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⚫
[[File:Galactic Quadrant.PNG|thumb|right|The Milky Way's four galactic quadrants as depicted in ''Star Trek'']]
'''Galactic quadrant''' refers to the division of the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]] disc into four [[Circular sector|sections]]. The term was popularized by the television series ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' and was used in its spin-offs, though its specifications in the show differed somewhat from its delineation in [[astronomy]].
⚫
In the television series ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' and its spin-offs, '''Galactic quadrant''' refers to an area of the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]]. In the original ''Star Trek'', it referred to an area interchangeable with a sector. However, in the various spin-off series and movies beginning with ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', it refers to a system of four Galactic Quadrants, designated by the [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] letters [[Alpha (letter)|Alpha]], [[Beta (letter)|Beta]], [[Gamma]], and [[Delta (letter)|Delta]], has been used.


==Coordinate system==
==Original usage==
⚫
The original usage of 'quadrant' appears in episodes such as "[[The Deadly Years]]" and "[[The Squire of Gothos]]", where numbered quadrants (448 and 904) are given.<ref name=bjo>{{cite book|title=[[Star Trek Concordance]]|author=Trimble, Bjo|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1-85286-676-4|year=1995}}</ref> In other episodes it appears to refer to an entire quarter of the galaxy.<ref name=okuda>{{cite book|title=[[The Star Trek Encyclopedia]]|last=Okuda|first=Mike|coauthors=Denise, Okuda with Mirek, Debbie|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=0-671-53609-5|year=1999|pages=8 (Alpha Quadrant), 43 (Beta Quadrant), 111 (Delta Quadrant), 167 (Gamma Quadrant), 393 (Quadrant)}}</ref> The season 3 ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]] Writers' Technical Manual'' asserts that there are 4 quadrants in each sector (which seem to vary in size).<ref>{{cite book|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers' Technical Manual|publisher=Lincoln Enterprises|year=1989|author=Rick Sternbach and Mike Okuda}}</ref>
{{main|galactic coordinate system}}
In actual astronomical practice, the galactic quadrant is based upon the [[galactic coordinate system]] which places the [[sun]] as the [[polar coordinates|pole of the mapping system]]. The sun is used instead of the [[galactic center]] since all astronomical observations (by humans) are to date have been based on [[Earth]] or within the [[solar system]].


==Delineation==
==Four quadrants==
Quadrants are labeled using [[Ordinal number (linguistics)|ordinals]], for example, "1st galactic quadrant"<ref name=toolsofradio>Thomas L. Wilson, Kristen Rohlfs, Susanne Hüttemeister [http://books.google.com/books?id=9KHw6R8rQEMC&pg=PA347&dq=%221st+galactic+quadrant%22&hl=en&ei=lOBlTKLNN4WClAePjd2IDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%221st%20galactic%20quadrant%22&f=false ''Tools of radio astronomy'']</ref>. Based from a view above the [[north galactic pole]] and having 0 [[degrees]] (°) as the meridian directly opposite of the [[Solar system]] with respect to the galactic center, the quadrants are as follow:
*1st galactic quadrant — 0° < [[galactic longitude|longitude]] (ℓ) < 90°<ref>''[http://www.astron.nl/~leeuwen/video/dloo/JAHH9p3.pdf THE BEGINNINGS OF RADIO ASTRONOMY IN
THE NETHERLANDS].'' Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 2006</ref>
*2nd galactic quadrant — 90° < ℓ < 180°
*3rd galactic quadrant — 180° < ℓ < 270°
*4th galactic quadrant — 270° < ℓ < 360° (0°)<ref name=toolsofradio />


The 1988 ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[The Price (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Price]]" introduced the concept of four quadrants of the galaxy, named the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta quadrants.
==The "''Star Trek'' view"==
⚫
[[File:Galactic Quadrant Star Trek.png|350px|thumb|right|The Milky Way's four galactic quadrants as depicted in ''Star Trek'' with the general locations of the major political forces labeled in yellow text]]
The term "quadrant" has been used in [[Star Trek: The Original Series]] since its inception in 1966. It is worth noting that, at the time, the galactic coordinate system had only been recently standardized in 1958.


⚫
''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]'' implies that the Alpha/Beta border runs through, or is relatively close to, [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] space. The ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' attributes this decision to rationalize a line in ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', in which [[James T. Kirk]] claimed that the ''Enterprise'' was the only ship in a Quadrant.<ref name=bjo /><ref name=okuda /> Maps produced by the art staff for the series (both on-screen and published) show that the Alpha/Beta border runs through the Sol system.<ref name=charts>{{cite book|title=[[Star Trek Star Charts]]|author=[[Geoffrey Mendel|Mendel, Geoffrey]]|year=2002|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=0743437705}}</ref>
While at least a few astronomical references to the term "galactic quadrant" were made prior to the series, some as early as 1927,<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=7jkiAQAAIAAJ&q=%22galactic+quadrant%22&dq=%22galactic+quadrant%22&hl=en&ei=26pmTIrQDMGclgec2dyeBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAjiwBA</ref> the so-called "''Star Trek'' view" of the galaxy has had some influence in the field of astronomy, and has seen occasional informal use in professional settings. For example, the [[Canadian]] Galactic Plane Survey (CGPS) jokes that it is apparently "primarily concerned with Cardassia, while the SGPS focuses on Romulans."<ref>[http://www.ras.ucalgary.ca/CGPS/where/plan/ The Canadian Galactic Plane Survey - Plan Views of the Milky Way Galaxy]</ref> (Note: the SGPS is the Southern Galactic Plane Survey, based in [[Australia]]. Both it and the CGPS are projects of the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS) [[Radio Astronomy]] division.)


⚫
===Alpha and Beta Quadrants{{anchor|Alpha Quadrant}}{{anchor|Beta Quadrant}}===
===Inconsistencies in the series===
Assuming the galactic meridian runs from the center of the galaxy through Earth's solar system, then the '''Alpha Quadrant''' is between 180 degrees and 270 degrees, and the '''Beta Quadrant''' is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
⚫
In the original ''Star Trek'', it referred to an area interchangeable with a sector. However, in the various spin-off series and movies beginning with ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', it refers to a system of four Greek-letter Galactic Quadrants, designated by the [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] letters [[Alpha (letter)|Alpha]], [[Beta (letter)|Beta]], [[Gamma]], and [[Delta (letter)|Delta]].


⚫
The original usage of 'quadrant' appears in episodes such as "[[The Deadly Years]]" and "[[The Squire of Gothos]]", where numbered quadrants (448 and 904) are given.<ref name=bjo>{{cite book|title=[[Star Trek Concordance]]|author=Trimble, Bjo|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=1-85286-676-4|year=1995}}</ref> In other episodes it appears to refer to an entire quarter of the galaxy.<ref name=okuda>{{cite book|title=[[The Star Trek Encyclopedia]]|last=Okuda|first=Mike|coauthors=Denise, Okuda with Mirek, Debbie|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=0-671-53609-5|year=1999|pages=8 (Alpha Quadrant), 43 (Beta Quadrant), 111 (Delta Quadrant), 167 (Gamma Quadrant), 393 (Quadrant)}}</ref> The season 3 ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]] Writers' Technical Manual'' asserts that there are 4 quadrants in each sector (which seem to vary in size).<ref>{{cite book|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers' Technical Manual|publisher=Lincoln Enterprises|year=1989|author=Rick Sternbach and Mike Okuda}}</ref>

===Fictional delineation===
By the convention set by the 1988 ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[The Price (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Price]]," the four fictional "galactic quadrants" within ''Star Trek'' are based around a meridian that runs from the center of the galaxy through Earth's solar system, which is not unlike the system used by astronomers. However, rather than have the [[perpendicular]] [[Cartesian coordinate system|axis]] run through the sun, as is done in astronomy, the fictional version runs the axis through the galactic center instead.

According to StarTrek.com, "if the great plane of the galaxy is viewed as a clockface and the 6 o'clock position bisects the Sol system"<ref>http://www.startrek.com/database_article/alpha-quadrant</ref> (when viewed from the galactic north pole), then the four fictional quadrants are as follow:
*Alpha Quadrant is quarter appearing between 6 and 9 o'clock.
*Beta Quadrant is quarter appearing between 3 and 6 o'clock.
⚫
*Gamma Quadrant is quarter appearing between 9 and 12 o'clock.
⚫
*Delta Quadrant is quarter appearing between 12 and 3 o'clock.

⚫
===="Alpha" and "Beta" Quadrants{{anchor|Alpha Quadrant}}{{anchor|Beta Quadrant}}====
The Alpha Quadrant and the nearby areas of the Beta Quadrant are the primary setting of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. According to the ''Encyclopedia'', the Federation is largely on the Alpha Quadrant side, but with parts in the Beta Quadrant; whereas the [[Klingon]] and [[Romulan]] Empires are mainly in the Beta Quadrant but extend in part into the Alpha Quadrant.<ref name=okuda /> The ''Star Trek Star Charts'' have the Romulans and Klingons entirely within the Beta Quadrant, as well as the [[Gorn|Gorn Hegemony]], the [[Son'a|Son'a Solidarity]] and the [[Metron (Star Trek)|Metron Consortium]]. ''Star Trek Star Charts'' further located the [[First Federation]], [[Breen (Star Trek)|Breen]], [[Ferengi]], [[Tzenkethi]], [[Cardassian]]s, [[Bajoran]]s, [[Talarian (Star Trek)|Talarian]]s and [[Tholian]]s in the Alpha Quadrant.
The Alpha Quadrant and the nearby areas of the Beta Quadrant are the primary setting of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. According to the ''Encyclopedia'', the Federation is largely on the Alpha Quadrant side, but with parts in the Beta Quadrant; whereas the [[Klingon]] and [[Romulan]] Empires are mainly in the Beta Quadrant but extend in part into the Alpha Quadrant.<ref name=okuda /> The ''Star Trek Star Charts'' have the Romulans and Klingons entirely within the Beta Quadrant, as well as the [[Gorn|Gorn Hegemony]], the [[Son'a|Son'a Solidarity]] and the [[Metron (Star Trek)|Metron Consortium]]. ''Star Trek Star Charts'' further located the [[First Federation]], [[Breen (Star Trek)|Breen]], [[Ferengi]], [[Tzenkethi]], [[Cardassian]]s, [[Bajoran]]s, [[Talarian (Star Trek)|Talarian]]s and [[Tholian]]s in the Alpha Quadrant.

⚫
''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]'' implies that the Alpha/Beta border runs through, or is relatively close to, [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] space. The ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' attributes this decision to rationalize a line in ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', in which [[James T. Kirk]] claimed that the ''Enterprise'' was the only ship in a Quadrant.<ref name=bjo /><ref name=okuda /> Maps produced by the art staff for the series (both on-screen and published) show that the Alpha/Beta border runs through the Sol system.<ref name=charts>{{cite book|title=[[Star Trek Star Charts]]|author=[[Geoffrey Mendel|Mendel, Geoffrey]]|year=2002|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=0743437705}}</ref>


Of core worlds, ''Star Trek Star Charts'' claims that [[Vulcan (Star Trek planet)|Vulcan]] ([[40 Eridani]]), [[Andoria]] ([[Procyon]]), [[Risa]] and the [[Rigel in fiction#Film and television|Rigel]] ([[Beta Rigel]]) systems are in the Beta Quadrant, with [[Tellar]] ([[61 Cygni]]), [[Trill (Star Trek)|Trill]] and [[Betazed]] in the Alpha Quadrant.<ref name=charts />
Of core worlds, ''Star Trek Star Charts'' claims that [[Vulcan (Star Trek planet)|Vulcan]] ([[40 Eridani]]), [[Andoria]] ([[Procyon]]), [[Risa]] and the [[Rigel in fiction#Film and television|Rigel]] ([[Beta Rigel]]) systems are in the Beta Quadrant, with [[Tellar]] ([[61 Cygni]]), [[Trill (Star Trek)|Trill]] and [[Betazed]] in the Alpha Quadrant.<ref name=charts />
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About 600,000 years ago, the Alpha Quadrant was dominated by the [[Tkon Empire]], which is long since vanished by the time of the ''Star Trek'' series.
About 600,000 years ago, the Alpha Quadrant was dominated by the [[Tkon Empire]], which is long since vanished by the time of the ''Star Trek'' series.


====The "Gamma Quadrant"====<!-- This section is linked from [[Gamma Quadrant]] -->
===Gamma Quadrant===<!-- This section is linked from [[Gamma Quadrant]] -->
⚫
The '''Gamma Quadrant''' is situated between 270 degrees and 360 degrees.
It is the home of the [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changelings]], or Founders. The majority of it is ruled by the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]]. One of the most notable features of this ''Star Trek'' quadrant is the Bajoran wormhole.
It is the home of the [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changelings]], or Founders. The majority of it is ruled by the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]].
=====Bajoran wormhole=====
====Bajoran wormhole====
[[Image:Bajoran wormhole.jpg|thumb|The Bajoran wormhole opens]]
[[Image:Bajoran wormhole.jpg|thumb|The Bajoran wormhole opens]]
In the fictional [[Star Trek]] universe, the Bajoran [[wormhole]] is a spatial anomaly located near the planet [[Bajor]]. The [[Bajoran]] religion refers to the wormhole as the "Celestial Temple". It appears as an aperture of swirling golden light surrounded by blue clouds, which appears when a vessel approaches and disappears when the vessel enters it; it also appears when discharging a vessel. The wormhole can only be traversed by ships traveling at impulse (sub-light speed) velocities.
In the fictional [[Star Trek]] universe, the Bajoran [[wormhole]] is a spatial anomaly located near the planet [[Bajor]]. The [[Bajoran]] religion refers to the wormhole as the "Celestial Temple". It appears as an aperture of swirling golden light surrounded by blue clouds, which appears when a vessel approaches and disappears when the vessel enters it; it also appears when discharging a vessel. The wormhole can only be traversed by ships traveling at impulse (sub-light speed) velocities.
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The wormhole becomes a point of conflict throughout the series, since it permits travel between the Alpha Quadrant and the Gamma Quadrant controlled by [[Dominion (Star Trek)|The Dominion]], a malevolent organization led by the [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changelings]], a race of shapeshifters. Neither the Dominion nor the major powers of the Alpha Quadrant wish the other to gain a foothold in their relative quadrants, which explains the strategic importance of the wormhole running between them. The wormhole closes at one point, as a result of one of the [[Prophet_(Star_Trek)#Orbs|Tears of the Prophets]] being temporarily rendered inert by the [[Pah Wraiths]]. It is later restored by the discovery of an additional orb by Benjamin Sisko.
The wormhole becomes a point of conflict throughout the series, since it permits travel between the Alpha Quadrant and the Gamma Quadrant controlled by [[Dominion (Star Trek)|The Dominion]], a malevolent organization led by the [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changelings]], a race of shapeshifters. Neither the Dominion nor the major powers of the Alpha Quadrant wish the other to gain a foothold in their relative quadrants, which explains the strategic importance of the wormhole running between them. The wormhole closes at one point, as a result of one of the [[Prophet_(Star_Trek)#Orbs|Tears of the Prophets]] being temporarily rendered inert by the [[Pah Wraiths]]. It is later restored by the discovery of an additional orb by Benjamin Sisko.


====The "Delta Quadrant"====<!-- This section is linked from [[Delta Quadrant]] -->
===Delta Quadrant===<!-- This section is linked from [[Delta Quadrant]] -->
⚫
The '''Delta Quadrant''' is situated between 0 degrees and 90 degrees.

Most of the information about the Delta Quadrant and its inhabitants comes from the show ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. Apart from the voyages of the [[USS Voyager (Star Trek)|USS ''Voyager'']], the [[USS Equinox (Star Trek)|USS ''Equinox'']], the [[The Raven (Voyager episode)|USS Raven]], briefly the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise NCC-1701-D'']], and the Federation citizens assimilated or de-assimilated from the Borg, the [[United Federation of Planets]] has not yet fully explored this quadrant.
Most of the information about the Delta Quadrant and its inhabitants comes from the show ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. Apart from the voyages of the [[USS Voyager (Star Trek)|USS ''Voyager'']], the [[USS Equinox (Star Trek)|USS ''Equinox'']], the [[The Raven (Voyager episode)|USS Raven]], briefly the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise NCC-1701-D'']], and the Federation citizens assimilated or de-assimilated from the Borg, the [[United Federation of Planets]] has not yet fully explored this quadrant.


The Delta Quadrant is home to the [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg Collective]], the [[Kazon]], the [[Vidiian]]s, the [[Talaxian]]s, the [[Ocampa]], the [[Hirogen]], the [[List of Star Trek Races#Malon|Malon]], as well as many others. [[Species 8472]], beings from "fluidic space", are first encountered in this quadrant, although they are not native to this region or physical dimension.
The Delta Quadrant is home to the [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg Collective]], the [[Kazon]], the [[Vidiian]]s, the [[Talaxian]]s, the [[Ocampa]], the [[Hirogen]], the [[List of Star Trek Races#Malon|Malon]], as well as many others. [[Species 8472]], beings from "fluidic space", are first encountered in this quadrant, although they are not native to this region or physical dimension.


====Galactic Core====
==Galactic Core==


On some ''Star Trek'' maps of the center of the galaxy, the galactic core is regarded as its own area, not part of any of the four Quadrants. The Great Barrier is here and within it is "God" (the being encountered by Kirk and company in ''[[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]]''). Also here are the Cytherians from the TNG episode, "[[The Nth Degree (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Nth Degree]]".
On some maps the center of the galaxy is regarded as its own area, not part of any of the 4 Quadrants. The Great Barrier is here and within it is "God" (the being encountered by Kirk and company in ''[[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]]''). Also here are the Cytherians from the TNG episode, "[[The Nth Degree (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Nth Degree]]".


==References==
==References==
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{{memoryalpha|Gamma Quadrant}}
{{memoryalpha|Gamma Quadrant}}
{{memoryalpha|Delta Quadrant}}
{{memoryalpha|Delta Quadrant}}

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Revision as of 17:40, 14 August 2010

Template:Rescue

The Milky Way's four galactic quadrants as depicted in Star Trek

In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs, Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy. In the original Star Trek, it referred to an area interchangeable with a sector. However, in the various spin-off series and movies beginning with Star Trek: The Next Generation, it refers to a system of four Galactic Quadrants, designated by the Greek letters Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, has been used.

Original usage

The original usage of 'quadrant' appears in episodes such as "The Deadly Years" and "The Squire of Gothos", where numbered quadrants (448 and 904) are given.[1] In other episodes it appears to refer to an entire quarter of the galaxy.[2] The season 3 Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers' Technical Manual asserts that there are 4 quadrants in each sector (which seem to vary in size).[3]

Four quadrants

The 1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Price" introduced the concept of four quadrants of the galaxy, named the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta quadrants.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country implies that the Alpha/Beta border runs through, or is relatively close to, Federation space. The Star Trek Encyclopedia attributes this decision to rationalize a line in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, in which James T. Kirk claimed that the Enterprise was the only ship in a Quadrant.[1][2] Maps produced by the art staff for the series (both on-screen and published) show that the Alpha/Beta border runs through the Sol system.[4]

Alpha and Beta Quadrants

Assuming the galactic meridian runs from the center of the galaxy through Earth's solar system, then the Alpha Quadrant is between 180 degrees and 270 degrees, and the Beta Quadrant is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.

The Alpha Quadrant and the nearby areas of the Beta Quadrant are the primary setting of Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Enterprise. According to the Encyclopedia, the Federation is largely on the Alpha Quadrant side, but with parts in the Beta Quadrant; whereas the Klingon and Romulan Empires are mainly in the Beta Quadrant but extend in part into the Alpha Quadrant.[2] The Star Trek Star Charts have the Romulans and Klingons entirely within the Beta Quadrant, as well as the Gorn Hegemony, the Son'a Solidarity and the Metron Consortium. Star Trek Star Charts further located the First Federation, Breen, Ferengi, Tzenkethi, Cardassians, Bajorans, Talarians and Tholians in the Alpha Quadrant.

Of core worlds, Star Trek Star Charts claims that Vulcan (40 Eridani), Andoria (Procyon), Risa and the Rigel (Beta Rigel) systems are in the Beta Quadrant, with Tellar (61 Cygni), Trill and Betazed in the Alpha Quadrant.[4]

Star Trek Star Charts has the Romulans corewards and counterclockwise from the Federation core, with the Klingons rimwards of the Romulans. Federation territory is shown to expand around the backs of the Klingon and Romulan Empires, further into the Beta Quadrant. Other powers such as the Cardassians, Tholians and Ferengi are on the clockwise side of the Federation. The 1975 Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph also has a galactic meridian running through Sol, but depicted the Romulans as being counterclockwise, and the Klingons as being clockwise.

Although the Romulans and Klingons are shown by maps as part of the Beta Quadrant, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did not use this terminology, referring to them as Alpha Quadrant powers. Ronald D. Moore noted that the "Alpha quadrant is firmly planted in the audience's mind as where the Federation, the Klingons, and the Romulans all live so I think we'll stick with that nomenclature".[5]

About 600,000 years ago, the Alpha Quadrant was dominated by the Tkon Empire, which is long since vanished by the time of the Star Trek series.

Gamma Quadrant

The Gamma Quadrant is situated between 270 degrees and 360 degrees. It is the home of the Changelings, or Founders. The majority of it is ruled by the Dominion.

Bajoran wormhole

File:Bajoran wormhole.jpg
The Bajoran wormhole opens

In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Bajoran wormhole is a spatial anomaly located near the planet Bajor. The Bajoran religion refers to the wormhole as the "Celestial Temple". It appears as an aperture of swirling golden light surrounded by blue clouds, which appears when a vessel approaches and disappears when the vessel enters it; it also appears when discharging a vessel. The wormhole can only be traversed by ships traveling at impulse (sub-light speed) velocities.

The wormhole is discovered in the first episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is found to lead from the Bajor-B'Hava'el system in the Alpha Quadrant to the Idran system in the Gamma Quadrant, seventy thousand light-years away and on the other side of the galaxy. Due to the strategic importance of such a phenomenon, the Deep Space Nine space station is moved out of Bajor's orbit and repositioned near the wormhole.

Starfleet Commander Benjamin Sisko and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax are the first to make contact with the wormhole and its creators, incorporeal beings known as the Prophets in Bajoran religion; they are simply referred to as "Wormhole Aliens" by the Federation. It is they who provided the Orb-like energy artifacts (or "Tears of the Prophets") to the Bajorans and these artifacts are the basis of Bajoran religion.

The wormhole becomes a point of conflict throughout the series, since it permits travel between the Alpha Quadrant and the Gamma Quadrant controlled by The Dominion, a malevolent organization led by the Changelings, a race of shapeshifters. Neither the Dominion nor the major powers of the Alpha Quadrant wish the other to gain a foothold in their relative quadrants, which explains the strategic importance of the wormhole running between them. The wormhole closes at one point, as a result of one of the Tears of the Prophets being temporarily rendered inert by the Pah Wraiths. It is later restored by the discovery of an additional orb by Benjamin Sisko.

Delta Quadrant

The Delta Quadrant is situated between 0 degrees and 90 degrees.

Most of the information about the Delta Quadrant and its inhabitants comes from the show Star Trek: Voyager. Apart from the voyages of the USS Voyager, the USS Equinox, the USS Raven, briefly the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, and the Federation citizens assimilated or de-assimilated from the Borg, the United Federation of Planets has not yet fully explored this quadrant.

The Delta Quadrant is home to the Borg Collective, the Kazon, the Vidiians, the Talaxians, the Ocampa, the Hirogen, the Malon, as well as many others. Species 8472, beings from "fluidic space", are first encountered in this quadrant, although they are not native to this region or physical dimension.

Galactic Core

On some maps the center of the galaxy is regarded as its own area, not part of any of the 4 Quadrants. The Great Barrier is here and within it is "God" (the being encountered by Kirk and company in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier). Also here are the Cytherians from the TNG episode, "The Nth Degree".

References

  1. ^ a b Trimble, Bjo (1995). Star Trek Concordance. Titan Books. ISBN 1-85286-676-4.
  2. ^ a b c Okuda, Mike (1999). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Pocket Books. pp. 8 (Alpha Quadrant), 43 (Beta Quadrant), 111 (Delta Quadrant), 167 (Gamma Quadrant), 393 (Quadrant). ISBN 0-671-53609-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Rick Sternbach and Mike Okuda (1989). Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers' Technical Manual. Lincoln Enterprises.
  4. ^ a b Mendel, Geoffrey (2002). Star Trek Star Charts. Pocket Books. ISBN 0743437705.
  5. ^ Ronald D. Moore (October 27, 1997). "Answers".
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=next&oldid=378901159

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