Introduction
The Sigma system is the home of the original founding colony of the Sigma Commonality and the population is still largely sympathetic to the Commonality's cause. It is currently a member of the Solar Union despite repeated petitions for independence. Time is eroding this individuality.
Fact list
System name: Sigma Major
Traditional names: Polaris Australis, Sigma Octantis
Region: Terran Sphere, Octans constellation
Allegiance: Solar Union
Stellar class: F0 II
Secondary components: Sigma Minor (class M4 IV)
Planetary system:
- Sigma I: Ferrinian Haphaestian
- Sigma II: Silician Postgaian
- Sigma Tertius: Ferrinian EuXeric
- Sigma Princeps: Azuri MesoJovian
- Sigma Optimus: Ferrinian CiGaian
- Sigma Quintus: Silician EuPelagic
- Sigma VI: Carbonean Arean
- Sigma VII: Carbonean Cytherean
- Sigma VIII: Silician Arean
- Sigma IX: Ferrinian Arean
- Sigma X: Ymerian Cytherean
- Sigma XI: Typi SuperJovian
- Sigma XII: Cryo SubJovian
- Sigma XIII: Cryo SubJovian
NOTE: Uninhabited minor satellites (asteroids, dwarfs, and moons) are not listed.
Description
Densely populated by colonists who arrived long before other, similarly distant colonies, the Sigma system has seen a great deal of activity over it's long history. It existed as an independent nation for just over a century and even after it's capitulation to the Solar Union it remained defiant and dissident. Today, it is well developed and all three of it's primary worlds have long since graduated from their colonial stages.
The star, Sigma Octantis, was for a time used as a pole star on Terra in spite of it's low visibility. This was due to it's constant position in the sky. It is a blue sub giant and a Delta Scuti variable star with a change of magnitude of 0.3 every 8,400 T-seconds (140 minutes). This seemingly minor variation has a profound effect on the nearest planet causing it's magnetic field to fluctuate.
However, it is because of Sigma I's geomagnetic field and the synchronous orbit it shares with Sigma Princeps which ensure the survival of an atmosphere (and thus life) on Sigma Optimus.
A second star, a typical red dwarf, orbits Sigma Octantis (known locally as Sigma Major) as Sigma Minor. It has a small system of satellites and lies roughly 325 AU from Sigma Major at it's closest. It is inhabited only by a few mining companies due to the poor metallicity of the star and it's subsequent worlds, which number three; Sigma XV, Sigma XVI, and Sigma XVII. None of which possess tenable atmospheres or magnetic fields.
These satellites receive more light and heat from Sigma Major than their parent star.
The bloody War of Sigman Independence required a century of reconstruction.