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Asteroid

Galaxy black reach.jpg Galaxy Portal

Asteroids are massive rocks in the Galaxy, that either drift through space[1] or orbit celestial objects like stars,[2] worlds[3] or moons.[4]

Description

They are formed through various means, including gravity binding star-wrought dust together for aeons,[5] as well as being fragments of destroyed worlds.[2] or moons.[3] Asteroids also give off huge swathes of magnetic radiation, that can mask the approach of spaceships that closely follow them. Depending on their size, it is even possible for an entire armada to be masked by an asteroid.[6a] Asteroid Fields can also mask a ship's presence, either due to the numerous asteroids' sizes[7] or if they are rich in dense, sensor-opaque ores.[3] However entering asteroid fields can be dangerous, as micrometeorites can clog spaceship engines, while ice fragments and the gravitational forces of super-dense iron asteroids can buckle their hulls.[8] Drifting asteroids can become trapped in a celestial object's orbit[7] and possibly reclassified as moons if they circle worlds.[9] However, if they do so in large numbers, then these asteroids become known as Asteroid Belts[10] and are called Elliptical Belts, if the asteroids completely encircle the celestial object.[3]

Asteroids are common throughout the Imperium, but not many contain enough resources for it to justify mining them.[1] Instead, the Imperium uses asteroids as colonies,[11] platforms for weapon emplacements, orbital docks,[4] or outposts used for its various factions, like the Missionarius Galaxia or Adeptus Mechanicus.[2] The Imperium can also weaponize them, by installing crude engines onto an asteroid's surface.[12] However when one does meet the threshold to be mined, the Imperium can establish communities whose whole task is to do so and the populations will make the asteroids their homes.[13] The Adeptus Mechanicus can also extract resources from asteroids by either installing mining installations within them[14] or by sending Mining Barges.[1]

Asteroids are able to strike worlds, either through a natural occurrence[15] or as part of an attack by an invading force.[6a] When this occurs, the Imperium has technology that uses gravity to displace asteroids,[16] as well as weapons that can destroy them. Though firing upon the asteroids can result in massive explosions, if they have highly combustible cores. In those cases, the Imperium will instead redirect the asteroid's path by striking them a glancing blow that will change their trajectory.[6b]

The T'au also colonize asteroids[17] and pirates[18] of various species use them as bases as well.[19][21][22] The Orks are well known for using their technology to displace asteroids[16] or to turn them into bases[20] and even Rok warships.[21] This can make attacking these occupied asteroids difficult if they have a metal composition, as this will prevent energy-scans from providing details results of their inner workings.[20]

Known Asteroids

Known Asteroid Fields and Belts

Sources

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