Threshold: Difference between revisions

Threshold is an immense gas giant with a diameter of {{Convert|214604|km|mi}}, and twelve satellites, several of which are Forerunner installations. Threshold is the largest planet in the [[Soell system]], and the seventh planet in Soell's orbit.<ref name="vis"/> Threshold is purplish-orange in color,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 12'' (2010 edition)</ref> and contains many rare and valuable gases.<ref name="ENC310"/> Threshold's atmosphere is made up of white [[ammonia]] clouds, amber-colored [[ammonium hydrosulfide]] clouds, [[phosphorus]] compounds, ice crystals and other gases. The clouds are arranged in thin, tendril-like formations and resembled sinuous ribbons.<ref name="atmo"/> The planet's winds blew at hundreds of kilometers an hour. Threshold is known to have storms frequently rage in its atmosphere similar to the storms that occur on the planet [[Jupiter]].<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign levels ''[[The Arbiter]]'' and ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Mona Lisa", ''page 239''</ref> The planet has a core of liquid hydrogen.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]'' (343 Guilty Spark: ''"The Flood will not survive once this mine enters the planet's liquid hydrogen core. Then again, neither will we. What a pity..."'')</ref>

The pressure inside the gas giant is extremely powerful, and effectively able to crush any object that delved too deep into the planet's atmosphere. Threshold has a powerful magnetosphere that is easily capable of disrupting the magnetic field of [[plasma]] weaponry. The temperature of the outer atmosphere of Threshold is around three hundred degrees Celsius.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 101-102'' (2010 edition)</ref> Further down, in the planet's denser atmosphere, temperatures reached over seventeen hundred degrees Celsius.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 107'' (2010 edition)</ref>

Threshold is orbited by twelve satellites. Threshold's largest [[natural satellite]], [[Basis]], is in fact the size of a huge terrestrial planet. Basis' diameter is nearly double that of [[Earth]].<ref>[http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_planetscale/ '''Halo.bungie.org''': ''Loftus Planet Scale'']</ref> Basis, has a diameter of 23,848 kilometers; the other satellites of Threshold are significantly smaller, but are nonetheless host to various [[Forerunner]] facilities.<ref name="vis"/> Although none of Threshold's satellites have been extensively surveyed, all but two of them appear to contain Forerunner installations or are entirely artificial. The outposts functions are unknown, but they were likely used to provide maintenance for [[Installation 04]].<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/threshold '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Threshold'']</ref> Several small [[asteroid]]s also orbit Threshold, near Installation 04.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 7]]''</ref>

 

The most notable of Threshold's orbiting installations was Installation 04, situated at the L₁ [[Lagrange point]] between Threshold and Basis.<ref name="universe"/> Threshold's atmosphere is home to an extensive network of Forerunner [[Threshold gas mine|gas mining platforms]] and refinery stations, hanging from a band-like low-orbital suspension grid in the upper atmosphere.<ref name="vis"/><ref name="gasmine"/> Although, by the mid-26th century, only a handful of these mines and refineries remain operational.<ref name="universe"/> Space station [[Deep-Space Anomaly 0198]] is also in high orbit over the gas giant.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', multiplayer map ''[[Derelict]]''</ref>

*In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', the [[MA5B assault rifle|assault rifle]]'s compass arrow points at the gas giant. This suggests that Threshold's atmosphere contains a large amount of iron particles, or that the assault rifles use a digital compass and that the Alpha Halo happens to be situated so that Threshold is aligned with the rifle's north during the events of the game.