Description[]
Phenomenon 8, commonly known as Aterno Momentum, is a phenomenon present within most levels that possess an observable nighttime and are otherwise specified to not have Frontrooms-derived[1] constellations. This phenomenon causes the formation of an entirely distinct nightsky with constellations that usually represent an entity, object, group, or important event[2] that occurred within the Backrooms. Affected levels always have distinct constellations[3], and the extent of said constellations is unknown; some say they are as long as the level's sky, while others say they eventually cease.
Aterno Momentum[4] gained its corresponding name through, as previously stated, most commonly immortalizing important events. Aterno Momentum is ever-changing; every major action done by humanity, an entity, or likewise will most likely become a constellation of their own, given that they are significant enough. The process of which is usually done by an increased brightness within a set of stars that represent the perpetator, victim, moment, item, etc. of said event. Interestingly, some of these "astranifications" happen before the occurrence of the event it represents; the most recent of these being Incident 154.
Additionally, due to immortalizing important events, Aterno Momentum has become of grand interest for Backrooms historians, and many expeditions have been launched just to search for never-before-found constellations in order to give an outline of the lost history of the Backrooms. The oldest currently recorded constellation being "Hores," which is thought to represent a Homo Callidus killing a Hound; it is presumed that the man represented is the first to be able to kill one; it is dated over millions of years old.
Not only has Aterno Momentum been of major interest to historians, but it is also helpful to the everyday wanderer. Aterno Momentum can be used as a substitution to the compass, as the constellations present can be reached (as in they move away from one and closer to one). Further, one can stumble upon bases, outposts, or colonies since it is a rather common practice to set them up below constellations[5] because they significantly ease the burden that comes with interbase cooperation and trading and also give the opportunity of making a "road-like" system that connects various colonies together.
The classification of Aterno Momentum as a phenomenon is debated, although it is the most widely accepted classification of it by the scientific community. Some argue it is an entity that is related to H.K. due to both being related to stars and both, to some extent, changing their environment, albeit H.K. does it in a vastly more dangerous way.
Placement[]
Nobody knows why the constellations are placed where they are. Their location does not correlate to the event they represent nor do they hold any significance. They are placed seemingly in random parameters—in any place where they can fit. Many attempts have been done to rationalize their placement, although all have been disgarded and dropped under the premise of being a waste of time and resources.
Despite their placement seeming to uphold no major importance, some constellations express knowledge or guidance; for example, the infamous Smiler constellation is next to the Ignes Saleri, which represents a Firesalt, an object used to repel Smilers. Other instances of constellations of dangerous entities and constellations that represent objects that can be used to repel these beings have led many to believe Aterno Momentum gives signs on what to do on the occasion of facing them.
Moreover, an interesting occurance that the constellations exhibit is that if two constellations represent things that share a common disdain for each other, they'll be further apart. Some examples of this include The Smiler and Vulpes Lumina, Dem Soldate and the Major Eagle, and Festivum and Mask of the Crashers. Interestingly enough, Venatu Lupum, or the constellation that represents The Anti-Entity Group, is rather close to a plethora of entities, even bordering The Smiler.
History[]
Our acknowledgement of Aterno Momentum can be dated back since the human habitation of any outdoor levels, namely Level 10. The oldest record being the depiction of "Hores," found in a drawing engraved onto the walls of one of the barns.
While a book found within Level 4 contains the earliest known written documentation of Aterno Momentum, it has a cursive inscription that reads "Ad astra per aspera." The contents of the book included an throughout illustration and description of roughly 30 constellations found within Level 10, their brightness, their position, and their meaning. It is dated 170 AD and was written in Latin, the author being called Sosicles Varus.
In modern times, there's been considerable interest over Aterno Momentum, leading to the formation of the Astronomical Research Institute (ARI), which is a collaboration amongst various groups that is responsible for researching Aterno Momentum, is responsible for naming the constellations and stars that constitute it, and maps out the currently known constellations.
Footnotes
- ↑ An example of Frontrooms-derived constellations would be Orion, Hydra, or the like, although there are some constellations, such as Noviscu Auriga, that share an identical or near-identical appearance to Frontrooms ones.
- ↑ This is to name a few; it also represents levels or other miscellaneous things.
- ↑ The reason for this is unknown, although some constellations appear to be omnipresent, meaning they are in various different night skies.
- ↑ Aterno Momentum means Eternal Moment in Latin.
- ↑ Constellations do not change of position, the cause of this unknown.
Page written by Dulling
