Rigel in fiction
Encyclopedia
Rigel
Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the sixth brightest star in the sky, with visual magnitude 0.18...
(Beta Orionis), the brightest star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Orion
Orion (constellation)
Orion, often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous, and most recognizable constellations in the night sky...
, is a well-known star in Earth's northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
night sky
Night sky
The term night sky refers to the sky as seen at night. The term is usually associated with astronomy, with reference to views of celestial bodies such as stars, the Moon, and planets that become visible on a clear night after the Sun has set. Natural light sources in a night sky include moonlight,...
and hence a popular science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
setting or feature.
Literature
- In Ernest HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
's The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea is a novel written by American author Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cuba, and published in 1952. It was the last major work of fiction to be produced by Hemingway and published in his lifetime. One of his most famous works, it centers upon Santiago, an aging fisherman who...
, the main character, Santiago, notes seeing Rigel at sunset in September (off the coast of Cuba), which is impossible. - In "Doc" Smith's Lensman series, Rigel IV is home to the Rigellians, one of the most important member races of Civilization.
- In Jack VanceJack VanceJohn Holbrook Vance is an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen...
's Demon PrincesDemon PrincesThe Demon Princes is a five-book series of science fiction novels by Jack Vance, which cumulatively relate the story of one Kirth Gersen as he exacts his revenge on five notorious criminals, collectively known as the Demon Princes, who carried his village off into slavery during his childhood...
novels, Rigel is the parent star to a system of twenty-six habitable planets, the Rigel Concourse. - Rigel is a planet with a robotic culture in Isaac AsimovIsaac AsimovIsaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
's Empire seriesIsaac Asimov's Galactic Empire SeriesThe Galactic Empire Series is a science fiction series containing three novels and one short story by the American author Isaac Asimov...
. - Orion Beta (possibly Beta Orionis, i.e. Rigel) is a mining colony in Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
, where miners play a telepathic drinking game that uses Ol' Janx Spirit, a main ingredient in the alcoholic drink known as a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. - The first book of Timothy ZahnTimothy ZahnTimothy Zahn is a writer of science fiction short stories and novels. His novella Cascade Point won the 1984 Hugo award. He is the author of nine Star Wars Expanded Universe novels, including seven novels featuring Grand Admiral Thrawn: the Thrawn Trilogy, the Hand of Thrawn duology, Outbound...
's Quadrail series is entitled Night Train to RigelNight Train to RigelNight Train to Rigel is a science fiction book published in 2005, by Hugo Award winning author Timothy Zahn. The book is set in the near-distant future, in an era when humans have taken up residence on planets other than Earth, such as Mars...
. - Rigellians appear in Eric Frank RussellEric Frank RussellEric Frank Russell was a British author best known for his science fiction novels and short stories. Much of his work was first published in the United States, in John W. Campbell's Astounding Science Fiction and other pulp magazines. Russell also wrote horror fiction for Weird Tales, and...
's novel Next of Kin. They are described as humanoid, rubber-limbed, pop-eyed, and consistently friendly to the people of Earth.
Film and television
- In the Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
Universe, Rigel is the name of at least twelve planets, many of which have been colonized by the FederationUnited Federation of PlanetsThe United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
. Not all of these planets are in the Beta Orionis system, and the name "Rigel" is used to describe at least one other star by some aliens. It is also unclear which, if any, of these planets is home to the Rigellians, a reptilian race seen in Star Trek: The Motion PictureStar Trek: The Motion PictureStar Trek: The Motion Picture is a 1979 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. It is the first film based on the Star Trek television series. The film is set in the twenty-third century, when a mysterious and immensely powerful alien cloud called V'Ger approaches the Earth,...
.- Rigel II, mentioned by Dr. Leonard McCoyLeonard McCoyLeonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
in the TOS episode "Shore Leave" as home to a cabaret where he met a couple of chorus girls. - Rigel III, mentioned in TNGStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "All Good Things...." - Rigel IV, mentioned in the TOSStar Trek: The Original SeriesStar Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
episode "Wolf in the Fold." - Rigel IV, mentioned in the DS9Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode "The WireThe WIREthe WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
." - Rigel V, mentioned in TOS episode "Journey to Babel;" Dr. McCoy notes that the natives of Rigel V have a VulcanVulcan (Star Trek)Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
-like physiology. - Rigel VII, mentioned in TOS episodes "The Cage" and "The Menagerie," as home to a race of humanoid barbarians who are not allied with the Federation, at least not as of the time of the episode.
- Rigel VII, mentioned in DS9 episode, "The Passenger".
- Rigel X, featured in EnterpriseStar Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
episodes "Broken Bow" and "These Are the Voyages...." The planet is relatively close to Earth. - "Rigel IX" Mentioned in "Drones" as site of infamous interplanetary war
- Rigel II, mentioned by Dr. Leonard McCoy
-
- Rigel XII, featured in the TOS episode "Mudd's Women."
- In The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
universe, Rigel IV is the home of Kang and Kodos. By "an astonishing coincidence," the spoken Rigelian language is identical to EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. It is also mentioned in the Simpsons episode "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky"Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" is the sixteenth episode of the fourteenth season of The Simpsons that aired March 30, 2003. The title is a punning reference to the line " 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky" from the song "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix....
". In the Season 9The Simpsons (season 9)The Simpsons ninth season originally aired between September 1997 and May 1998, beginning on Sunday, September 21, 1997 with "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson". The show runner for the ninth production season was Mike Scully...
episode "Simpson TideSimpson Tide"Simpson Tide" is the nineteenth episode of The Simpsons ninth season and originally aired on the Fox network on March 29, 1998. After being fired from the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Homer decides to join the United States Navy Reserve...
", a passing reference to Rigel VII is made, along with a parody of Star Trek: TOSStar Trek: The Original SeriesStar Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
helmsman Hikaru SuluHikaru SuluHikaru Sulu is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by George Takei in the original Star Trek series, Sulu also appears in the animated Star Trek series, the first six Star Trek movies, one episode of Star Trek: Voyager, and in numerous books, comics, and video games...
. - In the cartoon series Bucky O'HareBucky O'HareBucky O'Hare is a fictional character and the hero of an eponymous comic book series as well as spin-off media including an animated TV series and various toys and video games...
, Rigel V is a planet inhabited by anthropomorphic koalaKoalaThe koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
s. - Rigel IV referenced in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Plot to Kill a City.
- Rigel III is mentioned in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a 2007 American superhero film, and the sequel to the 2005 film Fantastic Four. Both films are based on the Fantastic Four comic book and were directed by Tim Story...
as one of the planets that had been destroyed by Galactus. - Rigel IX was referenced as having some sort of uprising that required the attention of Green Lantern John Stewart in the Justice League animated series.
- In the TV animated space westernSpace westernSpace Western is a subgenre of science fiction, primarily grounded in film and television programming, that transposes themes of American Western books and film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers; it is the complement of the science fiction Western, which transposes science fiction themes...
BraveStarrBravestarrBraveStarr is an American space Western animated television series. The original episodes aired from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. It was created simultaneously with a collection of action figures. BraveStarr was the last animated series produced by Filmation and Group W...
, the hulking, 14-ton, green-skinned bartender and former space pirate Handlebar is a Rigelian. - Rigel is the name of one of the 4 horses in Ben Hur (along with Antares, Aldebaran, and Altair, all named for their respective stars)
- The FarscapeFarscapeFarscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment...
character Dominar Rygel XVI, however, has no apparent connection to the star, other than the homophony of their names.
Comics and anime
- In the universe of Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, the RigelliansRigellians (Marvel Comics)The Rigellians, also known as the Colonizers of Rigel, are a scientifically and technologically advanced alien race in the fictional Marvel Comics Universe, devoted towards amassing an empire via colonization. They are native to Rigel-3 the third planet orbiting the star Rigel in the Milky Way Galaxy...
(short, large-headed humanoids) are rulers of the largest and most powerful interplanetary empire in the Milky WayMilky WayThe Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
galaxy, and possess vast mental powers. The thunder god ThorThor (Marvel Comics)Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
has frequently become involved in their activities, and gained a promise from them to not invade Earth if he defeated their greatest enemy, Ego the Living Planet. - In the TransformersTransformersA transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
universe, Rigel is home to Rorza, the Rocket-Cycle Racer from Rigel III. - In the edited FUNimationFunimation EntertainmentFunimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
dub of Dragon Ball Z, VegetaVegetais a fictional character and antihero in the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama. Vegeta first appeared in the manga chapter #204 first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on December 19, 1988, and in episode 5 of its anime adaptation Dragon Ball Z...
mentions that the technique used to create an artificial moon was invented by Goku's father, Bardock while on Rigel VII, as Oozarus were needed to combat the "radical" weaponry. - In the comic MontyMonty (comic strip)Monty is an American comic strip created, written and illustrated by cartoonist Jim Meddick.-Robotman:The comic strip began as Robotman in 1985. It originally depicted the exploits of a small robot who believed he was an extraterrestrial visiting Earth, living with the ordinary Milde family...
(formerly known as RobotmanRobotmanRobotman may refer to:*Robotman , a DC Comics superhero and member of the Doom Patrol*Robotman , a Golden Age DC Comics superhero and a member of the All-Star Squadron...
), Monty's alien friend Dave-7, formerly known as Mr. Pi, is an alien from Rigel and serves as Monty’s straight man
Games
- Rescue at RigelRescue at RigelRescue at Rigel is a 1980 science fiction computer role-playing game written and published by Automated Simulations , and later branded as part of the Starquest series. The game was released for the Apple II, DOS, as a PC Booter, TRS-80, VIC-20, and Atari 8-bit...
(1980), computer game. Takes place in the Rigel system. - The 1987 text adventureInteractive fictionInteractive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literary narratives and as video games. In common usage, the term refers to text...
Rigel's RevengeRigel's RevengeRigel's Revenge is a text adventure published in 1987 for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum home computers by Mastertronic on their "Bulldog" label...
takes place amid a civil war on the fictional planet Rigel V. - In Duke Nukem IIDuke Nukem IIDuke Nukem II is a platform game developed by Apogee Software and released December 3, 1993. The game consists of four episodes , the first available as shareware...
, Earth is invaded by the Rigelatins. - In Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters, Beta Orionis is the homeworld of the joke obsessed, blob-like Umgah race. However, it is interesting to note that both "Beta Orionis" and "Rigel" are not one and the same in game: the star named Rigel is in fact quite a distance away from the Orionis star group, because, as the paper starmap that comes with the game explains, stars in HyperSpace have been given arbitrary designations, mostly based on existing names. Exploration of the in-game Rigel will result in an encounter with a Zoq-Fot-Pik scout ship.
- Frontier: Elite II and Frontier: First Encounters, computer game series. Rigel is a distant, uninhabited star system.
- In the original Escape Velocity, Rigel was a central hub for the Confederacy in the battle between the Rebellion and Confederacy. Rigel was located equidistant from Sirius on the EV Map. Sirius is located about 8 light years away, while Rigel is about 777 light years.
- In the MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Pardus, Rigel is a Homeworld sector in the Empire Pardus Contingent.- In the Ace combat X2 joint assualt The Rigel (The Player`s allied Squadron) helps the Player (Antares) then betray the Player.
- For other fictional uses not directly connected with the star, see Rigel (disambiguation)Rigel (disambiguation)Rigel can mean:* Rigel, a blue supergiant star in the Orion constellation also known as Beta Orionis, distance 773 light-years* Rigil Kentaurus, a Sun-like star in the Centaurus constellation also known as Alpha Centauri A, distance only about 4.37 light-years* Rigel , the megalyrid wasp genus from...
.