Kasterborous (Cas-TER-bor-os) was the constellation in which the planet Gallifrey was located. (TV: Pyramids of Mars) The Sixth Doctor mentioned that Kasterborous was made up of seventeen suns. (AUDIO: Trial of the Valeyard) When explaining where he was from, the Doctor sometimes mentioned that Gallifrey was located in Kasterborous. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen, Voyage of the Damned, The Day of the Doctor)
Kasterborous was hinted at being the centre of the Mutter's Spiral. (AUDIO: Project: Twilight) The constellation was named by the Minyans. As no Time Lord was allowed to know Gallifrey's personal future, TARDISes were prevented from entering Kasterborous after a certain date. (PROSE: Goth Opera)
Kasterbouros was also the name of the astrologist who gave the largest contribution to the "New Astrology", occurring between the third millennium and the beginning of the fourth millennium. The Time Lords appointed one of their constellations with that name. (PROSE: Short Trips: Zodiac)
Penelope Gate and Ulysses owned a summer house in the Kasterborous of another universe. (PROSE: The Infinity Doctors)
Behind the scenes
- It has been suggested[by whom?] that the design on the back of the TARDIS key (as worn by the Third, Fourth and Eighth Doctors) is a representation of the constellation, with Gallifrey's twin suns the central star in the pattern.
- The word "constellation" is used in reference to Kasterborous as a fixed location. However, the word "constellation" normally means an alignment of stars as seen from a subjective location. By this logic, the Kasterborous constellation could only be seen from one planet. It seems that Robert Holmes intended it to mean "Kasterborous Sector" or "Kasterborous System", but the term "the constellation of Kasterborous" has been used as recently as The Day of the Doctor.