Canopus Core

The Canopus Core, circa 2378

The Canopus Core and surrounding areas, circa 2385

The Canopus Core, sometimes imprecisely called the Beta Core, was a large region of space in the Beta Quadrant controlled by the United Federation of Planets, in the direction of the star Canopus. It was separated from the main core of the Federation by the Triangle and portions of Klingon and Romulan space. Much of the area was bordered on the rimward side by the Klingon Empire. Beyond the Core to the east lay the Shackleton Expanse, while coreward were Geminus Gulf, and the territory of the Taurhai Unity. (Star Trek: Pendragon; Star Trek: Star Charts; Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library)

On two-dimensional maps, the Canopus Core seemed to be an "exclave" cut off from the main body of Federation space by the UFP's tripartite borders with the Klingon and Romulan Empires. In a three-dimensional view, regions of Federation space passed between Klingon territory which largely sat above the galactic plane in that region, and the Romulan Neutral Zone, which lay somewhat below the plane. This thin "isthmus" of Federation space was known as "The Thread" and was surrounded on all sides by Romulan and Klingon space. (Star Trek: Star Charts; Star Trek: Picard; Chabon: "Notes on Freecloud")

In the 24th century, the most expedient path from the main Federation core to the Canopus region was through a section of Klingon space roughly between the Khitomer and Pheben systems. After the Khitomer Accords were signed, this became a common path for Federation vessels, typically departing from Starbase 24, and reaching the Canopus Core near Starbase 105 on the other side of Klingon territory. Otherwise circumventing Klingon space typically required either going well above it on the Z-axis, or heading down and traveling through the Triangle, a region of independent space between the three powers frequently plagued by pirates and the Orion Syndicate. (Star Trek: Pendragon; Shield of Tomorrow; Clear Skies; FASA)

The Lorenze Cluster, containing the planet Minos, was adjacent to the Canopus Core. In 2364, Starbase 103 was the closest Starfleet facility to the Cluster. (Star Trek: Pendragon; TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom")

The USS Enterprise spent the latter part of 2364 in and around the Canopus Core, until the ship was dispatched to Pacifica and diverted to Dytallix B. (TNG: "Heart of Glory", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Symbiosis", "Skin of Evil", "We'll Always Have Paris")

The Enterprise returned to the region for much of the following year. (TNG: "Loud As A Whisper", "The Schizoid Man", "Unnatural Selection", "A Matter of Honor", "The Measure of a Man")

The Canopus Core and the Shackleton Expanse, circa 2371

Coreward and east of the Canopus Core lay the Shackleton Expanse, a massive region of space that remained largely unexplored by the major powers into the late 24th century. Starfleet conducted a few cursory surveys of the Expanse's near side during the late 2260s and early 2270s. However, the gravitational anomalies and subspace turbulence of the region made starship travel difficult and exploration of the region was put on the backburner, where it remained for a hundred years. Around 2371, Starbase 364 was constructed at the edge of Federation space in the Canopus Core. Established as a joint venture with the Klingons and nicknamed Narendra Station, the starbase was to be the launching point for Federation and Starfleet exploration into the Shackleton Expanse, and remained so into the 2380s. (Star Trek Adventures; Template:SOT; Clear Skies)

Following the Romulan supernova, the Romulans ceded territory along their "southern" border to the Federation as a buffer zone between them and the Klingons. This five light-year wide zone began at the Romulan side of the Triangle and stretched along the Klingon border until it passed the Iccobar system, connecting the main body of the Federation with the Raeya sector near the northwestern end of the Canopus Core. This strip of space became known as the Raeyan Transit Corridor. (Bravo Fleet)

Above the Canopus Core, but still near the Federation-Romulan border, lay the Charybdis sector, and beyond it, the Geminus Gulf. (Star Trek: Intrepid; TNG novel: Rogue)

Territory belonging to the Vedala was somewhere beyond Sector Gamma 7 at the edge of the Canopus Core towards the far Beta Quadrant. (TAS: "The Jihad"; Star Trek Maps)

The Gum Nebula was more than 1,200 light years east and coreward of the Canopus region, deep in the Beta Quadrant. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)

Locations

Sectors

Ficus sector • Sector 39J • Sector Gamma 7 • Rhomboid Dronegar sector • Selcundi Drema sector • Zed Lapis sector

Astronomical formations

Amargosa Diaspora • Epsilon Pulsar Cluster • FGC 13 • Z'Tarnis Nebula

Star systems

Alpha Toryui • Amargosa • Amirii system • Archer system² • Beta Kupsic • Boradis system • Bringloid system • Canopus • Delos system¹ • Gamma 7A system • Gagarin system • Moselina • Pegos Minor • Sigma Erandi • Tessen • Omega system • Opperline system • Union system • Valt

Planets

Amir II • Alpha Toryui II • Angosia III • Antede III • Arkaria • Bersallis III Boradis III • Bringloid V • Canopus Planet • Coltar IV • Daled IV • Drema IV • Gagarin IV • Gamma Arigulon • Gravesworld • Klavdia III • Kostolain • Mariposa • Norpin V • Omega IV • Rutia IV • Sarona VII • Solais V • Tessen III • Tyrellia • Union III • Vagra II • Vandor IV • Valt Minor • Zalda

Outposts and stations

Amargosa Observatory • Starbase 6 • Starbase 36 • Starbase 73 • Starbase 103 • Starbase 105 • Starbase 117 • Starbase 121 • Starbase 123 • Starbase 152 • Starbase 153 • Starbase 156 • Starbase 173 • Starbase 179 • Starbase 212 • Starbase 219 • Starbase 336 • Starbase 364 • Starbase 515 • Starbase Montgomery • Star Station India

Nearby

Dinasia • Geminus Gulf • Kalla III • Lorenze Cluster • Relay Station 47 • Relay Station 194 • Shackleton Expanse • Taurean system • Theta 116 • Ufandi system • Veridian

Klingon space

Halee system • Krios • Narendra system • Outpost MZ-5

Romulan space/Romulan Neutral Zone

Dewa • Iccobar • Iconia • Venturius sector

Other

Dyson Sphere • Garidian Republic • Sector 25434 • Beta Stromgren