Some 39.04 light years (12.08 Parsecs) from Sol, Zeta (2) Reticuli forms a binary system with Zeta (1) Reticuli. The former, a G1 main sequence star, at galactic co-ordinates: 4.025,-26.44,-28.93, is 0.987 the diameter of Sol. Well established at 8700 million years, Zeta (2) supports eight planetary bodies. The gas giant Reticulum 4 has three moons.
Reticulum 4 has a semi major axis of 1.12 AU putting it just outside the comfort zone of 1.010 AUs. Its orbit takes it 432.5 days (1.12 Earth Years) around the parent star. Despite Zeta (2)'s higher temperature and visual luminosity (1.020 x Sol), Reticulum 4's moons remain partially shrouded on its darkside. Acheron, the second moon or Reticulum 4, suffers climatically from this astrological location.
Acheron (or LV-426, its designation), is a primordial moon. Acheron is cold, meteorologically violent, structurally unstable with several active volcanic locations dotting it's surface. An atmosphere of inert nitrogen, carbon dioxide crystals, methane and several trace elements whipped up into 270mph storms give this world a formidable reputation.
Acheron orbits its primary at a distance of 1.79 x 10^6km. It has an equitorial diameter of 12,201 km, a density relative to water of 1:5.075, and a gravity of 0.86 G. Its orbital period around Zeta 2 IV is 5.07 sidereal days, and a rotation of 5.07 sidereal days. For an observer on the surface of Zeta 2 IV has an apparent size in the sky of some 9 degrees, 45 minutes, 36 seconds.
The crust is made up from aluminum silicates, though there is plenty of evidence of magnesium silicate intrusion, manifest on the surface as basalt, rhyolite and microgranite lava flows. Despite the ample evidence of activity on the planetoid's core, there is no discernible volcanism or tectonic activity present, which would be consistent with a tidally-locked body. The indigenous atmospehere, prior to reclimation, was primordial, consisting largely of nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, some oxygen, and concentrations of methane and ammonia.
On a high plateau to the east of the Illyum Mountains resides three volcanic sisters: Baraquel, Hakael and Atarculph (from occult literature; as is Acheron "The River through Hell"). The latter at 1,300m lies embedded in a moat of solid lava.
Anglo-Japanese conglomerate: Weyland Yutani saw fit to establish a terraforming operation in 2159, named "Hadley's Hope". The installation supports a thriving technical facility to support its approximate 160 colonists as of epoch 2179.
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