Comet Observatory

Lore & Background

In Super Mario Galaxy, Bowser steals Princess Peach's castle and attacks the Comet Observatory, seizing its fuel source: Power Stars. Rosalina resides here as the adoptive mother of the Lumas and watcher of the cosmos. A storybook found within details her origin: a girl who lost her mother and traveled through space to help a lost Luma find its parents, eventually gathering other Lumas to build this observatory as their home. The narrative explains that when Bowser's galaxy collapses into a supermassive black hole at the game's climax, all of Rosalina's Lumas throw themselves into it to stop the destruction. Implicit in her explanation to Mario is the concept of rebirth, where the universe and stars are destined to be born again.

In Their Own Story

After Bowser defeats the player, he raises Princess Peach's castle from the ground with Mario and Luigi still inside. Later, he attacks the Comet Observatory, stealing its Power Stars. Rosalina tasks Mario with retrieving these lost stars, promising to help save Peach in return. Once enough stars are collected, she transforms the observatory into a comet, driving Mario to the center of the universe where Bowser holds the princess. Upon Bowser's defeat, his galaxy collapses into a black hole that devours everything, including the castle and the observatory itself. Rosalina appears to explain the circle of life as the Lumas sacrifice themselves to halt the void. In a post-game moment unlocked after collecting 120 Power Stars, she delivers a thank you message, promising to watch over the player from beyond the stars.

Reader's Guide

To access the full capabilities of the Comet Observatory in Super Mario Galaxy, players must collect 120 Power Stars. This unlocks a special story segment where Rosalina tells the tale of the "Green Stars," opening additional optional missions. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, a shadowy form resembling her, known as the Cosmic Spirit, appears to assist after multiple deaths. She also sends letters containing 50 Star Bits to Baby Luma to grant Mario a spin attack. The observatory remains accessible throughout these titles, serving as the hub where players can return to hear stories or receive rewards, distinct from its role in Super Mario Odyssey where she only appears as an 8-bit sprite on the Dark and Darker Side of the Moon.

Did You Know?

• Yoshiaki Koizumi wrote Rosalina's backstory storybook late at night so no one would find out about it.
• The Comet Observatory transforms into a comet to drive Mario to the center of the universe after enough Power Stars are collected.
• In Super Mario Galaxy 2, a shadowy "Cosmic Spirit" resembling Rosalina helps players who die multiple times.
• Collecting 120 Power Stars in the first game unlocks a story about "Green Stars" and additional missions.
• Rosalina was originally considered to be related to Princess Peach during early development, explaining their design similarities.