Fixed stars

The Fixed Stars are the bright stars, more properly small moons, in the sky of Helevos. They are so called because they hold a fixed point in the night sky relative to the ground. There are thought to be four fixed stars, circling the heavens at the four quarters of the globe. Only three are visible in the skies of the Civilised World, the fourth being only vision on the Obverse.

They are essential for navigation, enabling travellers and seafarers to pinpoint their longitude and latitude by taking bearings on two of the fixed stars.

Only three stars can be seen from the Civilised World. From a position beneath the Yending Star, the meridian line for measuring longitude, the other two can just be seen above the horizons to the east and west. Astronomers postulate a fourth star, but this would only be visible on the far side of the world.

The fixed stars can easily be seen with the naked eye as the brightest white stars in the sky. Some astronomers and astrologers have declared that viewed through a telescope they are all different shapes, having ‘wings’ or ‘tails’ or other features relating to mythological beasts. Some primitive societies have even seen them as gods, but most civilisations view them as markers in the heavens, left by old gods or the Godmen.

Although there are four stars, only three are visible above the Civilised World, and due to their position it is only possible to see two at any one time. These are their ‘official’ names in old Mayapo, although there are many regional variations:

1. Yendimzar - called the Yending Star in Anrel, or the Southern Star, often called the Sailor's Friend. It is visible throughout the Civilised Worldplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigCivilised World
   
   The Civilised World refers to the known regions of human civilisation, notably the continent of Anásthias, the Natorn Archipelago and surrounding islands.
   
   Gastrinimer's 3rd century BME Map of the World, showing Anásthias and the Natorn Isles. Note: old maps place north to the right.AnásthiasAnásthiasAnásthiasAnásthias. Since the best navigational charts were created by the Sann'ali, and the Yending Star was their nearest point of reference, this star is the basis of the Yending Meridian, the baseline for measuring degrees of longitude.
2. Otekzar - Otec or the Star of the Sun, called the Dawnstar or The Lady. It lies above the sea far off the western coast of Anásthiasplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAnásthias
   
   Anásthias [a-NAS-thee-ass / ænæsθiːæs], or [an-ass-THEE-as] is an equatorial island continent, heart of the Civilised World. The north straddles the equator and is hot and humid, while most of the equatorial centre is an upland plateau with fertile river valleys, and stretches of arid plains and desert in the shadow of the mountains. The south is temperate but more wild, separated from the civilisations of the north by the almost impassable Harthera, so is primarily visible in Ororrplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigOrorr
   
   Ororr [o-ROARR, ɒ̝rɔ'ɾ], also called the Holy Motherland of Ororr, is a theocratic nation in Anásthias, one of the world's great powers. It the largest nation in the world, perhaps the largest empire in history, occupying the entire northwest of the continent between the mountains and the sea. Ororrlanguagelanguagelanguage and Munatanplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMunatan
   
   Munatan [Moo-Nah-Tahn] is the southernmost region of Anásthias, south of the Dun Trisan mountains. The name possibly derives from a ancient Thalsic, meaning “Land of One Sun”, since the daystar is not visible in the southern hemisphere. Or it may be a reference to the Manthi people who were once the majority population of western Munatan. The term is an OrorrOrorrOrorrHartheraHartheraOrorrOrorrOrorrHartheraHarthera.
3. Ootzar – or Ooish, called the End Star, the Star of the Dead, the Redeeming Star or simply the East Star. It is only visible in eastern Hartheraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHarthera
   
   The Hartheran Union, commonly named Harthera, is an imperialist maritime nation state dominating the northeast of Anásthias. It is one of the two great powers of the modern epoch, arguably the most technologically and militarily powerful nation in the world, only matched by the vast size and wealth of its neighbour, viridOrorrMEOrorrOrorrOrorrOrorr, the Eastern Isles and Otekahré, where it is said to be the star that hangs above the Land of the Dead, beyond the Redeeming Ocean. In the north it is often simply called the East Star, as it lies far to the southeast.
4. The star of the Obverse is generally unnamed, but has been called the Ahbazar, the Far Star or the Dark Star.

Because the stars appear to constantly hang above a fixed point on the earth, navigators can use one or two stars to calculate their exact latitude and longitude, using a navigational device called an astrolode.

An astrolode combines an astrolabe (used to calculate the height of a star) and a magnetic compass. Longitude can be calculated from the elevation of the star: the lower the angle, the further north you are. Latitude is calculated by using a compass to determine the direction of the fixed star. When a fixed star lies due north or south of a ship (ie the star has a bearing of 0 or 180 degrees), they are on the meridian line of that star. The angle increases the further east or west a ship goes.

Two fixed stars can be used to calculate a very accurate location, assuming the navigator has the right tools, charts and mathematical and navigational skill. Using two stars is ideal, but close to the Yending meridian the two neighbouring stars only appear on the horizon.

Despite being called Fixed Stars, in fact they are huge artificial spheres, ancient geo-stationary satellites in geostationary equatorial orbits.

Each of the original four was once the control centre for a whole network of automated satellites with various functions: orbital defence, communications, micro-G industry, as well as collecting and transferring solar energy to relays on the surface. They were designed to be entirely automated, with a solid core surrounded by nano utility foam, a material capable of taking on an infinite variety of shapes and properties. The stations have been self-maintaining for almost twelve millennia, using self-replicating remotes to scavenge raw materials from orbital debris, carry out repairs, and manufacture new components when necessary.

Their accompanying satellite networks have long since collapsed, and most now operate on absolute minimum capacity. They were programmed to watch for approaching space craft, and to warn intruders to stay away from the surface. They even had the capacity to take hostile action if necessary. Today, ten millennia after any active human maintenance, only one retains any communications and defence capability.