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Topic: TOS Sensor Ranges

MinutiaeMan
Living the Geeky Dream
Member # 444

posted

I've never seen a truly (or even somewhat) definitive figure on how far out Starfleet ships in Kirk's time could observe. Is there any hint given in some obscure dialogue that I've forgotten about?

I'm guesstimating that a ship like the Constitution class would be able to spot something from between three and five light-years away, maybe a little bit more. Does that sound about right?

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“Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov
Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha

Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

PsyLiam
Hungry for you
Member # 73

posted

From what I remember, it was highly inconsistent, ranging from 2 cm to roughly 5 billion trillion light years. But I'm not going to give an example, so there.

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Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

Timo
Moderator
Member # 245

posted

On the average, threats to fellow Starfleet vessels and installations could be sensed from across a distance the ship could travel in T=T(until threat becomes fatal) + 2 min.

Scientifically interesting phenomena could be sensed across travel time of T=T(Spock spells out the relevant technobabble, so that we can move on to action within the teaser already).

Threats to the Enterprise herself were sensed across T=T(raising shields, bracing oneself, performing a meaningful evasive maneuver) - 10 sec.

I dont't think any of this changed much in TNG or VOY.

Timo Saloniemi

Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Harry
Stormwind City Guard
Member # 265

posted

Or ENT.

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Titan Fleet Yards | Memory Alpha

Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Griffworks
Active Member
Member # 1014

posted

So, it basically comes down to the standard "It's In The Script" answer. This can be translated into "Whatever range you need them to be".... [Big Grin]

Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

TheWoozle
Active Member
Member # 929

posted

and that would be the difference between TV and reality, hehe.

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Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

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