Vulcan Planet System is Real, NASA Says

PASADENA, CA — As legions of Star Trek fans flock to theaters this weekend for the latest installation of the popular science-fiction franchise, little do they know that the star system where the Vulcan home world is said to be actually exists.

The system, 40 Eridani, is 16.5 light years away from Earth and can be seen with the naked eye.

“Could there be an Earth-like planet in this system? We have no way of knowing that now,” said Karl Stapelfeldt, chief scientist of NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program.

Though, if it did exist, a Vulcan sunset would be just as spectacular as it is in the series. That's because 40 Eridani is home to a three-star system. On any rocky planet that orbits the main star, 40 Eridani A, you would see a triple sunset, just like Gene Roddenberry described.

So, if Vulcan could exist, would we be able to see it? Not yet, NASA says, but the agency is working on it.

“We don’t yet have a way to detect it, but NASA is working on the technology to make it possible,” Stapelfeldt said.

NASA has even worked out the location where Spock's home world could be.

Vulcan would need to orbit closer to its star than earth because 40 Eridani A is a dwarf star and is cooler and dimmer than our sun, NASA said.

So, it may not be long before we can say, "Live long and prosper" to Mr. Spock.

Star Trek photo credit: Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures. Vulcan photo courtesy of NASA