The Vulcan High Command in 2154
The Vulcan capital city in 2154
Vulcan's Forge in 2154
L-langon Mountains in 2239
Vulcan in 2285
Vulcan is a Class M planet in the Vulcan system and homeworld of the humanoid Vulcans, a founding member of the United Federation of Planets.
The planet is located "a little over" 16 light years from Earth. It has no moons, but appears to have close planetary companions. (ENT: "Home"; TOS: "The Man Trap"; TAS: "Yesteryear"; Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
Planetary features
Vulcan has a considerably higher gravity and thinner atmosphere than Earth. Its climate is generally harsh, with most of the surface consisting of large deserts or mountain ranges, along with scattered small seas. Desert areas are prone to large amounts of heat, light and electrical sand fire storms.
There are several tourist attractions on Vulcan, including active volcanos, ancient ruins, and lava fields. When Charles Tucker visited the planet in 2154, he didn't know which site he would look at first. (ENT: "Home")
Other points of interest include religious sites such as the Temple of Amonak, the Temple of T'Panit and the T'Karath Sanctuary.
Cities and regions
Land features and formations
- Fire Plains
- Lake Yuron
- L-langon Mountains
- Mount Tar'Hana
- Mount Seleya
- Osana caverns
- Voroth Sea
- Vulcan's Forge
Vulcan biota
History
- See also: Vulcan history
Tobin Dax met Iloja of Prim during the Cardassian's exile on Vulcan. (DS9: "Destiny")
As early as the mid-20th century Vulcan had contact with the Tellarites. And as early as the late 21st century or early 22nd century, they had contact with the Cardassians, Humans, Klingons, Tholians and Trill, among others. (ENT: "Carbon Creek", ENT: "Future Tense", DS9: "Destiny")
Before co-founding the Federation in 2161, Vulcan was in conflict with Andoria. It controlled the Coridan government, and had exchanged ambassadors with Earth and Qo'noS, among others.
During the mid-22nd century, the death penalty was still common practice in Vulcan courts for a small number of offences, including treason. (ENT: "Kir'Shara")
During the early months of the Dominion War, the Fifth Fleet was fighting the Dominion near Vulcan. (DS9: "Favor the Bold")
In 2374, Ishka was given special dispensation by Grand Nagus Zek to leave Ferenginar for Vulcan to have her ears raised. On her way back, she was captured by the Dominion. (DS9: "The Magnificent Ferengi")
Later that same year, Betazed fell to the Dominion, and Major Kira noted that they would now be in a position to threaten Vulcan. Shortly thereafter, Kira confirmed that the Dominion had been building up its forces on Betazed and that they would be able to launch an attack on Vulcan. (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight", "The Reckoning")
In 2375, Julian Bashir and Miles O'Brien chased "phantoms" from Deep Space 9 to Vulcan, hoping to infiltrate Section 31. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
Appendices
Related topics
Background
- According to Gene Roddenberry, James Blish, and multiple background sources, the Vulcan system is the star 40 Eridani A.
- Vulcan year: In Gene Roddenberry’s novelization of The Motion Picture he indicated that 9 Vulcan seasons were equal to 2.8 Earth years. This would make Vulcan’s year 456 ± 33 Earth days long.
- Vulcan was also mentioned as a small note on a very large star chart graphic created for TNG: "Conspiracy." It was the image behind the chair in the room where Dexter Remmick was killed. It appears to be near Memory Alpha and Sirius.*
- Vulcan was the name of the Roman god of metalworking as well as the name given to a supposed planet Vulcan, which was once thought to exist in an orbit between Mercury and the Sun.
- In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, Ronald D. Moore mentions that the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine writers toyed with making Vulcan the planet that was conquered by the Dominion in "In the Pale Moonlight". However, they decided to go with Betazed, as Vulcan carried "too much weight".
- The Star Trek novel Spock's World offers the explanation that the planet seen in "Yesteryear" and the original cut of Star Trek: The Motion Picture was the sister planet of Vulcan, called T'Khut. This theory is widespread in other non-canonical works like Star Trek Maps, Star Trek Star Charts and The Worlds of the Federation.