The United Space Ship Enterprise continuing her patrols through the trackless oceans of the universe, is ordered on a rescue mission. This week, in "The Naked Time," she has to evacuate a team of scientists from a planet which is at the end of its life and is about to break up; and then observe and record the process of disintegration while orbiting at a safe distance. But what is a safe distance when a world is in its violent, fiery death-throes? A deadly and unexpected peril arises - and before long Captain Kirk and his crew seem to be hurtling to destruction...