Terra Nova

Description
Terra Nova (Latin for "new Earth" or "new land") was one of the Class-1 colonization prospects discovered by the first wave of Alliance surveys in 2150. It was the second human extrasolar colony, and the first beyond the Charon Mass Relay. It currently has the highest population of any Alliance colony.

Though banded by a harsh equatorial desert, areas closer to the poles are temperate. The pace of development was modest until extensive deposits of platinum were discovered in the 2170s. This rare metal, required in the clean-burning hydrogen cells that power private vehicles, attracted a 'platinum rush' of immigrants and investment from throughout Alliance space. In the past twelve years, Terra Nova has seen a 30% rise in population, and growth does not appear to be slowing.

Properties
Terra Nova has no natural satellites; X57 is planned as an artificial one.

Given the orbits of planets Loki and Tyr, the sun Asgard ought to be a twin to Sol and Terra Nova would be about 1.3 AU from it. If Earth were at 1.3 AU from its sun, by the inverse square law it would get 59% of its heat.

Borr at six times Jupiter's mass orbits at 1.7 times Terra Nova's orbit; but since this would be 2.21 AU, even at its closest Borr does not provide enough radiation or raise enough tides to heat Terra Nova anymore. Earlier in the system's history its effects would have been more extreme.

Terra Nova's equatorial desert must have a Bond albedo comparable to that of a water ocean or lower (0.035); further, its atmosphere must hold a high proportion of greenhouse gasses other than water.

Terra Nova is a very dark, basaltic planet with few reflective clouds and high proportions of methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. As the desert's edge greens, the planet's albedo will rise, and its temperature will fall accordingly.

Plot
Terra Nova came under threat when batarian extremists hijacked Asteroid X57, intended to become a new orbital facility, and sent it on a collision course with the planet. As Simon Atwell told Commander Shepard, this would not only kill millions of colonists but the dust clouds from X57's impact, coupled with the resulting earthquakes and tsunamis, would effectively kill Terra Nova itself. His calculations later showed that X57 was on a direct course for the capital city, Scott. Balak, the batarian ringleader, claimed the destruction of Terra Nova would be fair retribution for humanity's actions in the Skyllian Verge.

After Shepard deactivated the fusion torches and fought off the batarians, X57 changed course and Terra Nova was saved, along with Simon's family in Aronas.