VV Cephei 2
Dbx "Alexei Leonov" NH-16DVV Cephei 2Distance from Sol: 2,452 ly
Day 2, and the Leonov continues to perform nominally. I’ve set down for the night on VV Cephei 2, as I urgently need rest.
![](http://temeraire.space/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HighRes_Plaa-Eurk-VT-R-d4-17-AB_00002-1024x576.png)
We passed an interesting binary system on the way in at Plaa Eurk VT-R d4-17. The primary was a class F star, the secondary an A class. I ended up barrelling through the gap between them scooping as I went. Luckily the ship coped with the elevated thermal conditions without breaking a sweat (literally!).
![](http://temeraire.space/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HighRes_VV-Cephei-2_00004-1024x576.png)
We had an uneventful but striking run down to the planet – VV Cephei is a red supergiant star and is colossal which means that planet 2, although in an orbit which is quite large in a normal system, is orbiting the sun much closer to its surface. The temperature is a massive 862K out in the direct sun. The scene is of baked desolation.
There is a mystery here in VV Cephei. Back in the 20th century astronomers on Earth saw this system as a binary – VV Cephei had a companion, a blue-white dwarf star. Nothing unusual about this – until mankind arrived in this system. The first explorers found there was no blue-white companion star, and to this day it remains a mystery as to where it could have gone.
![](http://temeraire.space/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HighRes_VV-Cephei-2_00009-1024x576.png)
I did make a quick trip out onto the plain before shutdown – there were no minerals or materials within range and time was getting on, so i’m back onboard now and preparing to get some shuteye.
![](http://temeraire.space/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HighRes_VV-Cephei-2_00006-1024x576.png)
As is my habit, i’ve shut down all systems for the night except shields and life support.
Tomorrow I must push on or risk being left behind.