Aldebaran III
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Aldebaran III is the third planet of four in orbit around an orange giant star in a trinary star system. It lies almost on the galactic median, roughly halfway between the Cardassian Union and the Klingon Empire. It is only two light years from the Betreka Nebula. An early Federation colony, Aldebaran is a major Federation port world with extensive leave facilities.
The Alpha Tauri System also contains a red dwarf star, which orbits the primary at a distance of 97.5 billion kilometers. A vast trail of mineral and ice debris extends outward for millions of kilometers behind the red dwarf as it travels its circular path, somewhat like the tail of a comet, and the brightly reflective trail is a beautiful addition to the Aldebaran night sky.
The New Aberdeen Ship Yards, located on the eastern coast of Aldebaran's primary continent, is the sixth largest in the Federation and is a major producer of dreadnaught and heavy cruiser-type vessels. The ship components, assembled at the ground-based facility, are ferried into orbit and fitted in a major orbital spacedock center.
A small humanoid population of approximately 3 million Aldebaran colonists is centered around New Aberdeen, which also has a Starfleet supply center and several private shipyards. These industrial facilities provide employment for a majority of the Aldebarans. The planet is also home to the Aldebaran Music Academy and a campus of the Tri-Planetary Academy. The rest of the population is spread widely over the planet.
The native animal life of Aldebaran is generally quite simple, consisting largely of invertebrate sea life. The Aldebaran shellmouth, a slow-moving mollusk that exists in great numbers in the saltwater shallows, is widely prized as a delicious menu item and is a staple of the many seashore restaurants on the planet. Aldebaran whiskey is considered some of the finest made in the galaxy.
Reference(s)
- Johnson, Shane. Star Trek: The Worlds of the Federation, New York: Pocket Books, 1989. ISBN: 0-671-66989-3.