Eridanus II

Eridanus II is a planet in the Eridanus System.

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-II program in 2517. John never met his family after he was abducted and after 2530 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. Catherine Halsey stated many pirates and rebels were operating from the system. John later returned there in 2525 with the other Spartan-II's 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, the asteroid Eridanus Secundus is where John 117 had his first mission, to capture the rebel leader, Col. 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 is John-117's birth place.

Behind the Scenes
Eridanus II was believed by some fans to be orbiting the real-life star Eta Eridani. However, Eta Eridani is 121 light years away from Earth, and apparently outside the UNSC's sphere of influence. However, with Human ships being able to cross distances of 2.625 light years per day, it should only take 46 days to reach Eta Eridani.

Related Links

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