- For other uses, see Dyson.
- This article is about the concept of a Dyson sphere. You may be looking for the Dyson Sphere discovered by Starfleet.
A Dyson sphere is a construct built enclosing a stellar body, with the benefit or intention of harnessing the entire energy output of the star. The expansive distances required to make this structure viable allow for a very large surface area, which, if properly designed, can be capable of supporting life. Gravity (through the mass of the structure, or by artificial mechanics) would essentially pull everyone 'down' towards the hull and away from the star. Topsoil, and atmosphere would most likely be present between the hull of the sphere and the star. (TNG episode: "Relics")
Such a structure as a Dyson sphere would have an internal surface many times the size of all 24th century Federation planets combined. The Federation did not have the technology at the time to create such a construction.
History
The Dyson Sphere was first theorized by Freeman Dyson.
In 2269, the USS Enterprise located a Dyson sphere called Lyra headed towards a black hole. (TOS novel: The Starless World)
Federation astronomical surveys received infrared signatures that were presumed to be from Dyson Spheres. (TNG video game: Echoes From the Past)
The USS Jenolen crashed on the surface of a Dyson sphere in 2294. In 2369, the USS Enterprise-D discovered the Dyson sphere. (TNG episode: "Relics") This Dyson sphere was located in the Beta Quadrant. (DS9 reference: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual)
Miles O'Brien underwent a telepathic "engineer's nightmare" in which he wandered along a sandy desert surface inside one. As for what seemed months, if not years. This illusion was brought on by the Pah-wraith aliens that targeted his fragile, vulnerable psyche from his previous Argrathi incarceration. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Millennium; DS9 episode: "Hard Time")
One type of Dyson Sphere would appear to be of different dimensions, as when one falls from the 'top' of the inside of this sphere, gravity pulls that person to the 'bottom' of the sphere rather than to the hull. Also, in this case, a Romulan cloaking device may have been used to hide the sphere, but the gravity well it created would be quite noticeable. (NF novel: Double or Nothing)
The USS Titan stumbled upon the planet of New Erigol, which the inhabitants had attempted to hide using a Dyson sphere like construct around both the planet and the star. Although the covering eliminated visible output from either, it still allowed high energy pulses to escape, allowing for its detection. (ST - Destiny novel: Gods of Night)
In the 25th century, two Dyson spheres were discovered when the Romulan Republic and her allies activated a series of Iconian Gateways in the Tau Dewa sector block. The first of these, christened the Solanae Dyson sphere after the race that created it, was located just inside the Delta Quadrant. The second, the Jenolan Dyson sphere, had originally been located in the Alpha Quadrant but had relocated itself to a new position deep within the Delta Quadrant. When the latter became accessible via another Iconian gateway within the Solanae sphere, it became the base of operations for the Delta Alliance in their efforts to explore this largely unknown region of the galaxy.
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External links
- Dyson sphere article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Dyson sphere article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.