16 Reference points: the next generation (Investigation into stardates)
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This article is from the Stardates in Star Trek FAQ, by Andrew Main zefram@dcs.warwick.ac.uk with numerous contributions by others.
16 Reference points: the next generation (Investigation into stardates)
Throughout ST:TNG stardates have increased at approximately 1000 units per
year. (In fact, during ST:TNG, the second digit of the stardate indicated the
season.) From these facts, the Chronology has conjectured that ST:TNG
stardates increase at exactly 1000 units per year. Numerous references within
the series supports this conjecture. Of course, they support it because the
shows were written with that system in mind. It would be difficult to
contradict this.
However, there are a few inconsistencies in this respect within the series.
In "Eye of the Beholder" (ST:TNG, SD 47622.1; incidentally, this is the second
of (so far) three very near title clashes in Star Trek -- there was an
animated Star Trek episode called "The Eye of the Beholder") an incident at
Utopia Planitia is referred to both as stardate 40987 and as eight years ago;
allowing for rounding, this gives a year length of between 704.4 and 954.4
units. In "The Pegasus" (ST:TNG, SD 47457.1), the disappearance of the
Pegasus was stardate 36764 and twelve years ago; this gives a range of 807.8
to 974.4 units per year. In "Second Sight" (ST:DS9, 47329.4), the battle of
Wolf 359 (SD approximately 44002) was exactly four years ago, giving a year
length of 832 to 834.75 units.
There are some other references consistent with an 833 unit year, but most are
not so clearly referring to Terran years. In any case, the vast majority of
references support 1000 units per year, leaving these other references as
isolated mistakes.
In "The Neutral Zone" (SD 41986.0), Data stated that the year was 2364. This
almost solves the problem of year calculations. The only problem is that Data
did not go on to say exactly what day of the year it was, so there is an
uncertainty of one year when calculating dates from this.
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