The Nine

The Nine (often represented as the IX) are the enigmatic rulers of the Jovians, the worlds beyond the Solar System's asteroid belt. They maintain contact with the City via their agent Xûr, and have formed an alliance with the Reef. After the apparent release of Skolas, their loyalty is in doubt.

Very little about the Nine or the Jovians is known due to the isolation of the outer Solar System. One legend describes the Nine but offers seemingly contradictory clues to their nature:

Osiris had met with the Nine on Europa. According to Brother Vance, "He says the Nine are vulnerable ever moment they touch our world."

Trivia

 * Corona Borealis is a constellation, known as the "Northern Crown". It is made up of seven stars, one of Bungie's many references to the number seven.
 * Heliopause is the boundary between Solar Wind and external cosmic rays, effectively the outer boundary of the Solar System. Therefore, the "Deep Black" is outside of the reach of the Sun's influence.
 * The Jupiter-Io Flux Tube is a cylindrical section of Jupiter's magnetic field line which passes between Jupiter and Io. If it were able to be seen by the naked eye, it would resemble a tube of electromagnetic force between the two. Electrical current passes along this flux tube forming a circuit between the planet & moon, which ionizes the cloud of volcanic sulfur, oxygen, sodium and chlorine into a ring of plasma which surrounds the planet, boosting its already powerful magnetic field even further. The flux tube itself boosts radio emissions from Jupiter, making them increase considerably when Io's orbit brings it closer to Earth.

List of appearances

 * Destiny