Red Wanderer

The Ever-changing Moon

Often just referred to as simply "Red Wanderer" or just "Wanderer". This red moon is perhaps the strangest of the three that orbit Minerva. Like its blue/white and tan counterparts, it waxes and wanes at the same time, but its appearance in the nighttime sky is so radically different from the others in that it can be seen changing size, and position over the different seasons. I asked the local astronomer at Arsenal Basin about this.

"The Red Wanderer is the smallest of Minerva's moons according to the ancient star charts. Its coloration is due to the object being composed primarily of iron-oxide. The effect of it growing, shrinking, and shifting throughout the year is due to what the ancients called a horseshoe orbit. A phenomena which still isn't fully understood." - Oh god I forgot his name, I'll put here when I remember it.

History

Astronomy isn't my strong suit, but it is fascinating to me. However, the history of how this moon affects people is more important to my profession. It has affected each society differently depending on who you talk to.

• Many mountain strider paintings and drawings prominently feature the Red Wanderer, as before my ancestors left We of the Sand they saw the moon as a symbol of freedom due to it betraying the order of the heavens. This is less believed now due to the star charts, and education, but popular lexicon let this moon keep its status as a symbol of freedom.
• The sand walkers still see it as a symbol of traitors due to the conflict they held with the Copper Mount Militia. Sometimes they refer to it as the bloodied moon.
• There is a large portion of Fields Union that believe the Wanderer predicts the future, specifically when its large profit is better, and when its small profit is worse. However their culture doesn't put much weight on the celestial cycles.

Alternative Name(s)

Wanderer

Type

Planetoid / Moon