In James Cameron’s Avatar, Pandora is a moon. It is a fictional natural satellite orbiting the gas giant Polyphemus in the Alpha Centauri system, where humans travel to extract the valuable mineral unobtanium.
Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a tall blue humanoid species whose culture and biology are closely connected to the moon’s ecosystems. The film presents forests, floating mountains, unusual animals, and a global biological network as central parts of Pandora’s environment. The moon’s setting supports the story’s conflict between industrial exploitation and indigenous life.
A common mistake is calling Pandora a planet because it serves as the main world of the movie. Astronomically, however, the film identifies it as a moon orbiting Polyphemus. It is also unrelated to Saturn’s real moon Pandora, despite sharing the name.
Avatar was released in 2009 and directed by James Cameron. The fictional setting’s name draws on the cultural power of the Pandora myth, but the film’s plot is not a direct retelling of the Greek story.