This article or subsection has an associated category. | Sirius system |
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- For other uses, see Sirius.
Sirius (also known as Alpha Canis Majoris, 9 Canis Majoris, Alpha Canaris or the Alpha system) is a binary star system in Federation space consisting of companion stars named Sirius A and Shahr, located about 2.6 parsecs (8.6 light-years) from Earth, where it is visible in the constellation of Canis Major. At coordinates 0.97N 5.9E, Sirius is the location of the planet Alpha III, an important Federation colony. (TOS references: Star Fleet Technical Manual, Spaceflight Chronology; FASA RPG module: The Federation)
History and specifics[]
In the field of stellar cartography, Sirius is a landmark that was used in the naming of the Sirius sector block. Sirius is not located in the Sirius sector block, but rather in the neighboring Alpha Trianguli sector block. (STO video game: Star Trek Online)
In the treaty boundary quadrant star chart system, Sirius is located in Quadrant 0. (ST reference: Star Trek Maps)
History[]
The Dogon of Mali are believed to have been visited thousands of years ago by aliens from Sirius. In 1940, Benny Russell had a vision where a Dogon encountered one of the aliens who died soon after. (DS9 novelization: Far Beyond the Stars)
- The Dogon people are believed to have known of the existence of Sirius and its companion star.
On several occasions in 2364, viewscreen readouts aboard the USS Enterprise-D showed the location of Sirius, in the form of charts from the Enterprise library computer. (TNG episodes: "The Naked Now", "The Last Outpost", "Conspiracy")
The Federation starships USS Sirius were named for this location. (TOS reference: Star Fleet Technical Manual)
Mirror universe[]
The Terran Empire was known to send their detainees to the Sirius system. (ST video game: Fleet Command: Exodus Part 2)
Astronomical data[]
- Alpha I
- Has no atmosphere, and is geologically dead. An asteroid belt separates it from Alpha II.
- Alpha II
- Has a highly poisonous atmosphere and is very geologically active.
- Alpha III
- Has 7 moons. Another asteroid belt separates Alpha III from the trojan planet system of Alpha IV and V.
- Sirius IV
- Gas giant, has 12 moons
- Alpha V
- Has 29 moons. Alpha IV and V are gas giants that slowly revolve around each others as they orbit the star system.
- Sirius IX
- Supports an indigenous population.
- Springboard
- Centauran colony.
- Other objects
-
- Yubii
- Xigut
Appendices[]
Connections[]
Stars, systems and objects of the Canis Major constellation |
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Alpha Canis Majoris (Sirius, Alpha Canaris: Sirius A • Shahr) • Delta Canis Majoris (Wezen, Delta Canaris) • Epsilon Canis Majoris (Adhara, Epsilon Canaris) • Aludra, Eta Canaris / Eta Canis Majoris • Gamma Canis Majoris (Muliphen, Gamma Canaris) • Pi Canis Majoris (Korvat, Pi Canaris) |
Alpha Trianguli sector block | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alpha Trianguli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Algira sector | Alpha Majoris (Alpha Majoris I) • Sirius system (Sirius A, Shahr: Alpha I • Alpha II • Alpha III • Sirius IV • Alpha V • Springboard) • Lilsis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Almatha sector | Almatha system • Aria system • Caralun system • Corwin system • Santos system • Trivas system | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dorvan sector | Aokii system • Dorvan system (Dorvan V) • Andoss system • Minos Korva system (Minos Korva) • Obrom system |
Centauran stars and star systems | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Centauran home system (Alpha Centauri): Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha Centauri A) • Quindar (Alpha Centauri B) • Proxima (Alpha Centauri C) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alpha Canus Majoris/Alpha Canaris • Arabenn • Beta Rigalia • Egara 172 • Kolitor • Illex • Laxes Alpha • Leoxa • Luris Eta • Maven Parsis • Megolar • Minarcis Alpha • Molinus • Moxenalus • Oroness • Osiris • Parsus Indi • Pillas Minora • Piram • Princip • Principius Midos • Quadrix • Ridix • Sestarci 124 • Singularity • Sirius • Tarletus |
Background[]
The Chronology depicted Sirius's name and distance from Earth on star chart illustrations, but since it is a "real" star system, modern scientists know a few things about its makeup that weren't in its Star Trek mentions.
It is notable that Sirius was briefly glimpsed onscreen in canon productions of Star Trek because the production staff copied their star charts from the earlier, non-canon Chronology. In close proximity to Earth, Sirius is in the vicinity of sector 006 and is therefore a Beta Quadrant star system, directly on the edge of the Alpha Quadrant. FASA RPG module: The Federation claims this system contains two Class M worlds but doesn't identify the other world.
Star Trek Online suggests that the planet Vulcan is located in the Sirius system. A location at Sirius would be a contradiction of canon since ENT episode: "Home" states it is 16 light-years from Earth. Other sources generally agree the Vulcan system exists around the triple star 40 Eridani.
In modern day astronomical notation, the two stars of Sirius do not have separate names, particularly the secondary's name "Shahr", which appears to have been devised for the Technical Manual.
In TNG video game: Birth of the Federation, the orbital configuration of the game map star systems was randomly generated each time a new game started. In particular, Sirius can exist twice on the same map, once as "Sirius" and again as the "Alpha system".
No history or specifics are established for this location in Starfleet Command III, as its name was arbitrarily selected for a Federation system on the game map by the game software, with random attributes.
References[]
- TOS reference: Star Fleet Technical Manual
- ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation
- FASA RPG module: The Federation
- SA video game: Starfleet Academy
External links[]
- Sirius article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- Sirius article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Sirius at the Internet Stellar Database.
- Sirius at SolStation.com.