How do you reference Earth dates when talking about an alien civilization?

[tde44]

The first chapter to the book I'm writing is in 3rd person and is from the perspective of an alien civilization.

I need to refer to the passage of time and specific dates, for example 5,000 years and Jan 4, 1960; all of which is from the alien's perspective and before they visit Earth.

What I am struggling with is how to make sure the reader understands the years and the dates are relative to Earth rather than the alien's calendar.

Should I just ignore trying to explain? If not, how would you explain it?

Thanks!

 

[CupofJoe]

Somehow work in that all dates and time intervals are in the "local" time. And then pretty much ignore it. Unless at some other point the alien and local times get confused [like British D-M-Y and American M-D-Y ]. Then it will need a bit of explanation.

 

[Justin Swanton]

Maybe give an alien dating system but drop in simultaneous events on Earth to help the reader put them in an Earth perpective. Something on the lines of : In the 11,510th year of the Basalt Dynasty (a year on Trappist e being 6.1 days on Earth) Zytl the Third ascended the Basalt throne just as Columbus stepped on the sand of the New World...

 

[Vladd67]

When it comes to Earth dates don't forget we aren't unified in those. Not everyone on earth says its 2021.

 

[tde44]

Thank you everyone! I've decided to reference "Earth years" once in the beginning and not mention the basis again.

 

[Wayne Mack]

Consider whether the aliens need to know the Earth date and the number of years that have passed. I am guessing that this knowledge is not important to the aliens, but rather something that the writer wants to tell the readers. Consider omitting this information completely in the opening. Another alternative would be to open the chapter with a mock history book entry. This allows an omniscient paragraph before switching to the preferred point of view.

 

[AltThinking]

You could write in alien time/date (perhaps in the alien's undecipherable hieroglyphics) then with Earth dates in brackets for the reader?

 

[psikeyhackr]

How did the aliens discover humans?
Was it radio signals? They could use human radio transmission as year zero and human years since all natives would use that as a reference.

Presumably the aliens would create specialists for every alien culture they encounter.