#alpha quadrant

Class: unknown

Quadrant: Alpha

Atmosphere: oxygen/nitrogen, fog bound

Native life: none

Appearance: TOS: "Catspaw" (1967)

Fun fact: two Old Ones from another galaxy used Pyris VII as an outpost to observe life in our part of the universe. They took human form and constructed a castle to use as their base.

Another fun fact: for whatever reason, they decided to theme their environment around old horror chicanery, almost as if they were theming it for a Hallowe'en broadcast.

AKA: Ferasa Prime, Ferasa III

Class: M

Quadrant: Alpha

Location: Ferasa system, Ferasa sector

Inhabitants: Ferasans, Caitians

Affiliation: Klingon Empire

Appearance: Star Trek Online

Fun fact: Ferasa was the original homeworld of the Caitians. In the 17th century, they genetically augmented a new race who took over the planet and kicked them out.

Another fun fact: in the STO timeline, the Ferasans joined the Klingon Empire by the 25th century.

AKA: Cygnus IV, Alpha Cygni IV

Class: M

Quadrant: Alpha

Inhabitants: Bandi

Landmarks: Farpoint Station

Affiliation: United Federation of Planets (pending)

Distance from Earth: 2600 ly

Appearance: TNG "Encounter at Farpoint" (1987)

Fun fact: the Bandi petitioned to join the Federation in 2364, inviting Starfleet to use their incredibly advanced Farpoint Station as a starbase. However, Fairpoint was actually a captured, shapeshifting spaceborne organism.

Another fun fact: Picard and the Enterprise-D crew freed the creature but pledged Federation help in building a station and working towards membership.

Class: M

Quadrant: Alpha

Location: Alpha Honorus system, adjacent sector to Janus system

Inhabitants: no sentient life, but it is home to everyone's favourite space dog

First visited: 2266

Appearance: TOS "The Enemy Within" (1966)

Fun fact: this planet sported a magnetic ore that messed up the transporter beam, splitting the subject into meek and aggressive duplicates.

Another fun fact: at night, temperatures on the surface drop to -120°C.

Fun fact 3: by the 24th century, Alfa 177 space dogs have become popular pets. Zips from Star Trek Scouts is one.

Class: M

Quadrant: Alpha

Primary: Beta Veldonna (Beta Zeta)

AKA: Beta Zeta V, Cyndriel

Moons: Three (Avandar, Merandar, Kaylandar)

Inhabitants: Betazoids

Capital: Rixx

Affiliation: United Federation of Planets

First appearance: TNG "Menage à Troi" (1990)

Fun fact: home of the highly telepathic Betazoids, who joined the UFP in the 23rd century.

Fearful fact: invaded and occupied by the Jem'Hadar in 2375 during the Dominion War.

Even fearfuller fact: Caitians used to hunt and eat Betazoids, but they promise they don't do that anymore.

The Cairn

The Cairn, from the planet Vair in the Cairna/Visium system, are extremely specialised telepaths who have gone without speech for so long they've lost their vocal cords. They communicate by sending images rather than words, and have no concept of privacy.

The Cairn began to make exchanges with the Federation in the 2360s, helped by technology that allowed them to learn to speak. The bulgy bit above their ears is apparently their enormous brains straining against the side of the heads.

The Mizarians

Sometimes called the Mizar, these crinkly-faced chaps come from Mizar II in the quadruple star system Mizar, AKA Zeta Ursae Majoris, 83 light years away in the Plough asterism, or Big Dipper.

The Mizarians are total pacifists, having been conquered six times between the 21st and 24th centuries, including by the Minosians, offering no resistance whatsoever. They'd probably get on well with the Tivolians from Doctor Who.