Background: Geonosis, called Geonosia by some
natives, was a ringed, rocky planet in the Arkanis sector
of the Outer Rim Territories. The home planet of the
insectoid Geonosians, it was known for its droid
factories and violent gladiatorial games. The desert
world was the Confederacy's first capital, hosting its
major droid foundries. It was the site of the Battle of
Geonosis, the opening conflict of the Clone Wars.
Geonosis had a large diameter but light gravity and
dense atmosphere. With a weak magnetic field, harsh
solar radiation storms and massive sandstorms were
common, and on occasion, mass extinctions occurred.
The most persistent surface organisms were humble red
rock algae while the semi-insectoid Geonosians were
driven underground. The planet consisted of a
diminutive molten core with a rocky mantle forming a
rocky, desert world subject to flash floods that carved
great highland canyons. Water made up 5% of the
surface.
During the time of the Geonosian rule, much of the
planet's architecture was similar in appearance to
termite mounds, consisting of domes and buildings built
into caverns and rock spires. Therefore, one could easily
mistake Geonosian buildings for natural formations and
the planet to be uninhabited, a great asset during war.