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STARDATES IN STAR TREK FAQ

PART I: PRELIMINARY MATTERS

I.1. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I: PRELIMINARY MATTERS

I.1. Table of contents

I.2. Introduction to this FAQ

I.3. Abbreviations

Part II: THEORIES OF STARDATES

II.1. The official explanation

II.2. Subjective stardates

II.3. Mission-based stardates

II.4. Modified Julian dates

II.5. Hexadecimal stardates, ten year centuries and other rubbish

II.6 Recalibration of the warp factor scale

Part III: INVESTIGATION INTO STARDATES

III.1. Time standards

III.2. Principles for the investigation

III.3. Reference points: the original series

III.4. First period of stardates: the original series

III.5. Reference points: the classic films

III.6. Third period of stardates: the classic films

III.7. Second period of stardates: intermediate, ST:TOS to TCFS

III.8. Reference points: the next generation

III.9. Fifth period of stardates: the next generation

III.10. Fourth period of stardates: intermediate, TCFS to ST:TNG

III.11. Zeroth period of stardates: before the original series

Part IV: CONSEQUENCES OF THE THEORY

IV.1. Conjectural history of stardates

IV.2. Date calculations

IV.3. Stardates in the twentieth century

Part V: OBJECTIONS TO THE THEORY

V.1. The Klingons wouldn't use a human-based system

V.2. There aren't really any stardates below 1000

V.3. The 4 at the beginning of TNG stardates means 24th century

V.4. It wasn't winter on stardate 44012.3

V.5. Riker's beard was four years old, but this system makes it five

V.6. This system gets Sarek's age wrong

V.7. Sisko said his wife died four years before stardate 47329.4

V.8. Stardate 49263.8 was an anniversary of the arrival of the Emissary

V.9. Stardates in the 30000s were 35 years before stardate 47254.1

Part VI: POINTS OF ORDER

VI.1. Obtaining the latest version of this FAQ

VI.2. Obtaining this FAQ in other formats

VI.3. Related material

VI.4. Contacting the author

VI.5. Acknowledgements

VI.6. History of the text

VI.7. Legal notice

I.2. INTRODUCTION TO THIS FAQ

There are a number of conflicting theories concerning the meaning of stardates. This is primarily because no entirely perfect system is possible. However stardates are defined, the definition must have changed more than once during established Trek history.

This FAQ is an attempt to answer once and for all questions concerning the nature of stardates. The system worked out is as satisfactory as is possible in these conditions of confusing and conflicting data. Unlike most FAQs, the sections do not cover completely separate questions; rather, the implied `big question' has been divided into logical subtopics.

Part II explains why stardates are so confusing, by describing some popular theories (and why they don't work). Part III follows its own narrative structure, and presents an investigation into stardates. Part IV describes the major implications of the system derived in part III. Part V presents a number of possible objections to the system, and refutes them.

IMPORTANT NOTE: if this version of this text is more than a month old, it may be out of date. See part VI for information on getting the latest version. You can contact the author by email at <zefram@fysh.org>.

I.3. ABBREVIATIONS

Note the following abbreviations, which will be used without further explanation:

FTB         Federation Timebase
SD          stardate

ST:TOS      "Star Trek" (the original TV series)
ST:TAS      "Star Trek" (the animated TV series)
ST:TNG      "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (TV series)
ST:DS9      "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (TV series)
ST:VOY      "Star Trek: Voyager" (TV series)
TCFS        the classic film series (ST:TMP to STVI:TUC)

ST:TMP      "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (feature film)
STII:TWOK   "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (feature film)
STIII:TSFS  "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (feature film)
TVH:STIV    "The Voyage Home: Star Trek IV" (feature film)
STV:TFF     "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (feature film)
STVI:TUC    "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (feature film)
ST:G        "Star Trek: Generations" (feature film)
ST:FC       "Star Trek: First Contact" (feature film)