Spot (Star Trek)

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Spot
Orbital elements
(Epoch )
Semimajor axis>Semi-major axis (a)
Orbital circumference
Eccentricity (orbit)>Eccentricity (e)
Perihelion>Perihelion distance (q)
Aphelion>Aphelion distance (Q)
Orbital period>Orbital period (P)
Synodic period>Synodic period
Avg. orbital speed
Max. orbital speed
Min. orbital speed
Inclination (i)
Longitude of the ascending node>Longitude of the
ascending node (Ω)
Argument of perihelion (ω)
Mean anomaly>Mean anomaly (M)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions
Surface area
Volume
Mass
Density (ρ)
Surface gravity
Escape velocity
Rotation period
Rotation velocity
Obliquity
Right ascension
of north pole
Declination
Absolute magnitude
Albedo
Mean surface temperature K
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Spot
Orbital elements (Epoch )
Semimajor axis>Semi-major axis (a)
Orbital circumference
Eccentricity (orbit)>Eccentricity (e)
Perihelion>Perihelion distance (q)
Aphelion>Aphelion distance (Q)
Orbital period>Orbital period (P)
Synodic period>Synodic period
Avg. orbital speed
Max. orbital speed
Min. orbital speed
Inclination (i)
Longitude of the ascending node>Longitude of the ascending node (Ω)
Argument of perihelion (ω)
Mean anomaly>Mean anomaly (M)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions
Surface area
Volume
Mass
Density (ρ)
Surface gravity
Escape velocity
Rotation period
Rotation velocity
Obliquity
Right ascension of north pole
Declination
Absolute magnitude
Albedo
Mean surface temperature	K

In the television series ', Spot''' is Data's pet cat and a recurring character.

It is noteworthy that Spot is usually a dog name, not a cat name; furthermore, Spot is not actually spotted. This is almost certainly to highlight Data's self-admitted awkwardness amidst humans (particularly with some aspects of English usage) and a subtle attempt at humour by Star Trek's creators.

Contents

1 Overview
2 Ode to Spot
3 Appearances
4 Quotes
5 See Also
6 External links

Overview

Data's attempts to train Spot were comical, as she would never listen (some claim that this is typical of felines; it is joked that while dogs have masters, cats have staff).

Although he was incapable of feeling love for Spot (prior to the events of ), Data did care for her well. When Data had to leave, his attempts to place the cat in someone else's care provided a source of humour. Commander William Riker once received serious scratches from Spot. Geordi La Forge's attempts to care for Spot also met with little success, as she ate some of his shoes and damaged furniture. When Data once asked Worf to take care of Spot, Worf proved to be allergic to her. On the other hand, the milquetoast Lt. Reginald Barclay seemed to like Spot and they got along.

Data created several hundred different food supplements for Spot and composed an elaborate ode in Spot's honor (see: Ode to Spot). In the seventh-season episode "Genesis", a morphogenetic disease (later named "Barclay protomorphosis syndrome", after its first casuality) mutated Spot into an iguana.

Spot originally appeared as a Somali cat, but she later became a normal red tabby house cat. Spot also changed sex from male to female, giving birth to kittens in "Genesis". These inconsistencies are probably cases of bad continuity, although the editors of the Star Trek Encyclopedia humorously proposed that Spot may have been a shape-shifter or victim of a transporter accident (depending on which edition of the Encyclopedia one reads).

In a deleted scene from the film , Spot selects Worf as her new owner, leaping into the Klingon's arms when Geordi tries to remove the cat from Data's quarters.

Ode to Spot

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In the episode "Schisms", Data recited an ode to Spot that he had written:

Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature,

:an endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature.

:Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses

:contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,

:a singular development of cat communications

:that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection

:for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;

:you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.

:And when not being utilized to aide in locomotion,

:it often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display

:connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.

:And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,

:I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

This is, of course, a tip-of-the-hat to The Major General's Song from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, though the scanning is not perfect.

Later, in the episode "A Fistful of Datas", Data had been connected to the Enterprise-D computer as part of an experiment. However, a programming error caused part of his personal programming to replace various subroutines in the ship's computer. Because of the computer problems, the ode replaced elements of a play (written by Dr. Beverly Crusher) Riker was rehearsing from his PADD and he started reciting it. At the same time, some of the replicators also began producing nothing but cat food.

Appearances

Spot appears in several episodes throughout the last four seasons of TNG, first appearing in the Season 4 episode "Data's Day". Spot has also appeared in the movies ' and ' (in which it was beheld by B-4).

In actuality, three cats have been used to play the role of Spot.

Quotes

Data is trying to train Spot not to jump on his computer console ("Force of Nature"):

Data picks up Spot from on top of his computer console and places her on the floor.
Data: "This is down. Down is good."
He picks her up and holds her near the computer console.
Data: "This is up. Up is no."

Geordi La Forge and Data are discussing Data's attempts to train Spot ("Force of Nature"):

Data: "I suppose I must accept that possibility. It may be that Spot lacks the intelligence necessary to learn the appropriate responses to my commands."
Spot looks up at Data.
Spot: Meow?
Data: "Mmm?"
Spot: Meow?
Data: "Ah."
Data takes a ball of yarn from his cabinet and lets Spot begin to play with it.
La Forge: "I don't know about Spot, but your training is coming along just fine. Let's go."

Data is confined to quarters after attacking Counselor Deanna Troi ("Phantasms"):

Data: "May I ask a personal favor?"
Worf: "Yes?"
Data: "Will you take care of Spot for me?"
Worf: "Your animal?"
Data: "I am concerned that if I have another waking dream, I may injure him."
Worf: "Of course. Spot, come here."
Data: "Unlike a canine, Spot will not respond to verbal commands."
Data picks up Spot and hands him to Worf, who is not quite sure how to handle the cat.
Data: "Goodbye, Spot. He will need to be fed once a day. He prefers feline supplement one-twenty-five."
Worf: "I understand."
Data: "And he will require water. And you must also provide him with a sand box. And you must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty cat, and a good cat ..."
Worf cuts him off.
Worf: "I will ... feed him."
Data: "Perhaps that will be enough."
Worf turns around and walks out of Data's quarters; at the door, he sneezes. Spot lets out an angry meow in response.

External links

[A Fan's Tribute Site to Spot]
#redirect