From space, Artesia IV appears to be a fairly commonplace cold gas giant, approximately fifty-two thousand kilometres in diameter, and composed of swirling bands of yellow and orange gasses. Also typical to most worlds of this type, these gasses are a mix of hydrogen and helium, as well as some other trace elements. Orbiting its sun at a distance of three point nine billion kilometres, Artesia IV's average temperature is approximately minus two hundred standard degrees, making life here impossible outside the floating cities, apart from creatures such as purrgil and streaked velkers that are found throughout the galaxy. The planet both rotates slowly, taking slightly less than ninety-seven standard hours to complete a rotation, as well as orbiting its sun slowly, with a year on the world taking just short of two standard centuries.

What sets Artesia IV apart from other gas giants is the composition of the trace molecules that are found in the frigid atmosphere. These trace elements form and decompose at an extremely rapid rate, being stable for no more than a few seconds outside of the atmosphere. This rapid decomposition rate ensures that the compounds defy study, but their effect on most sentient species in the galaxy has been disclosed in a number of formerly highly confidential documents from a previous planetary authority. Essentially, exposure to small amounts of these trace elements induces a pliable and agreeable state of mind in most sentient species, as well as enervating the body. Previous planetary governments had taken the highly immoral step of routinely exposing workers to tiny amounts of Artesia IV's atmosphere during their work shifts. This had the effect of creating a happy and energetic workforce, which could work long hours without complaint.

When the Galactic Republic discovered this practice, there was an initial hue and cry, which died down surprisingly swiftly. The cause of the disappearance of these findings, as well as the absence of any proof that the previous planetary governments had ceased this immoral practice gives rise to numerous questions about worker safety, which have yet to be answered to this day. Artesia IV remains one of the most productive worlds in this sector of space to this day. In addition to the high industrial productivity, the inhabitants of the world have contributed widely to the system-wide art form known as the Artesian Space Collage.