(covers information from several alternate timelines)
|Native Species:||Various land and sea lifeforms|
|Location:||61 Ursae Majoris|
|Affiliation:||United Federation of Planets|
Archer IV was an inhabited M-class planet in the 61 Ursae Majoris system. This system was located less than 90 light years from the Sol system. The planet had two moons. Named for Earth Starfleet Captain Jonathan Archer, the planet was the first M-class, Earth-like world surveyed by the crew of the starship Enterprise NX-01 in 2151.
Boasting a fertile landscape dominated by vast grasslands and snow-topped mountains, Archer IV was inhabited by a wide array of animal life, including nocturnal marsupials, scorpion-like arachnids, self-illuminating insects, and fish. The planet, however, supported no indigenous intelligent lifeforms upon its discovery.
Initial landing parties in 2151 experienced rapidly changing weather patterns and fast-moving storms. Such inclement weather spread toxic pollen, released by the diverse fauna and flora, causing in Human and Vulcan visitors paranoia and decreased cognitive function. With no refuge from the effects of the pollen, the planet was considered to be uninhabitable. (ENT: "Strange New World", "Home", "Two Days and Two Nights")
Archer IV remained uninhabitable throughout the 22nd century. In the early 2200s, however, an antidote for the pollen was discovered. By 2268, more than seven hundred million people populated the planet. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" production art)
In an alternate timeline, Archer IV was the site of a battle in the Second Federation-Klingon War. The Enterprise-D engaged a number of Klingon warships, with the Enterprise emerging the victor. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")
Background information Edit
In "Two Days and Two Nights", the Enterprise, a NX-class starship, set a milestone in 2151 by becoming the first Starfleet ship to travel 90 light years from its homeworld. Archer IV was visited by the Enterprise prior to her historic feat.
The Star Trek: Enterprise fourth season episode "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" revealed the connection between "Strange New World" and "Yesterday's Enterprise" through text in Jonathan Archer's personnel file. The wbm can be viewed at wbm and indicated that the planet orbited 61 Ursae Majoris.
Prior to this connection being made, the Star Trek: Star Charts stated the planet to be Loracus Prime, which actually was a misinterpretation of a prop seen early in the episode "Strange New World". As a consequence, the star "Archer", which Archer IV supposedly orbited, was placed near Klingon territory several hundred light years away from Sol. (Pages 60 & 63)