Canaris

**Canaris**, or **the Canary**, was the name of a constellation or asterism known to the Federation in the 23rd century. It was made up of at least five stars that were objectively close together in space, not only appearing so when seen from a planetary surface as with most contellations. The planet Epsilon Canaris III was located in the region. (*conjecture based on* TOS: "Metamorphosis")

During his final voyage, circa 2120, Zefram Cochrane's disabled one-man spacecraft was brought to the planetoid Gamma Canaris N by an energy being known as the Companion, who rejuvinated Cochrane and nurtured him for roughly 150 years. (TOS: "Metamorphosis"; ENT: "Broken Bow"; *Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library*; *ST* novel: *Federation*)

## Background

### Location

* The status of "Canaris" as a constellation or asterism is conjectural. FASA and *Star Trek Maps* conflate "Epsilon Canaris" with the real-world star Epsilon Canis Majoris, assuming that Canaris is a futuristic portmanteau of "Canis Majoris." However, Adhara, the real Epsilon Canis Majoris, is some 500 light years from Earth, in the Beta Quadrant well beyond Federation space. This seems to be too far out given Cochrane's primitive warp drive, the Companion's stated inability to survive away from her world for more than "a tiny march of days," and the events that led the *Enterprise* crew to the region in the 23rd century, namely preventing a war on a known, familiar planet.
* The "explored galaxy map" as seen in TNG: "Conspiracy", *Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country* and elsewhere, displays Gamma Canaris N in what appears to be the Alpha Quadrant, near Tholian space, though positions and distances on that map are inconclusive and often contradictory. Memory Alpha accepts that at face value and places the Gamma Canaris region in the Alpha Quadrant, while Memory Beta accepts the connection between Epsilon Canaris and Adhara, placing the region in the deep Beta Quadrant. The fan-created maps for StarTrekMap.com and STTFF.net also place the planetoid in the Alpha Quadrant, near Tholian space.
* Two versions of Zefram Cochrane's final journey have been presented:
	+ The first is in the novel *Federation*, which states that when Cochrane fled Alpha Centauri, he filed a flight plan to Stapledon Center at Wolf 359, and then headed into deep space in the opposite direction. After five weeks at "time-warp factor four," he encountered the Companion, and arrived at her planetoid within about three days after that. Five weeks or so at warp 4 would only get Cochrane about 8 or 9 light years from Alpha Centauri, not that far, meaning that the Gamma Canaris region would be likely somewhere between there and Arcturus, if he did indeed travel opposite to Wolf 359.
	+ The second is in a course outlined on maps shown in *Star Trek: Star Charts* and *Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library*. These show Cochrane departing Alpha Centauri on a "farewell tour" of sorts, with his course passing through Wolf 359, Andoria, Vulcan, Lorillia, Deneva, Orion, and finally the Beta Rigel system before heading deeper into the Beta Quadrant and disappearing. It is unclear whether he visited any of the worlds in these systems or simply passed by. While the Vulcans and possibly Orions had been known to humanity at the time of Cochrane's disappearance, the Andorians and Lorillians were not, the Deneva colony would not be founded until decades later and the Beta Rigel system was a complete unknown to Earth in 2151, so this itinerary seems unlikely.
* Ultimately, while the majority of sources seem to prefer a direction towards the Taurus Reach and the Tholian Assembly, somewhere Coreward and to the west, possibly in the direction of Eta Serpentis would be more likely if *Federation* is taken into account.

## External links

* Gamma Canaris region article at ***Memory Alpha***, the canon *Star Trek* wiki.
* Gamma Canaris region article at ***Memory Beta***, the non-canon *Star Trek* wiki.