Temperature

Earth scales

Celsius

The degree Celsius (or simply °C) is a thermometric scale named after Earth astronomer Anders Celsius.

The Celsius temperature scale was designed so that the freezing point of water is 0°, and the boiling point is 100° at 1 Earth atm. In this scale, the temperature know as absolute zero is –273.15 °C.

The replicators aboard a Federation starship like the USS Enterprise-D are calibrated to the Celsius scale. (TNG: "The Defector")

Fahrenheit

The degree Fahrenheit (or simply °F) is a thermometric scale named after Earth physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit.

The Fahrenheit temperature scale was designed so that the freezing point of water is 32°, and the boiling point is 212° at 1 Earth atm. In this scale, the temperature know as absolute zero is –459.67 °F.

Sensors aboard 23rd century Federation starships can be calibrated to read in degrees Fahrenheit. However, like the mile, this antiquated means of measurement was used only on rare occasions. (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Kelvin

You might also be looking for the alien species from the Andromeda Galaxy known as the Kelvans.

A Kelvin (or K) is a thermometric scale, named after Earth physicist and engineer Lord Kelvin. The scale was designed so that 0 K would be absolute zero, and the magnitude of each unit was equal to one degree on the Celsius scale. As a result, water freezes at 273.15 K and boils at 373.15 K

Other scales

Onkian

An Onkian is a thermometric scale used within the Romulan Empire.

• Twelve onkians are equivalent to a temperature above the freezing point of water. Admiral Alidar Jarok, after requesting political asylum on the USS Enterprise-D, ordered water with a temperature of twelve onkians from the replicator in his guest quarters. (TNG: "The Defector")

Absolute zero

Absolute zero is the term used for the lowest temperature possible.

When the USS Enterprise first scanned the insectoid ship it encountered in 2270, it appeared to have a temperature of absolute zero, an impossibility. Later, it was discovered that the insectoid ship's energy accumulating wands, which collected many types of energy, were causing the sensors to return false data. The heat was being absorbed by the wands, leaving none to be detected. (TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star")

In "The Royale," Geordi La Forge stated that the planet Theta 116 VIII had a temperature of -291º Celsius, which is theoretically impossible. It should be noted that the measurement was referred to as "Fahrenheit" in the script.

Comparative list of temperatures

• ( 0 K, –273.15 °C, –459.67 °F ) – Absolute zero

• ( 20 K, –253 °C, –424 °F ) – A geologically unstable planet, where the Soul of the Skorr was believed to be located, containing constant earthquakes, gravitic shifts, tidal waves, and a temperature that varied from 20 Kelvin to 204° C above. (TAS: "The Jihad")

• ( 94 K, –179 °C, –291 °F ) – In "The Royale," Geordi La Forge stated that the planet Theta 116 VIII had a temperature of –291º.

In the episode he said "degrees Celsius", which is impossible. The script read "degrees Fahrenheit".

• ( 253 K, –20 °C, –4 °F ) – The Argala habitat zone, found on board a Nyrian biosphere vessel, has an ambient temperature of -20° Celsius. (VOY: "Displaced")

• ( 290 K, 17 °C, 63 °F ) – The morphogenic matrix of a Changeling is most malleable at 17º Celsius. (DS9: "The Begotten")

• ( 294 K, 21 °C, 70 °F ) – Uhura noted the weather forecast at Mount Rushmore as being sunny skies with a temperature of 70 degrees (Fahrenheit). (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)
  • The external temperature of a Federation shuttlecraft, utilizing metaphasic shielding, can tolerate radiation levels that approach ten thousand rads and temperatures of 1.9 million Kelvin, while maintaining an internal cabin temperature of 21° C. (TNG: "Suspicions")

• ( 295 K, 22 °C, 72 °F ) – Zefram Cochrane maintained a constant temperature of 72 degrees (Fahrenheit) in his dwelling on the Companion's homeworld. To Nancy Hedford, who was suffering from Sakuro's Disease, this temperature felt "terribly hot." (TOS: "Metamorphosis")

• ( 295.4 K, 22.2 °C, 72 °F ) – Initial scans made by the USS Grissom on Sector 1 of the Genesis Planet, indicated that it was a forested region with a temperature of 22.2° Celsius. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

• ( 297 K, 24 °C, 75 °F ) – The surface temperature of the Companion's homeworld was reported by Doctor Leonard McCoy to be 75 degrees Fahrenheit. (TOS: "Metamorphosis")
  • A weather report, heard on the Henry Starling's radio in 1967, noted that the temperature in downtown Barstow was 75 degrees (Fahrenheit). (VOY: "Future's End")

• ( 298 K, 24 °C, 76 °F ) – The Federation and Bourget habitat zones, found on board a Nyrian biosphere vessel, both have an ambient temperature of 76°. (VOY: "Displaced")

The dialoge said "degrees Celsius", completely unreasonable for normal Human tolerances. This fact is reinforced by Jake Sisko's statement, when he wondered how the Bajoran laborers on Terok Nor could survive working in conditions reaching 55 ºC. This was probably the same mistake made with the temperature of Theta VII. 76° Fahrenheit is a tad on the warm side, but certainly comfortable for Humans.

• ( 305 K, 32 °C, 90 °F ) – When the Federation took over Deep Space 9, the station's average temperature was at 32º Celsius, indicating the temperature preference of Cardassians. (DS9: "Emissary")

• ( 310.1 K, 36.9 °C, 98.5 °F ) – While scanning the surface of a planet, Spock's sensor readings discovered a Human being, later determined to be named Lazarus, with a body temperature 98.5° Fahrenheit. (TOS: "The Alternative Factor")

• ( 312.3 K, 39.1 °C, 102.4 °F ) – The internal climate aboard a Borg cube is kept at a constant temperature of 39.1° Celsius. (Star Trek: First Contact)

• ( 312.6 K, 39.4 °C, 102.9 °F ) – Initial scans made by the USS Grissom on Sector 2 of the Genesis Planet, indicated that it had a desert terrain, with minimal vegetation and a temperature of 39.4° Celsius. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

• ( 319 K, 46 °C, 115 °F ) – The Zooabud and Tanatuva habitat zones, found on board a Nyrian biosphere vessel, both have an ambient temperature of 46° Celsius. (VOY: "Displaced")

• ( 323 K, 50 °C, 122 °F ) – The summers in the Rinax marshlands were the hottest in the sector surrounding the Talaxian system. Conditions of these marshlands included temperatures of 50° Celsius, with a 90% humidity, and some of the most vicious lavaflies on Rinax. (VOY: "Macrocosm")

• ( 328 K, 55 °C, 131 °F ) – Lambda Paz, a moon of Pentarus III, is classified as barely class M with a desert-like surface, and an average temperature of 55º Celsius. (TNG: "The Host")
  • The ore processing section of Terok Nor, while processing dilithium ore, would reach temperatures reaching 55º Celsius. (DS9: "Civil Defense")

• ( 333 K, 60 °C, 140 °F ) – Benjamin Sisko prefers his coffee served at 60º Celsius. (DS9: "Call to Arms")

• ( 353 K, 80 °C, 176 °F ) – Aunt Adele's cure for the common cold was ginger tea with honey, served at 80° Celsius. (TNG: "Ensign Ro")

• ( 360 K, 87 °C, 188 °F ) – In order to free the bio-neural gel packs aboard the USS Voyager from a viral infection caused by schplict, the interior of the ship was heated to 360 Kelvins to simulate a fever. (VOY: "Learning Curve")

• ( 423 K, 150 °C, 302 °F ) – The Legarans prefer to inhabit in a pool of thick swirling ooze, which is carefully maintained at the constant of 150° Celsius. (TNG: "Sarek")

• ( 473 K, 200 °C, 392 °F ) – The temperature at the lunar prison on Meldrar I reached 200°, in the shade. (DS9: "Necessary Evil")

If this reference was actually in Fahrenheit, then the equivalent temperatures would be ( 366 K, 93 °C, 200 °F ).

• ( 477 K, 204 °C, 399 °F ) – A geologically unstable planet, where the Soul of the Skorr was believed to be located, containing constant earthquakes, gravitic shifts, tidal waves, and a temperature that varied from 20 Kelvin to 204° C above. (TAS: "The Jihad")

• ( 500.00 K, 226.85 °C, 440.33 °F ) – A dish devised by Gideon Seyetik, using an Andorian boiler, was cooked at exactly 500 Kelvin. (DS9: "Second Sight")

• ( 500 K, 227 °C, 440 °F ) – The surface of a Y class planet is catagorized by a surface where the temperature exceeds 500 Kelvin, with an extremly turbulent, toxic atmosphere with thermionic radiation. (VOY: "Demon")

Extreme heat

At very high temperatures, the difference between Kelvin and Celsius becomes inconsequential, as 273 degrees becomes less than the measurement and/or rounding error.

• ( 60×10³ K, °C, 108×10³ °F ) – While conducting an experiment on the star Praxillus, in order to revitalize the Kaelon sun, the results of their initial experiment yielded seventeen hundred percent rise in gamma radiation levels, while the stars' density was measured at eleven hundred grams per cubic centimeter, with a temperature approaching 60 thousand degrees Kelvin. (TNG: "Half a Life")

• ( 1.9×10⁶ K, °C, 3.4×10⁶ °F ) – The external temperature of a Federation shuttlecraft, utilizing metaphasic shielding, can tolerate radiation levels that approach ten thousand rads and temperatures of 1.9 million Kelvin, while maintaining an internal cabin temperature of 21° C. (TNG: "Suspicions")

• ( 260×10⁶ K, °C, 468×10⁶ °F ) – In order to stabilize the core of a star, the temperature has to reach 220 million degrees Kelvin. The core density of a star becomes unstable at 260 million degrees Kelvin. (TNG: "Half a Life")

Fluctuation in temperature

Although not explicitly stated in terms of "degrees of what", the following temperature fluctuation references are most likely made in Celsius.

• Pentharan spheral forecasts were predicting a drop in temperature of 10 to 12 degrees within the first ten days after impact of an type 3 asteroid on the planet. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")

• While inflicted with the morphogenic virus, the Female Changeling noted that she wanted the temperature in the rooms of the Dominion Headquarters on Cardassia Prime lowered by 15 degrees. She noted that she didn't "share the Cardassians' love of heat;" nor apparently did Weyoun. (DS9: "Treachery, Faith and the Great River")

• Once the wind died down, on the planet where Dukat and Sisko were stranded in 2374, Dukat noted that the temperature increased by 20 degrees—much to the liking of his Cardassian physiology. (DS9: "Waltz")

• The surface of the planet Dozaria is about 50 degrees too hot for the Breen, considering their homeworld is a frozen wasteland. (DS9: "Indiscretion")