Eridanus II

Eridanus II is a planet in the Epsilon Eridani System (which, including Eridanus II has a total of 12 planets.)

Background
A UNSC colony world, little has been revealed about this planet, it is the location of the Luxor Spaceport and Elysium City, where John-117 grew up until he was abducted and sent into the Spartan program in 2517. John never met his family after he was abducted and after 2530 he would never get the chance because the planet was glassed by the Covenant. It is also to be noted that it is a place of much hostility against the UNSC, as Dr. Halsey stated many pirates and rebels were operating from the system. John later returned there in 2525 with the other Spartans aboard the destroyer UNSC Pioneer to board the cargo freighter Laden and travel to a rebel base, Eridanus Secundus in the system's asteroid field. In fact on the asteroid Eridanus Secundus is where John 117 had his first mission, to capture the rebel leader, Robert Watts.

The Spartans later returned to the system in 2552 aboard the captured Covenant flagship Ascendant Justice, returning to the Rebel base.

Though there is some debate as to the nature of the planet, there is nothing to actually suggest that Eridanus II was a gas giant; rather there is a separate gas giant in the system that Dr. Halsey used for a slingshot maneuver on her approach to the planet. She did mention "climate-controlled weather", from which one might infer domed environments, although this does not necessarily suggest a world without a breathable atmosphere.

Trivia

 * It may be a play on Eta Eridani a real life star with the traditional name "Azha," which translates as "Hatching Place" or "Breeding Place". The real life Eta Eridani is actually 121 lightyears from Earth, well outside of UNSC territory.
 * It is also the location of John-117's place of birth.

Related Links

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: First Strike