There's actually a Outer Limits episode titled Wolf 359.. could be that star trek also used it as an omage to it as well, since outer limits seemed to feature almost all the original trek stars.

http://www.tv.com/the-outer-limits-1963/wolf-359/episode/21569/summary.html?tag=ep_list;ep_title;7

Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.