Xerosian Solar Eclipse

The planet Xeros is tidally locked with it star, and the side that's swathed in perpetually day is completely inhospital to all known forms of life. About once every two years, the largest of Xeros' three moons will complete occult the sun. In this window, a ship can follow in the moon's shadow and grant a rare opportunity to see what lies beneath the sun.

The Eclipse

Xeros is frequently called the "night planet", but this is only half true. While half the planet never sees its star, the other half suffers under its eternal gaze. It bakes the ground in its heat and radiation, both intensified by the planet's atmosphere. Only highly specialized ships can withstand a trip to the sunny side of Xeros, and there's rarely a need to try that will be worth the risk and cost.
However, once every two years, an opportunity presents itself in the form of a solar eclipse. Xeros' largest moon, Seladon, covers the sun and shields part of the surface from harm. Ships with far less shielding can then traverse the rarely-seen surface, as long as they stay within Seladon's protective shadow. A shuttle already equipped with observation rooms for tours could easily be upgraded for the new business venture.

The Journey

Enterprising pilots quickly put tickets on sale at exorbitant prices to cover the cost of sun shielding and then some. Initially, any private citizen could schedule such tours, but Xerosian governments became concerned it was a tragedy waiting to happen. They devised a list of requirements the ships and pilots had to meet, and work tirelessly to shut down any who try to bypass or fake it.

Eclipse-Ready Requirements:

• Mid-grade sun shielding
• Monitoring for safety checks
• Tracking equipment for rescues
• Pilot with an Eclipse-Ready license

The tours that are worth the cost hire tour guides to give overviews of the sights, and many market the trip as an educational experience for science-minded children. In between facts and studies, the guides pepper in myths and tall tales of the sun-scorched expanse, including ones about underground civilizations living in secret right below them.
Despite the eclipse itself happening with some regularity, the specific path the eclipse takes varies, affecting the sights available and the cost of the ticket. The Glass City is the most desirable, but is only along the eclipse path once every 47 years. The next eclipse is April of 3230, and will cover portions of the Unending Chasm.

Information

Event Type

Solar eclipse

Key Location

Xeros

Frequency

Once every 18-20 months, standard time
Last event: June, 3228
Next event: April, 3230

Type

Natural

Sightseeing Destinations

The Stone Forest

A region of natural stone columns towering over the ground, appearing as trees.

The Glass City

A region along the equator that gets hot enough to melt the topmost layer of silicates. The eclipse cools the surface enough to solidify it into a crust of natural glass that coats the uneven landscape.

The Unending Chasm

A gaping canyon along a tectonic faultline. It stretches for hundreds of miles, and no light reaches its full depth.