Stardate how does it work?

[DougDoug]

Can anybody explain to me how they work out stardates in star trek.

Thanks

[Pastor Of Muppets]

Stardate
System for time measurement commonly used in the Federation, resulting in a continuous date instead of e.g. DD:MM:YY format. Stardates are in use at least since the 23rd century (TOS, movies, TNG, VOY, DS9).
The stardate obviously serves as a common standard within the Federation, taking into consideration different day and year durations on different planets that would make such references useless if applied to other planets. The system of stardates has been the subject of extensive discussions throughout the years. Originally, the stardate possibly refers to the Julian Date, which was introduced for easy calculation of time differences for astronomy and consists in a continuous day count. The stardate used in Star Trek, however, exhibits many inconsistencies, in particular concerning the differences between the new 5-digit stardates in the 24th century and the 4-digit scheme in the 23rd century. The 24th century system is quite easy, because an increase of 1000 corresponds to one year or one season of a TNG, DS9 or Voyager production, but the TOS stardates do not fit into this system. Most likely we have to accept the fact that a new system has been introduced in the 24th century.

from Ex Astris Scientia

[the Fifth Race]

Here is a little more detailed explanation......

Stardate
A chronometer, 2266The stardate is a comprehensive futuristic calendar system used in the Federation and other races and organizations within our galaxy. This system of time allows planets and outposts that are light years apart and starships traveling at near-relativistic velocities to keep track of a unified time base despite local and unforeseen changes in the speed at which time passes. The stardate system was introduced in the Federation sometime between 2161 and 2265.

Stardate units standardize time measurement between various cultures, worlds and races. It has little relationship to Earth's time as we know it; one hour aboard a starship at different warp speeds may equal many Earth hours. Stardates are calculated through a complicated equation that takes into account relativistic effects, universal expansion and the effects of gravity on time and space. Every so often the stardate system has to be updated to take into account the expansion of space or other natural effects. Starfleet vessels did this by contacting a nearby Starfleet time beacon and adjusting their internal chronometer. (TNG: "Cause and Effect")

Stardates were in use as far back as the 2150s, although Earth had not yet adopted the system. Among the species who did utilize stardates at the time were the Xindi. In 2154, Degra, a Xindi-Primate, sent a coded message to Enterprise containing a stardate for when Enterprise should rendezvous with Degra's ship at specified coordinates, which were also contained within the message. Vulcans also seemed to have an understanding for stardates at that time, as T'Pol was able to calculate that the given stardate was three days away. (ENT: "Damage")

In the 24th century, approximately one thousand (1,000) stardate units pass for every Earth year, although there are variations in the system at some points in the timeline. (Star Trek: The Next Generation; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Star Trek: Voyager)

In an alternate timeline, the combat date replaced the stardate as the dating system used by Starfleet during their war with the Klingon Empire. This was indicative of the militaristic nature of Starfleet in this timeline. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

Background
According to Gene Roddenberry, stardates were created to avoid placing the events of the original series within a specific year. At present, no canonical information exists regarding how the stardate system works. According to Roddenberry in The Making of Star Trek, however, stardates adjust for shifts in relative time which occur due to the vessel's speed and space warp capability. Stardates specified, in a log entry for example, must be computed against the speed of the vessel, the space warp factor, and its position within our galaxy in order to give a meaningful reading when read back.

Sometimes stardates pass with little rhyme or reason, since they are simply manufactured by the show's creative personnel and not intended to be analyzed for any type of pattern. Gene Roddenberry and many other members of the production staff maintained that perceived irregularities in stardates stem from our own lack of understanding of subspace physics and space warp factors.

In the original Star Trek, stardates were usually four digits long. To show the passage of time, the producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation decided to use five-digit stardates. They chose to begin the stardate with the number 4, chosen because the program was set during the 24th century. The next digit signified the season of TNG (so TNG Season 1 episodes had stardates 41xxx.x, Season 2 had stardates 42xxx.x, and so forth). The remaining digits increased gradually over the course of the season, from xx000.0 to xx999.9. Under this system, 1000 stardate "units" were equal to one year. Stardate 41986.0 occurred during the year 2364 which would mean the origin of the stardate system was around the year 2322. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager continued the TNG format, so that DS9's stardates ranged from 46379.1 to 52861.3, and Voyager's stardates ranged from 48315.6 to 54973.4. Star Trek Nemesis, the latest Star Trek story in the 24th century, had a stardate of 56844.9, showing that it took place 15 years after the first season of TNG. The Khitomer Massacre occurred on SD 23859.7, 18 years before the first season, making it the earliest mentioned stardate in the 24th century. (TNG: "Sins of the Father")

Finally, it has been suggested by some sources that the final digit of a stardate (following the decimal place) represents one-tenth of a 24-hour day - for example the TNG Bible claims that "the digit following the decimal point may be regarded as a day counter". It is not clear how this can be reconciled with the notion that 1000 stardate units are equal to one year. If 1000 stardates equal one year, then one stardate unit should represent approximately 8 hours and 46 minutes. Although the vast majority of stardates are given with only one digit following the decimal point, the captain's log in TNG: "Code of Honor" is recorded with two digits (41235.25 and 41235.32) and other references have two, three or even four digits, as in VOY: "Relativity", when Seven of Nine travels back in time from 52861.274 to 49123.5621.

Inconsistencies
There have been many inconsistencies with stardates throughout all of the Star Trek series. Examples include:

In TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the stardates within the episode progress by 1.4, from 1312.4 to 1313.8, in what could not be more than a few days, yet the stardates of the births of three crew members are given as 1087.7, 1089.5 and 1277.1. Kirk's birth is only 35.3 stardates before his first captain's log, about one for every year of his life.

In TNG: "Skin of Evil" where Tasha Yar is killed off, the stardate of 41601.3 is given. In the previous TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom", a stardate of 41798.2 is given, and Tasha is still alive and well.
In the episode DS9: "Second Sight", stardate 47329.4, it is said to be the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Wolf 359, stardate 44002.3.

In DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow", Captain Sisko gives mention to the "recent Borg attack" depicted in Star Trek: First Contact. However, in the very next episode, DS9: "By Inferno's Light," the stardate of 50564.2 is given. In Star Trek: First Contact, the stardate of 50893.5 is given, suggesting that it takes place months after DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow."

[DougDoug]

Thanks for that, I get the jist of what it is been explained. I wonder if there is a program in existance that can do that?

There are certainly inconsistensies, but a least now I understand the theory behind it. Thank you.

[Col.Foley]

Here is a little more detailed explanation......

Stardate
A chronometer, 2266The stardate is a comprehensive futuristic calendar system used in the Federation and other races and organizations within our galaxy. This system of time allows planets and outposts that are light years apart and starships traveling at near-relativistic velocities to keep track of a unified time base despite local and unforeseen changes in the speed at which time passes. The stardate system was introduced in the Federation sometime between 2161 and 2265.

Stardate units standardize time measurement between various cultures, worlds and races. It has little relationship to Earth's time as we know it; one hour aboard a starship at different warp speeds may equal many Earth hours. Stardates are calculated through a complicated equation that takes into account relativistic effects, universal expansion and the effects of gravity on time and space. Every so often the stardate system has to be updated to take into account the expansion of space or other natural effects. Starfleet vessels did this by contacting a nearby Starfleet time beacon and adjusting their internal chronometer. (TNG: "Cause and Effect")

Stardates were in use as far back as the 2150s, although Earth had not yet adopted the system. Among the species who did utilize stardates at the time were the Xindi. In 2154, Degra, a Xindi-Primate, sent a coded message to Enterprise containing a stardate for when Enterprise should rendezvous with Degra's ship at specified coordinates, which were also contained within the message. Vulcans also seemed to have an understanding for stardates at that time, as T'Pol was able to calculate that the given stardate was three days away. (ENT: "Damage")

In the 24th century, approximately one thousand (1,000) stardate units pass for every Earth year, although there are variations in the system at some points in the timeline. (Star Trek: The Next Generation; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Star Trek: Voyager)

In an alternate timeline, the combat date replaced the stardate as the dating system used by Starfleet during their war with the Klingon Empire. This was indicative of the militaristic nature of Starfleet in this timeline. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

Background
According to Gene Roddenberry, stardates were created to avoid placing the events of the original series within a specific year. At present, no canonical information exists regarding how the stardate system works. According to Roddenberry in The Making of Star Trek, however, stardates adjust for shifts in relative time which occur due to the vessel's speed and space warp capability. Stardates specified, in a log entry for example, must be computed against the speed of the vessel, the space warp factor, and its position within our galaxy in order to give a meaningful reading when read back.

Sometimes stardates pass with little rhyme or reason, since they are simply manufactured by the show's creative personnel and not intended to be analyzed for any type of pattern. Gene Roddenberry and many other members of the production staff maintained that perceived irregularities in stardates stem from our own lack of understanding of subspace physics and space warp factors.

In the original Star Trek, stardates were usually four digits long. To show the passage of time, the producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation decided to use five-digit stardates. They chose to begin the stardate with the number 4, chosen because the program was set during the 24th century. The next digit signified the season of TNG (so TNG Season 1 episodes had stardates 41xxx.x, Season 2 had stardates 42xxx.x, and so forth). The remaining digits increased gradually over the course of the season, from xx000.0 to xx999.9. Under this system, 1000 stardate "units" were equal to one year. Stardate 41986.0 occurred during the year 2364 which would mean the origin of the stardate system was around the year 2322. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager continued the TNG format, so that DS9's stardates ranged from 46379.1 to 52861.3, and Voyager's stardates ranged from 48315.6 to 54973.4. Star Trek Nemesis, the latest Star Trek story in the 24th century, had a stardate of 56844.9, showing that it took place 15 years after the first season of TNG. The Khitomer Massacre occurred on SD 23859.7, 18 years before the first season, making it the earliest mentioned stardate in the 24th century. (TNG: "Sins of the Father")

Finally, it has been suggested by some sources that the final digit of a stardate (following the decimal place) represents one-tenth of a 24-hour day - for example the TNG Bible claims that "the digit following the decimal point may be regarded as a day counter". It is not clear how this can be reconciled with the notion that 1000 stardate units are equal to one year. If 1000 stardates equal one year, then one stardate unit should represent approximately 8 hours and 46 minutes. Although the vast majority of stardates are given with only one digit following the decimal point, the captain's log in TNG: "Code of Honor" is recorded with two digits (41235.25 and 41235.32) and other references have two, three or even four digits, as in VOY: "Relativity", when Seven of Nine travels back in time from 52861.274 to 49123.5621.

Inconsistencies
There have been many inconsistencies with stardates throughout all of the Star Trek series. Examples include:

In TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the stardates within the episode progress by 1.4, from 1312.4 to 1313.8, in what could not be more than a few days, yet the stardates of the births of three crew members are given as 1087.7, 1089.5 and 1277.1. Kirk's birth is only 35.3 stardates before his first captain's log, about one for every year of his life.

In TNG: "Skin of Evil" where Tasha Yar is killed off, the stardate of 41601.3 is given. In the previous TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom", a stardate of 41798.2 is given, and Tasha is still alive and well.
In the episode DS9: "Second Sight", stardate 47329.4, it is said to be the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Wolf 359, stardate 44002.3.

In DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow", Captain Sisko gives mention to the "recent Borg attack" depicted in Star Trek: First Contact. However, in the very next episode, DS9: "By Inferno's Light," the stardate of 50564.2 is given. In Star Trek: First Contact, the stardate of 50893.5 is given, suggesting that it takes place months after DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow."

Wow how very interesting, I have always been wondering this myself. Leave it to you Fifth Race to come up with some sort of answers
Where did you get this information.

[Missster.Freeman]

Where did you get this information.

That looks like an excerpt from Memory Alpha. The text looks familiar. I remember checking there when someone asked about Stardates a while ago.

Memory Alpha and Ex Astris Scientia are excellent places for checking up on Star Trek information.

[Col.Foley]

That looks like an excerpt from Memory Alpha. The text looks familiar. I remember checking there when someone asked about Stardates a while ago.

Memory Alpha and Ex Astris Scientia are excellent places for checking up on Star Trek information.

Yeah that's what I figured, he gets alot of information from there.

[PG15]

Thanks for that, I get the jist of what it is been explained. I wonder if there is a program in existance that can do that?

http://www.hillschmidt.de/gbr/sternenzeit.htm

Just google "stardate calculator"; there are plenty more where that came from.

[Darkstar]

Dosen't the day on Deep Space 9 have more then 24 hours in a day??

I'm sure I heard that in an episode, but I can't remember which one it was.

Also in TNG the duty rota has 3 shifts in a day, essentially for a 24 hour day making them about 8 hours, but in chain of command there is 4 shifts, is there a comman theme of more than 24 hours in a day in Starfleet?

I feel bad not knowing but it's something I never thought that much about, or got an answer for it anyhow.

[Trek_Girl42]

Dosen't the day on Deep Space 9 have more then 24 hours in a day??

I'm sure I heard that in an episode, but I can't remember which one it was.

Also in TNG the duty rota has 3 shifts in a day, essentially for a 24 hour day making them about 8 hours, but in chain of command there is 4 shifts, is there a comman theme of more than 24 hours in a day in Starfleet?

I feel bad not knowing but it's something I never thought that much about, or got an answer for it anyhow.

Is it Bajor time that DS9 runs on? Something like a 26 hour day?

[Darkstar]

26 hours is about right, I think the episode was "to The Death", Season 4.

Whilst sitting in the messhall of the Defient, Obrien Dax and Bashir are sat around a table, when Dax notes to Bashir that the seat he is sitting in is Worfs favourite seat in the room.

Whilst explaining that it isn't a reserved seat with Worf's name on it is mentioned that at this time in Season 4 Worf left the confines of DS9 to live aboard the Defient full time, and in that conversation Bashir mentiones just because Worfs lives onboard the Defient 26 hours a day, it dosen't give him the right to a seat!!

I think that is the jist of it....also it is a rather good Jem'hadar centred episode towards the end of season 4.

[Carl]

Despite the certain inconsistencies you have to say that it is quite a brilliant and well structured piece of creativity. Good ol' Star Trek. Thanks for the interesting information.

[Ozzy O'NeiLL]

Despite the certain inconsistencies you have to say that it is quite a brilliant and well structured piece of creativity. Good ol' Star Trek. Thanks for the interesting information.

Indeed it is... Thanks to all you explaining people! I've dying to know about this for quite some time.