Stars and planetary systems in fiction

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This page lists fictional references to real stars and their possible planetary systems. For other uses, see Star names in popular culture.

The planetary systems of stars other than the Sun and its Solar System are a staple element in much science fiction.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The notion that there might be inhabited planets near stars other than the Sun may be traced at least as back as Giordano Bruno, who, in his De l'infinito universo e mondi ("Concerning the Infinite Universe and Worlds", 1584), declared that "Innumerable suns exist; innumerable Earths revolve about these suns ... Living beings inhabit these worlds". Allusions to inhabitants of other stars' planetary systems remained rare in literature for many centuries afterwards. One of these is Voltaire's Micromégas (1752), which features a traveller from Sirius.

As science fiction became established in the early twentieth century, destinations such as the Moon, Mars, Venus or other bodies within the Solar System became stereotyped. Authors began to invoke a variety of mechanisms for superluminal travel and placed their stories on planets in systems around other stars, a move giving them freedom to construct more exotic fictional worlds and themes. This tendency became predominant once exploration of the Solar System made it increasingly unlikely that any highly-developed form of extraterrestrial life existed in the Solar System.

Although some of the stars named in works of science fiction are purely imaginary, many authors and artists have preferred to use the names of real stars which are well known to astronomers, either through being notably bright in the sky as seen from Earth or being relatively near to Earth.

Some of these stars appear to be unsuitable for planets with advanced life, assuming that Earth is typical. The solar system was already a billion years old before life appeared on Earth. Complex life appeared three billion years later, in the 'Cambrian explosion'. Inherently bright stars like Sirius and Vega have much shorter total life-times. Red giant stars are a relatively short phase near the end of a star's lifetime and are some 100 times brighter than the original star. Except for a few unusually close stars, those stars which are not intrinsically so bright as to raise this short lifetime constraint, appear so inconspicuous in the Earth's sky that they lack the proper names that would make them attractive to science fiction authors.

[edit] General uses of star names

Stars may be referred to in fictional works for their metaphorical or mythical associations, but not as locations in space or centers of planetary systems:

  • Oedipus the King, play by Sophocles. The Corinthian Shepherd references 'the rising of Arcturus' as a time marker while trying to jog the memory of the Theban Shepherd about their acquaintance prior to the Theban's entrusting the child Oedipus to the Corinthian rather than killing him as he had been instructed.
  • Polaris, short story by H.P. Lovecraft. Describes a lost polar civilization on which the star Polaris always shines.
  • Doorways in the Sand, novel by Roger Zelazny. Phecda along with the other stars of Ursa Major is mentioned during the protagonists' jaunts atop the steeples of Old Europe.
  • Children of Dune, novel by Frank Herbert. Fomalhaut is called Foum al-Hout, the polar star of the south.

[edit] List of planetary systems in fiction

Planetary systems appearing in fiction are:

[edit] 36 Ophiuchi

[edit] 40 Eridani

  • Star Trek film and television franchise. 40 Eridani A is the location of the planet Vulcan, home of the Vulcan species. Although this was never stated on any TV show or film, both the authorized Star Trek book Star Trek: Star Charts and Gene Roddenberry (see [1]) give this location. In addition, Commander Tucker's statement in Star Trek: Enterprise that Vulcan is 16 light years from Earth confirms this.

[edit] 47 Ursae Majoris

[edit] 61 Cygni

  • The Foundation Series, novels by Isaac Asimov. 61 Cygni (Foundation universe) is one of the planets where the human race might have originated, mentioned by the Imperial politician Lord Dorwin.
  • Time and Again (1951), novel by Clifford D. Simak. 61 Cygni is a mysterious system whose planets are impossible to approach.
  • Mission of Gravity, novel, and other stories (1953-) by Hal Clement. 61 Cygni A is the sun around which the planet Mesklin revolves.
  • Danny Dunn and the Voice from Space (1967), children's book. A modulated radio signal coming from 61 Cygni turns out to be a pictogram from aliens.
  • Revelation Space stories (2000-) by Alastair Reynolds. 61 Cygni (or 'Swan') is the sun of the planet Sky's Edge.
  • Blake's 7, television program. The region around 61 Cygni is the only area near Earth that has not been surveyed, since it is home to an alien race which is hostile to mankind, going so far as to release a virus on a Federation base via a piece of space debris.
  • Earth & Beyond, online role-playing game. 61 Cygni is a system in the outskirts of the universe.

[edit] 70 Ophiuchi

[edit] 107 Piscium

  • Absolution Gap, novel by Alastair Reynolds. The 107 Piscium system has a gas giant named Haldora and a habitable moon named Hela, which is colonized by humans in the 27th and 28th centuries.

[edit] Achernar (Alpha Eridani)

[edit] Aldebaran

See Aldebaran in fiction.

[edit] Alkalurops (Mu Boötis)

[edit] Alnilam (Epsilon Orionis)

[edit] Alpha Centauri

See Alpha Centauri in fiction.

[edit] Alpha Ceti

[edit] Altair

See Altair in fiction.

[edit] Antares (Alpha Scorpii)

[edit] Arcturus (Alpha Boötis)

[edit] Barnard's Star

  • The Legion of Space (1934), novel by Jack Williamson. Barnard's Star is home to the ancient and dreadful race of the Medusae.
  • The Black Corridor (1969), novel by Michael Moorcock. Barnard's Star is the destination for a group of people fleeing from social breakdown on Earth.
  • Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD (1978), a Terran Trade Authority book by Stewart Cowley. A fictional planet near Barnard's Star is the location of a mysterious apparition that takes the form of an unidentified spacecraft.
  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979), novel by Douglas Adams. Barnard's Star is a way station for interstellar travellers.
  • Hyperion (1989-1997), novels by Dan Simmons. Barnard's Star has a farm-like habitable planet which is the homeworld of Rachel and Sol Weintraub, both being members of the 7 pilgrims.
  • Rocheworld (1990), novel by Robert L. Forward. The Barnard's Star system contains one Giant planet called Gargantua and a binary rocky planed system called Roche. The first manned interstellar mission is send to Barnard's Star using a ship with a huge solar sail impulsed by a Laser.
  • The Garden of Rama (1991), novel by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee. There is a way station at Barnard's Star for the arrival and departure of massive cylindrical world ships.
  • Frontier: Elite II, computer game by David Braben. Barnard's Star is an important Federation industrial system with heavy mining and refining industry close to Earth and the other Core Systems. It proved to be the ideal beginners trading place—no pirates and high profits, exporting robots or computers to Sol and importing Luxury Goods from there could make you a millionaire in no time at all.

[edit] Beta Aquilae

  • SpaceWreck: Ghost Ships and Derelicts of Space (1979), a Terran Trade Authority book by Stewart Cowley. Beta Aquilae goes by its other name, Alshain, in the story "The Warworld of Alshain". The story is set on the fictional world named Alshain IV, a dying world, home to a once technological race, now reduced to cannibalistic savages living in the wreckage of their once great civilization.
  • FreeSpace 2, computer game. The Beta Aquilae system is the location of the Beta Aquilae Convention (BETAC) that established the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance.
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Eye of the Beholder" has set artwork in the form of computer screen graphics that establish planet Beta Aquilae II as Federation territory in the 24th century, home to a human population and a Starfleet training installation.

[edit] Beta Aurigae

[edit] Beta Hydri

[edit] Betelgeuse

See Betelgeuse in fiction.

[edit] Canopus (Alpha Carinae)

  • Dune and other novels in the Dune universe by Frank Herbert. The planet Dune, also called Arrakis, is the third planet from Canopus.
  • Star Kings and Return to the Stars, novels by Edmond Hamilton. Canopus is a capital of the Middle Galactical Empire.
  • Canopus in Argos novels by Doris Lessing. A civilization of benevolent beings is based in Canopus and plays a part in human history. The main description of the Canopans is found in the novel Shikasta.
  • "Where No Man Has Gone Before", episode of Star Trek (TOS) television series. A sonnet called "Nightingale Woman" is written in 1996 by Tarbolde of Canopus.
  • "The Kidnappers" (1967), episode of The Time Tunnel television series. The time travelers are transported to a planet orbiting Canopus to rescue Dr. Ann MacGregor, whose abductor left behind a metallic computer card that would provide the coordinates.
  • BattleTech wargame and related products. The Magistracy of Canopus is an interstellar government.

[edit] Capella (Alpha Aurigae)

[edit] Chi Draconis

[edit] Delta Pavonis

[edit] Deneb

See Deneb in fiction.

[edit] Epsilon Eridani

See Epsilon Eridani in fiction.

[edit] Epsilon Indi

[edit] Epsilon Pegasi (Enif)

  • Descent: FreeSpace, computer game. Epsilon Pegasi is the site of a major outpost and the location of the "Enif Station".

[edit] Eta Cassiopeiae

[edit] Fomalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini)

[edit] Gamma Andromedae

[edit] Gamma Draconis

[edit] Groombridge 34

  • Space: Above and Beyond, television series. Groombridge 34 is the location of the largest extrasolar USMC fleet base, and is the expected target of the chigs in the pilot episode (though this intelligence is later revealed to be incorrect). It is also the location of the first part of the episode "Mutiny".
  • Macross Plus, OVA anime television series and compilation film. Groombridge 34 is a possible location of the fictitious "Groombridge 1816" (Helios) system, stated to be 11.7 light years[1] from the Solar System, about the same distance as Groombridge 34 (11.62 ly). Planet Eden, located within the Groombridge 1816 system, is the location of the New Edwards Test Flight Center [2] and its major city, Eden City. The name Groombridge 1816 may be an alteration of the name of the real star Groombridge 1618.
  • Halo computer game series. The Groombridge 34 system is the site of a decommissioned construction platform. In 2531, a group of Spartan-IIs are sent to investigate rebel activity at the platform.

[edit] Groombridge 1618

  • Mindbridge, novel by Joe Haldeman. A planet orbiting Groombridge 1618 serves as the homeworld for the psi-amplifying "Groombridge Bridge".

[edit] Iota Horologii

  • Iota Cycle, novel by Russell Lutz. Iota Horologii is a setting for colonization and terraforming. It has six planets, the second, Asia, being Iota Horologii b. The planets are named after the continents of Earth, in order from closest to the star: Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and Antarctica.
  • Outre Mer, novel by Michael Puttré. The earthlike moon Outre Mer orbits the gas giant Adonis, the second planet of Iota Horologii. It is populated by human refugees, decendents of adbuctees taken by the Greys, inhabitants of the systems of Zeta Reticuli. The world is also the home of the duranni, an intelligent aboriginal species.

[edit] Izar (Epsilon Boötis)

[edit] Kapteyn's Star

[edit] Lalande 21185

[edit] Lambda Serpentis

[edit] Mintaka (Delta Orionis)

  • "Who Watches the Watchers?", episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. Mintaka III is a planet inhabited by Mintakans, a Vulcan-like race at a pre-industrial level of development under observation by Federation personnel. After the events in this episode, a tapestry provided by the Mintakans to Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise-D would be seen adorning the chair in his office or quarters.
  • Red Shift, novel by Alan Garner. The lead characters are fixated on Orion in general and Mintaka in particular.

[edit] Mira (Omicron Ceti)

  • A Relic of the Empire, short story by Larry Niven. Pirates raiding Puppeteer ships hide on a planet orbiting Mira Ceti.
  • Star Trek film and television franchise:
    • "This Side of Paradise", episode of Star Trek (TOS) television series. The Enterprise arrives at Omicron Ceti III, the site of a colony established years earlier but whose inhabitants were believed killed by radiation. Upon visiting the planet, the Enterprirse crew is surprised to find the original colonists alive and behaving somewhat oddly.
    • "Conspiracy", episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. The Enterprise secretly meets three other Federation starships above Dytallix B, the fifth planet in orbit of Mira and one of seven once mined for the Federation by the Dytallix Mining Company. It is a tidally locked planet long deserted. On its surface, Capt. Picard meets with the captains of the three other starships to discuss suspicions of a possible conspiracy and infiltration of Starfleet Command. In the same episode, Lt. Cmdr. Data names the "red giant known as Mira" but an on-screen graphic identifies this system as the fictional Mira Antlia, perhaps to distinguish it from the Omicron Ceti system mentioned in the original series.

[edit] Mizar (Zeta Ursae Majoris)

  • Enigma and Empery (books 2 and 3 of the Trigon Disunity series of novels) by Michael P. Kube-McDowell. The Mizar system is home to powerful and xenophobic aliens.
  • The Demon Princes series of novels by Jack Vance. Mizar has at least two inhabited planets and at least six in total.
  • The Heart of a Star, issue 3 of The Sandman: Endless Nights comic book. Mizar appears as an anthropomorphic star, a female made of blue flame. Mizar serves as the host of an assembly of various cosmic entities, and as the creator of the palace where they meet; she is described as having "power to spare".
  • "Allegiance", episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. Mizar II is the home planet of the pacifistic green humanoid Mizarians.
  • BattleTech wargame and related products. Mizar hosts a habitable planet noted for its luxurious resorts and vain inhabitants.
  • The Daedalus Encounter, video game. Takes place on Mizar[citation needed].
  • Sign In Stranger, song in The Royal Scam album by Steely Dan. Contains the lyric, "Have you heard about the boom on Mizar Five? / People got to shout to stay alive"

[edit] Nu Ophiuchi

  • Tékumel, books and games by M. A. R. Barker. Nu Ophiuchi is the sun (Tuleng) for the system which includes the planet Tékumel.

[edit] Omicron Persei

  • Futurama, animated television series. The Omicronians claim to be from Omicron Persei VIII, 1000 light-years from Earth. Living in the 31st century, the Omicronians receive and are fans of 21st-century television broadcasts from Earth.

[edit] Phecda (Gamma Ursae Majoris)

[edit] Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris)

[edit] Pollux (Beta Geminorum)

[edit] Procyon

  • Viagens Interplanetarias, series of novels by L. Sprague de Camp. The Procyon system contains the inhabited planets of Osiris, Isis, and Thoth.
  • Known Space series by Larry Niven. The human colony world of We Made It orbits Procyon. Pierson's Puppeteers are said to have evolved in a solar system with a star similar to Procyon (which later became a red giant).
  • Terran Trade Authority books by Stewart Cowley. Procyon is orbited by three planets, the middle of which, Sisuphos, is a barely habitable mining world.
  • Star Trek, film and television franchise:
    • Star Trek: Star Charts, reference book. Procyon VIII, or Andor, is stated to be the planet which the moon Andoria orbits. This conjecture is not supported by onscreen evidence in any Star Trek film or television episode.
    • "Azati Prime", episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, television series. Procyon is the scene of the Battle of Procyon V, a Federation victory in a war against an alien species known as the Sphere Builders. The USS Enterprise-J took part in this battle. In 2153, Captain Jonathan Archer was brought 400 years forward in time to witness part of the battle.
  • Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters, computer game. Procyon is the name of the star of the homeworld of the crystalline Chenjesu race. However, in the Star Control timeline classical star names were reassigned to stars based on physical proximity to each other, and it has nothing in common with the real star.[citation needed]
  • Frontier: Elite II, computer game by David Braben. Procyon is represented as an uninhabited, worldless binary star system.
  • Lost Colony, computer game. The planet Procyon III orbits the star Procyon.
  • Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon, video game. Procya in the Procyon system is the homeworld of the Empire's worst enemy, the Procyon Expanse.

[edit] Proxima Centauri

  • Terran Trade Authority books by Stewart Cowley. Proxima Centauri is the home system of the Proximans, adversaries of Terrans and Alphans during the Proximan War.
  • The World in Peril (1955-6), third series of the Journey Into Space radio series by Charles Chilton. At the end of the series , the Martian Invasion Fleet, including many humans who have led unhappy lives on Earth, leave for Proxima Centauri, even though they will not reach it within their life-spans.
  • Babylon 5 television series. There is a human colony at Proxima.
  • "The Birdbot of Ice-catraz" (2001), episode of Futurama, animated television series. A sign is floating in space that reads, "PLUTO - Last restroom before Proxima Centauri".
  • Event Horizon, film. An ill-fated spacecraft uses an experimental faster-than-light technology to travel to Proxima Centuri. A malfunction of the stardrive sends the ship to an out-reality dimension that could be identified as Hell.
  • Destroy All Humans!, computer game. The planet Gorta is located in the Proxima Centauri system.

[edit] Regulus (Alpha Leonis)

  • Star Trek film and television franchise. Regulus is controlled by the Vulcans.
  • Babylon 5 television series. Regulus is the site of the Earth Alliance's first extrasolar colony.
  • BattleTech wargame and related products. Regulus is the capital system of the Duchy of Regulus, one of the founding states of the Free Worlds League.
  • Descent: FreeSpace, computer game. Regulus is the greatest stronghold of the Neo-Terran Front during their rebellion against the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance.

[edit] Rigel (Beta Orionis)

Main article: Rigel in fiction

[edit] Ross 128

[edit] Ross 154

  • Frontier: Elite II, computer game by David Braben. The moon Merlin orbits a gas giant planet of Ross 154. Merlin is an ice world similar to Europa. Its primary export is fish, harvested from the liquid ocean that exists below the icy crust. Importing luxury goods from Sol and illegally exporting animal skins to Barnard's Star is a profitable enterprise.
  • Night’s Dawn Trilogy, by Peter F. Hamilton: Nyvan, a “terracompatible planet” orbiting Ross 154, was the second Human colony of more than 600 as of 2611, the trilogy’s fictional present. An important part of the 2nd volume plays in Tonala, one of Nyvan’s many countries. (See Ross 154 in the Confederation Handwiki)

[edit] Rukbat (Alpha Sagittarii)

  • Dragonriders series of novels by Anne McCaffrey. Rukbat is the star about which the planet of Pern orbits. McCaffrey calls Rukbat a yellow class G star, but it is actually a blue class B dwarf star.
  • Sailormoon manga comics., The Galaxy Cauldron, source of all life, lies within Zero Star, which is in the center of Alpha Sagittarii.

[edit] Sheliak (Beta Lyrae)

[edit] Sigma Draconis

  • Honor Harrington series of novels by David Weber. The Sigma Draconis system includes the technologically advanced planet Beowulf, adjacent to a wormhole.
  • "Spock's Brain", episode of Star Trek (TOS) television series. Planets III, IV and VI of Sigma Draconis are all Class M, capable of supporting human life, but III and IV are still incapable of space flight, while VI is in an ice age; a visit to VI reveals that the planet once supported a civilization with very high technology.

[edit] Sirius

See Sirius in fiction.

[edit] Tarazed (Gamma Aquilae)

[edit] Tau Ceti

See Tau Ceti in fiction.

[edit] Van Maanen's Star

  • A World Out of Time (1976), novel by Larry Niven. Van Maanen's Star is the first target intended for protagonist Jerome Corbell's terraforming loop.
  • Frontier: Elite II, computer game by David Braben. The Van Maanen's Star system is the home of a radical religious sect that believes in suffering as the key to salvation. Mining is done without machines, and any surplus money that is not needed to satisfy basic requirements like oxygen, food and water is burned in a sacred ceremony. The system is only accessible with a special permit.

[edit] Vega

See Vega in fiction.

[edit] Wolf 359

[edit] Wolf 424

  • The Arrival (1996), film. Wolf 424 is the point of origin of an invading alien race.

[edit] Zeta Orionis

[edit] Zeta Reticuli

  • The Silicon Embrace (1996), novel by John Shirley. A race of aliens from Zeta Reticuli influences the evolution of humanity.
  • Alien (1979), film. Lambert, the navigator, declares that the spaceship Nostromo is "just short of Zeta II Reticuli" presumably referring to Zeta2 Reticuli. The system contains a moon called LV-426 or Acheron.
  • Space: Above and Beyond (1995), television series. Zeta Reticuli is the home system of the Chigs and the location of celestial body 2063F (the Chig homeworld), 2064K codenamed Anvil, 2064F's moon, 2064R and Ixion.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Egan Loo (1977-05-11). Atlas: Eden. Macros Compendium. Retrieved on 1997-05-11.
  2. ^ Egan Loo (1977-05-11). Atlas: Universe. Macros Compendium. Retrieved on 2002-09-16.
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Astronomical locations in fiction
Solar System Mercury · Venus · Earth (Moon) · Mars (moons) · Jupiter (moons) · Saturn (Titan • other moons) · Uranus · Neptune
Ceres · Asteroids · Pluto · Outer planets · Comets
Other systems Aldebaran · Alpha Centauri · Altair  · Betelgeuse · Deneb · Epsilon Eridani · Rigel · Sirius · Tau Ceti · Vega · Nebulae · Galaxies
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