Ephrata IV was a planet, the fourth planet of the Ephrata system, located at the outer fringes of the galaxy's Alpha or Beta Quadrants. It was home to the Federation's renowned Ephrata Institute outpost.
History and specifics[]
Ephrata IV rotated in a retrograde fashion, clockwise on its axis, similar to Venus. Its gravity was 97% Earth normal. Surface terrain included assorted continents and seas. The world had only one moon.
By the 2220s, the Ephrata Institute had been established. Built in a region known for having a mild climate, its diverse population numbered 786 faculty plus visiting teachers and guests.
In 2269, the supply ship Yakima visited Ephrata IV.
Six months later, gravimetric distortions on the institute's campus prompted faculty to send a distress signal. The starship USS Enterprise responded to the message, arriving 40 hours later to discover heavy damage to the institute resulting from the opening of a dimensional gateway. The planet had been invaded by the Crusader religious order, who brainwashed its faculty into servitude. Eventually the dimensional portal was dismantled and the educators freed. (TOS novel: The Weight of Worlds)
Points of interest[]
- Ephrata Institute
- Pearl Square
Notable residents[]
- Doctor Elena Collins
- Hevlas
- Kabrol
- Mav
- Sri Winchdu
- Yvete