[Kana]

Originally Posted by Baron Munchausen

According to Trek lore Vulcan is supposed to orbit 40 Eridani, which is known to be about 16 light years from our solar system. Covering 16 light years in "five minutes" would require a speed of 1,681,920 times the speed of light. I don't think any warp scale ever used in the Trek universe goes that high. One way or another, either in depicting too high a speed or failing to depict the passage of time correctly, they goofed.

Warp factor

Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek content. A warp factor is a term indicating velocity in the subspace realm where faster-than-light (FTL) speeds are possible. Starfleet and the Federation has used the Cochrane scale up intil the early 24th century, whereupon a revised scale was put into effect when a more complete understanding of the nature of subspace was reached.

Cochrane scale (22nd and 23rd centuries)

In the 23rd century, the warp factor, WF, was calculated as follows:

WF =

where v is the speed of the signal or starship and c = 3.0x10⁸ m/s (the speed of light). At Warp 1, a starship reaches light-speed, or c; at Warp 6, it reaches 216c. This continues up to a then-theoretical maximum (as of 2295) of 3511c, or Warp 15.2, for ships of any size. The speed of data transmissions through subspace are only limited by the power of the transmission itself.
{Book: Starfleet Dynamics))
FASA Scale (TOS Era)

The FASA published Star Trek roleplaying game had a simple warp scale of

3^wf-1 = X multiples of c.

giving a speed of 1c for Warp 1, 3c for Warp 2; at Warp 6 it reaches 243c.

Revised Cochrane scale (24th century)
In the 24th century, the warp factor, WF, was calculated as follows:

WF =

where v is the speed of the signal or starship and c = 3.0x10⁸ m/s (the speed of light). At Warp 1, a starship reaches light-speed, or c; at Warp 6, a starship reaches a speed approximately 392 times the speed of light. This formula continues up to nine at which point there is no formula - merely a hand drawn curve which approaches infinity. The maximum speed ascertainable appears to be just under Warp 10 (transwarp) - for most civilisations. However The Borg (and a few other races) have broken the transwarp barrier. {Book: Starfleet Dynamics))
Retrieved from "http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Warp_factor"


Using this calculator below. Traveling at Warp 5 for 16 light years will take 46.752 days.

http://home.att.net/~srschmitt/script_warpcalc.html