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Star Trek Day

Fun · September 8

Star Trek Day honors the science fiction franchise about starship crews, distant worlds and the people who keep watching and rewatching it.

Star Trek Day falls on Wednesday, September 8, 2027. That is 316 days away.

Star Trek is a science fiction franchise built around the crews of starships exploring space. Across several television series and films, those crews meet new species, solve problems that range from engine trouble to moral puzzles, and argue a great deal on the bridge before deciding what to do.

The best known ship is the Enterprise, and the best known crew includes Captain Kirk and his science officer, Spock. Spock is half Vulcan, a species that prizes logic and keeps emotion under careful control. His raised hand greeting, with the fingers parted in a V between the middle and ring fingers, comes with the words "Live long and prosper." Plenty of people who have never watched an episode can still make the gesture, or at least try to.

Part of the appeal is the optimism. The stories imagine a future where people from many places work together, and where curiosity is treated as a job requirement. Episodes often end with a conversation rather than a battle.

Fans mark the day by watching favorite episodes, introducing a friend to the show, or debating which captain they would follow. Some wear the uniform colors, which on the original series signaled a crew member's role. Others simply practice the Vulcan salute in a mirror until their fingers cooperate.

If you are new to it, almost any series works as a starting point, since most episodes tell a complete story. Pick one that sounds interesting and see where the ship goes next.

Ways to celebrate

• Watch a favorite episode or try one you have never seen.
• Practice the Vulcan salute and teach it to someone.
• Share which captain you would want to serve under.
• Host a small viewing night with friends or family.
• Look up the meaning behind the original uniform colors.

Dates

All national days on September 8

Also on September 8

• National Ampersand Day

Categories: Fun days