Dates in the universe

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Hawky**

I was always thinking how is date maintained through the Imperium.

Explanation:
Two planets have been colonised exactly at same time. After one year on planet A, the date of planet B would be different because of difference in lenght of one day and time of one orbit around it's sun. (TL;DR - year on planet A is different lenght of time to planet B)
This creates a difference in dates and makes proper event timing impossible.

So, is there any date synchronisation service in the Imperium, or it is incorporated into the Astronomican?
Or are there two dates, one is local date adapted to certain planet and galactic date which is the same as is on Terra? And how planet A knows what date is currently on Terra?

**Orblivion**

They go off of the Terran calendar for recording official dates.

**welshhoppo**

For a full guide to dating in 40k, check out this article.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Imperial_Dating_System

**Iron_Captain**

Edit: ninja'd

So yeah, the Imperium has a standardised dating system. Note that this standardised system is only used by the Imperial administration. Common people may have entirely different ways of measuring time.

**jareddm**

Exactly, the Imperium date system is only necessary if you're someone who cares what the date is on another planet. Local systems could be based on anything from number of lunar eclipses to the ancient chronometer that's been maintained for millennia to times when the giant sand worms begin their hunts.