Note: Much of the following was taken from Dennis Powers' Aliens Among Us articles and the works of fantasy authors, including J.R.R. Tolkien. The planet known to Earth to some of its inhabitants first came into existence about 4.5 billion years before the beginning of the Information Age. It arose like all other planets surrounding the yellow star Sol in the Orion Arm by forming from space dust that originated in a nebula. Initially, it was an inhospitable place much volcanic activity going on. The early atmosphere consisted mainly of carbon dioxide and ammonia, with very little oxygen. Over time, Earth cooled down and the continents and oceans began to take shape.