Tau Ceti was a star with an associated planetary system, part of the Cetus constellation as viewed from Earth. It was located approximately 11.8 light-years from Sol in Sector 004 of the Alpha Quadrant. Three of the system's planets were inhabited Class M worlds; it was the home system of the Kaferian species, and several Earth colonies were established in the system prior to the 2150s. During the 23rd and 24th centuries, it was one of the Federation's core systems. (Star Trek: Star Charts; The Worlds of the Federation; ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; TNG: "Conspiracy", et. al)
There was a great deal of interplanetary debris in the system, making space travel a challenge. Starfleet would see it as an ideal location to train pilots and flight controllers, as well as a proving ground for small craft. (The Worlds of the Federation; VOY novel: Mosaic)
Tau Ceti was the intended destination of the SS Botany Bay when it launched from Earth in 1996. (TOS: "Space Seed"; Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel: Seeds of Dissent)
In the pre-Federation era, Tau Ceti was considered neutral territory between the Confederacy of Vulcan and the Andorian Empire. The two powers signed the Tau Ceti Accords there in the 2190s. (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem")
The system was well known to humans in the 22nd century, and was frequently visited by Earth Cargo Service vessels. By the 2150s, Earth had established a colony on Tau Ceti IV. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing)
During the Earth-Romulan War, the system was captured by Romulan forces in the Battle of Tau Ceti. The colony on Tau Ceti IV was obliterated, and the Kaferians only survived by escaping into hibernation underground. Admiral Valdore's victory gave the Romulan Star Navy a forward operating base less than a dozen light years from Earth. The Romulans withdrew from Tau Ceti at the end of the war, and the colony was eventually rebuilt. (ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing)
- In the mirror universe, Tau Ceti was a rebel stronghold, and the Terran Empire lost a fleet of 12 ships in battle there in 2155. (ENT: ""In a Mirror Darkly, Part I")
One account of the disappearance of the Columbia gave her last reported position as near Tau Ceti in 2256. (Ships of the Line)
Over a century later, in 2268, the USS Enterprise engaged a Romulan vessel near Tau Ceti, defeating it by use of a Cochrane deceleration maneuver. (TOS: "Whom Gods Destroy")
In 2367, Dr. Beverly Crusher once mistook Tau Ceti for Tau Alpha C while under a great deal of stress. (TNG: "Remember Me")
System data[]
- Tau Ceti (primary)
- Tau Ceti I
- Tau Ceti II (Class M, inhabited)
- Tau Ceti III / Kaferia (Class M, Kaferian homeworld)
- Tau Ceti IV (Class M, human colony)
- Unless there is a fourth Class M planet in the system, one of these worlds, most likely Tau Ceti IV, is also referred to as Tau Ceti Prime. (VOY: "Coda"; VOY novel: Mosaic)
- Tau Ceti Deep Space Station (TNG: "Inheritance")
External links[]
- Tau Ceti article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Tau Ceti article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Tau Ceti article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.