Fictional Moons
Fictional moons are celestial objects in orbit around a planet. Fictional moons may be desolate landscapes blanketed with impact craters or be vibrant habitats that possess the same biomes and terrain elements as fictional planets do. They may be tidally locked and may have phases. Moons are often associated with beast-like transformations that occur due to fictional diseases and may be an important part of religious and cult rituals. Moons may be representative of or be actual manifestations of a fictional god. In science fiction worlds they may contain hidden alien ruins or space colonies. Moons are home to contemplative superheroes, little alien men, and astronauts.
| Synonyms: natural satellites, orbital bodies, celestial bodies |
| Example Mythonyms: Luna, the Ninth Moon of Cev, the Dark Omen |
Designing Fictional Moons
Archetypes
Overview
Fictional moons fall into two central categories: mythological moons and moons as an orbiting body. Mythological moons are often framed from the perspective of the planet they orbit, exerting influence on events and creatures there. The phases of these moons may cause strange transformations to occur in creatures of the planet, the alignment of multiple moons may be the basis for an ancient prophecy, or their waxing and waning may influence the power of magic. These types of fictional moons are often found in fantasy worlds or other worlds where space is a soft element. The other main type of fictional moon is one that views moons less as a mythological construct, and more as a real orbiting satellite. These moons may be visited, they may be inhabited, and they may have unique characteristics independent of the planet below. These moons may have their own biomes, terrain features, and locations of interest.
Fictional planets may possess one or more moons, each with their own unique characteristics like size, color, and orbit.
Orbit
The orbital characteristics of a fictional moon may be an important worldbuilding consideration. Larger moons, or those with closer orbits, appear larger from the surface of the planet. Moons with irregular orbits may bring them closer or further away over time. Our own moon is tidally locked, and one side always faces Earth while the other side always faces away. The orbit and gravitational force of a fictional moon can impact the surface of the planet it orbits, such as causing extreme oceanic tides.
Phases
The phase of a moon may be important for events that occur on a nearby planet. Magical powers may rise and fall with the moon. Transformations from a fictional disease may be linked to full moons. Certain rituals might only be effective during certain phases.
Inhabited Moons
Moons may orbit an inhospitable planet or an inhabited one. If both planet and moon are home to sentient creatures, worldbuilders may wish to examine the origins of life on both worlds. If civilizations exist in both locations and at least one is technologically advanced enough for space travel, then trade, diplomatic relations, and conflict may be present.
Moons may contain fictional materials with unusual properties as well as off-world mines to harvest this material.
