Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Orions

The Orions, as species, have existed before even day one of Star Trek, but it took until 2023 for us to get our first proper look at their homeworld in Something Borrowed, Something Green of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Fine place for a wedding, if you can find it, the exact cosmic location of the planet Orion has provided some room for differing opinions over the years.

For example, 1980's Star Trek Maps states that Rigel (or Beta Orionis) VIII is "also known as Orion". The 2003 Aliens module from Decipher's Star Trek Roleplaying Game, on the other hand, notes (with caveat) that "Orions claim […] planet Rigel VII in the Beta Quadrant as their homeworld". Star Trek: Online's official wiki for the Orions also gives Rigel VII as "planet of origin".

It is now generally accepted, however, that Orion can be found orbiting Pi³ Orionis, as given in the reference work Star Trek: Star Charts (2002). Like Rigel, Pi³ Orionis (or 'Tabit' from the Arabic) is a real-world star in the constellation Orion (part of Orion's Shield). Whereas the real Rigel is about 860 light-years from our sun, Pi³ Orionis is a lot closer, at about 26 light-years away. In canon, and on screen, "Pi³ Orionis (Orion)" then appeared, for example, on the galactic map behind Spock in the ready room scene of the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode Strange New Worlds.