is dormant, but can be entered once power is restored.  -## Location-![Map](wiki-images/c3/c3133c645ddb24f453800dfe384fbf50.png)-* **Coordinates:** X: -222792, Y: 432315-* **Description:** East of the [Coral Gardens](Biomes#Coral Gardens Region) and West of the [Karakorum Power Plant](Karakorum Power Plant)-* **Depth:** 130m+## History  -## Databank Entries+The Observatory was built approximately 1000 years ago by a group of Axum known as the Ardhiacs, with the intent to use the telescope to spy on the World Tree at Xanadu. The telescope was lost after the "zero year," a mysterious event that caused the Axum to flee the area.   -### Axum Observatory-**Source:** Go to the Axum Observatory+Some time later, in the year "500 pi," two Axum groups—the Vepherds and the Magi—returned to Karakorum and rebuilt the observatory to watch the stars. The Observatory would continue to receive renovations over a period of several hundred years, though it was said that new telescopes were preferred over the continued use of the Observatory. Instead, the Observatory became a monument to the Axum.   -A towering structure built by aliens provisionally designated Axum.+Eventually, once it became clear that Axum civilization was on the brink of collapse, the Observatory—being the only Axum structure left standing on the island—was chosen as the location to safekeep the Axum's message to the Architects. To aid the Architects, a Rosetta Stone was constructed nearby to allow for the translating of Axum Radial A. Around the same time, the Karakorum Power Plant was sabotaged by an unknown group, rendering the Observatory inaccessible.  -* Built nearly a thousand years ago, but abandoned-* Clearly an astronomical observatory, but does not reach the ocean surface-* Front gate requires electrical power from an Axum generator-* Electrical lines lead deeper into the biome+The Observatory remained inaccessible by the time the Cicada crashed on Proteus, and was under close watch by Axum Tailings. Eventually, several pioneers made it inside the antechamber, but were unable to enter any further due to lack of power, with the risk of failure being too high to try using human technology to power the door.  -Locating and repairing the generator may allow access.+## Interior  -### Observatory-**Source:** [Scan](Scanner) the Axum Observatory-![Axum](Axum.png)+### Antechamber  -This tower was likely built as an observatory (best fit theory) or an above-water forge (low probability alternative). The upper tower has been extensively rebuilt.+Inside the entrance of the Observatory is a small antechamber with a door preventing further access to the structure. A platform in front of the door features a device used to open it; however, the device cannot be interacted with until the Karakorum Power Plant is operational again.  -* Approximately 1000 years old; continuously renovated until circa 200 years ago when the upper tower was modified and the site abandoned-* Built from bioconcrete poured over a metal framework, then electroplated with corrosion-resistant alloys-* Fine grain structure indicates the metal was cold worked, without forging or smelting-* Original design included an electrical system for pumps and gates, predating human commercial electricity by 650 years-* Due to its later construction, the upper tower should be scanned and analyzed separately.+To the right of the device is a small worksite set up by pioneers hoping to bring power back to the Observatory.  -Evidence suggests this tower was built to raise telescopes above water for weather and sky observation. Structures in the interior may have been involved in mapping and modeling the local solar system.+### Orrery  -**Assessment:** locate and repair original power supply to open the observatory. Pioneer-built generators are incompatibile with the alien electrical grid.+Past the antechamber is a large room with an orrery of the Eido-Thea System at its center. When this room is entered for the first time, the orrery will be in a dormant state, but will unfold and begin to move upon approach.  -### Orrery-**Source:** [Scan](Scanner) the Orrery within the Axum Observatory-![Axum](Axum.png)+Across the ceiling in all four cardinal directions are holes leading up into the Observatory's second floor.  -This model of an alien solar system contains two stars, seven planets, and three moons.+### Holographic Display  -* Two binary stars orbiting in physical contact. Proposed names: "Eido" and "Thea". Observations at the sea surface suggest they are class MOV red dwarfs, smaller, colder, and longer-lived than Earth's sun.-* A small, rapidly orbiting world close to the stars-* A planet with an elliptical orbit that swings close to the stars, then climbs far outward-* A gas giant with three large moons, one of which is this world (proposed name: Proteus)-* A tiny planet which shares the gas giant's orbit, racing ahead of it-* A large, rocky world-* A cold ice giant with an inclined orbit-* An ice giant with a very large ring system+The second floor of the Observatory consists of a single, circular room with a high ceiling. In the middle of the room is a platform, directly above which is a holographic projector.  -Nearby stars are also indicated by lights around the orrery, including a pulsar. Pulsars can be used as lighthouses to fix a star's position in the galaxy. Consult the Noetic Advisor for further analysis.+Interacting with the device next to the platform dims the lights and displays the message the Axum left for the Architects. Upon completion of the message, the lights will turn back on.  -**Assessment:** this orrery is probably a historical site. It was built by Axum with an advanced but pre-modern understanding of astronomy. Until a colony observatory can be constructed, it represents the best available information about the Eido-Thea system and the worlds near Proteus.+## Lifeforms+ +*   Pneuma+*   Water Slug+ +## Location+ +The Axum Observatory is located at coordinates **-222792, 432315** at a depth of **130m**. It is situated east of the Coral Gardens and west of the Karakorum Power Plant.+ +## Databank Entries+ +### Axum Observatory+> A towering structure built by aliens provisionally designated Axum.+> +> *   Built nearly a thousand years ago, but abandoned+> *   Clearly an astronomical observatory, but does not reach the ocean surface+> *   Front gate requires electrical power from an Axum generator+> *   Electrical lines lead deeper into the biome+> +> Locating and repairing the generator may allow access.+ +### Observatory+> This tower was likely built as an observatory (best fit theory) or an above-water forge (low probability alternative). The upper tower has been extensively rebuilt.+> +> *   Approximately 1000 years old; continuously renovated until circa 200 years ago when the upper tower was modified and the site abandoned+> *   Built from bioconcrete poured over a metal framework, then electroplated with corrosion-resistant alloys+> *   Fine grain structure indicates the metal was cold worked, without forging or smelting+> *   Original design included an electrical system for pumps and gates, predating human commercial electricity by 650 years+> *   Due to its later construction, the upper tower should be scanned and analyzed separately.+> +> Evidence suggests this tower was built to raise telescopes above water for weather and sky observation. Structures in the interior may have been involved in mapping and modeling the local solar system.+> +> Assessment: locate and repair original power supply to open the observatory. Pioneer-built generators are incompatibile with the alien electrical grid.+ +### Orrery+> This model of an alien solar system contains two stars, seven planets, and three moons.+> +> *   Two binary stars orbiting in physical contact. Proposed names: "Eido" and "Thea". Observations at the sea surface suggest they are class MOV red dwarfs, smaller, colder, and longer-lived than Earth's sun.+> *   A small, rapidly orbiting world close to the stars+> *   A planet with an elliptical orbit that swings close to the stars, then climbs far outward+> *   A gas giant with three large moons, one of which is this world (proposed name: Proteus)+> *   A tiny planet which shares the gas giant's orbit, racing ahead of it+> *   A large, rocky world+> *   A cold ice giant with an inclined orbit+> *   An ice giant with a very large ring system+> +> Nearby stars are also indicated by lights around the orrery, including a pulsar. Pulsars can be used as lighthouses to fix a star's position in the galaxy. Consult the Noetic Advisor for further analysis.+> +> Assessment: this orrery is probably a historical site. It was built by Axum with an advanced but pre-modern understanding of astronomy. Until a colony observatory can be constructed, it represents the best available information about the Eido-Thea system and the worlds near Proteus.