Cyrannus

The name of the system containing the 12 Colonies of man (Battlestar Galactica video game).

It is unclear whether it is accepted as canon within the re-imaged Battlestar Galactica television series, or whether it is a single star with multiple life-bearing planets, or a binary or trinary star system.

Potential of A Single Star

While it has been ascertained through searches undertaken from both the surface of the Earth and the Hubble Space Telescope that there are a large number of planets orbiting local stars in our galaxy, most of the planets discovered to date are clssified as gas giants, similar in size and potentiallyy in composition as the planet [Jupiter] in our own solar system.

Further, it is believed that there is a very narrow band of space around a star that will encourage the formation of life-bearing planets (the so-called "zone of life"). This is a region of space where the heat from the sun is neither too hot nor too cold to prevent the natural development of life through chemical and then organic means.

It is highly improbable that a single star would have no fewer than twelve planets and moons orbiting a star within the "zone of life" for that star. This would indicate that it is doubt the 12 colonies exist within the planetary system of a single star - unless the Colonials have the ability to carry out considerable terraforming; something that is not indicated given their current technological capabilities.

Given that Colonial vessels are capable of high sublight velocities (vessles being able to travel between worlds in hours), it is somewhat unlikely that they would need to develop or continue to use a FTL propulsion system.

For these reasons, and although there has been no confirmation of this within the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, it is reasonable to assume that if the Cyrannus system is the home of the 12 colonies, that it is in fact a binary or possibly loose trinary star system.

A binary star system, with stars in the G-K spectral range offer the possibility of each star developing its own "zone of life" (and potentially planets therein), will the variable distance between the two stars as they orbit one another would potentially encourage the use of some form of "jump" drive to move rapidly between worlds orbiting the different suns.

The use of a binary star system would be more in keeping with the "reality" sought for by the creators of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, and would present the opportunity for moons to be potentially used as colony "worlds" as well as planets.

Example of a Binary Star System

The Alpha Centauri system is a prime example of a multiple-star system having a single name. This is a star system comprising two primary stars, both of which are capable of sustaining life-supporting planets, each in an extended orbit about the other. They in turn are orbited by a third star, although given its spectral classification, it is unlikely this star supports life-bearing planets.