The Arrakis reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Arrakis

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The star Arrakis (μ Draconis), in the Draco constellation, is a binary star of spectral class F7V and visual magnitude 6. It is located approximately 85 light years away and consists of two almost identical yellow-white stars in a close orbit.

Arrakis is derived from an Arabic term which means "dancer".


Arrakis, later Rakis (known colloquially as "'Dune\'") is also a fictional planet featured in the Dune novels by Frank Herbert. It is a desert planet with almost no water at all, and is the only known source of the spice Melange which makes interstellar travel possible. It is native home of the Fremen.