Arachnae was the designation of a Class M planet, the fourth planet in the Arachnae system, located along the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone. It was the home of the Arachnians.
History and specifics[]
It was the fourth planet of its system. (TOS novel: Vulcan!, ST reference: Star Trek Maps)
- Its position was stated on the novel's back cover. Star Trek Maps also noted it as the fourth planet, but marked it within the Federation-Klingon Neutral Zone.
It looked like a blue and red cabochon rock from orbit. Its equatorial regions were uninhabitable, but continents in the northern hemisphere were inhabited. It had small, shallow oceans, red-rocked mountains, narrow rivers, and little rainfall. It was roughly the size of Earth. Plants included short trees, desert grasses and scrubland. Its sky was colored turquoise blue with a red haze in the evening. Two moons could be seen in the sky, one much larger than the other.
In the 23rd century, a Federation scout visited Arachnae and studied the natives from a distance.
In 2269, ion storms shifted magnetic fields along the Neutral Zone, redefining the border dozens of parsecs into what previously had been Federation space. The starship USS Enterprise was assigned to chart the shifting border and determine if the Arachnians were sentient. Starfleet attempted to convince the local people to join the United Federation of Planets, but were attacked for their trouble. Ten members of the landing party died during the mission.
At some point after Stardate 6454.5, this planet drifted into the Neutral Zone and into Romulan space. After Spock determined the natives to be hive-minded animals, James T. Kirk officially ceded the system.
This planet was also home to a species very similar to the Horta, but not as intelligent. (TOS novel: Vulcan!)
