Stardate. Standard decimal-based galactic calendar system used to account for
distortions in time caused by warp speed
travel and relativity. Some
Star Trek fans have adapted the system to correspond to
the Gregorian calendar by
year,
month, and date; May 4, 1970, for example, would be stardate 7005.04. Okuda et al. (
The
Star Trek Encyclopedia
etc.) —
i.e., the official Paramount-Viacom company line — dismiss this method as bogus. To which we reply: Four dead in
Ohio.
— Dennis and Michele Udoka, Star Trek for Dummies, Newbies, and
Muggles (Rocket Books, 1999)