star trek - What is the range of the Enterprise-D's sensors?

A similar question on the functionality of sensors can be found here, but my question goes beyond that (pun intended). What is the range (distance) of the sensors of the Enterprise-D? My understanding (and correct me if I'm wrong here please) is that there are three types of sensors: long-rage, short-range and visual (ie the viewscreen). What exactly is the range of these three types of sensors (as in what is the maximum distance they can each detect something)? I know from several TNG episodes the Enterprise can apparently scan an entire system when it is in it, but that's rather ambiguous I think - I'm looking for a unit of measurement (km - although that's probably an underestimate of the Enterprise-D's abilities I'm sure).

Answer

According to the excellent "TNG Technical Manual" (written by Senior Trek Technical Advisors Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda and foreworded by Gene Roddenberry), the max range for the subspace Long Range Sensors at low resolution and maximum normal power is 17 light years, some 160,836,661,043,596 kilometres.

In "The Wounded" we see Geordi using the Long Range Sensors at a range of approximately 10 light years. The resolution at this range was apparently sufficient to be able to distinguish a Federation vessel.

TNG Technical Manual

Comments

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