Planetary Classification

Patrick Greenwell

Randy McCullick

Revision History
Revision 1 9 Jaunary 2004

Approved by Assistant GM Director Robert Gulley


Table of Contents

Overview
Zones
Planetary Evolution
M sub-types
Planetary Classes
Class A - Geothermal
Class B - Geomorteus
Class C - Ceoinactive
Class D - Asteroid/Moon
Class E - Geoplastic
Class F Geometallic
Class G - GeoCrystalline
Class H - Desert
Class I - Gas Supergiant
Class J - Gas Giant
Class K - Adaptable
Class L - Marginal
Class M - Terrestrial (Minshara)
Class N - Reducing
Class O - Pelagic (M subtype)
Class P - Glaciated (M subtype)
Class Q - Variable
Class R - Rouge
Class S - Ultra-giant
Class T - Mega-giant
Class Y - Demon

Overview

Zones

The Zones, Hot, Ecosphere and Cold, are the areas in which planets are found.

The Hot zone would be closest to the sun and temperatures on planets therefore be Hot and unsuitable for life except in microscopic form. (Read unbearable for humans.)

The Ecosphere would be the area around the sun in which planets could sustain life, the temperatures there would be moderate on a planet. (Read suitable for humans.)

The Cold zone would be the area after the ecosphere and furthest away from the Sun, temperatures there would be incapable of supporting life except in microscopic forms.

The commentary Halo is where the outer edges of comet orbits or in interstellar space between stars not bound by any orbit.

Note

Planets in the X, Y, and Z Class are reserved for planets with environments hostile to human(oid) life. No planets or planetoids have yet been classified with the letters U, V, or W. This list is based off of the information provided in the Star Trek: Starcharts book written by Geoffrey Mandel.

Planetary Evolution

  • A cools to C

  • E cools to F cools to G cools to K, L, M, or N


A ----> C
K ___
L | O
E ----> F ----> G ---->M ------|
N |___P
      

M sub-types

P is when a class M is more than 80% covered by ice.

O is when a class M is more than 80% covered by water.

Planetary Classes

Class A - Geothermal

Examples

None

Age

0 to 2 billion years

Diameter

1,000 to 10,000 km

Location

Ecosphere/Cold Zone

Surface

Partially Molten

Atmosphere

Primarily hydrogen compounds

Evolution

Cools to become Class C

Life Forms

No Known Life forms

Class B - Geomorteus

Examples

Mercury

Age

0 to 10 billion years

Diameter

1,000 to 10,000 km

Location

Hot Zone

Surface

Partially molten, high surface temperature

Atmosphere

Extremely tenuous, few chemically active gases

Evolution

None

Life Forms

No known life forms

Class C - Ceoinactive

Examples

Pluto

Age

2 - 10 billion years

Diameter

1,000 to 10,000 km

Location

Ecosphere/Cold Zone

Surface

Low surface temperature

Atmosphere

Frozen

Evolution

No further evolution

Life Forms

No know life forms

Class D - Asteroid/Moon

Examples

Luna (Sol IIIa)

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

100 to 1,000 km

Location

Hot Zone/Ecosphere/Cold Zone/ orbiting other planets usually

Surface

Barren and cratered

Atmosphere

None or very tenuous

Evolution

None

Life Forms

No know life forms

Class E - Geoplastic

Examples

None

Age

0 to 2 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Molten, high surface temperature

Atmosphere

Hydrogen compounds and reactive gases

Evolution

Cool to Class F

Life Forms

Carbon cycle

Class F Geometallic

Examples

None

Age

1 to 3 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Volcanic eruptions due to molten core

Atmosphere

Hydrogen compounds

Evolution

Cool to class G

Life Forms

Silicon based

Class G - GeoCrystalline

Examples

None

Age

3 to 4 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Still crystallizing

Atmosphere

Carbon dioxide, some toxic gasses

Evolution

Cools to Class K, L, M, or N

Life Forms

Primitive single-celled organisms

Class H - Desert

Examples

None

Age

4-10 billion years

Diameter

8,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Hot Zone/Ecosphere/Cold Zone

Surface

Hot and arid, little or no surface water

Atmosphere

May contain heavy gasses and metal vapors

Evolution

None

Life Forms

Drought and radiation resistant plants and animals

Class I - Gas Supergiant

Examples

None

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

140,000 to 10 million km

Location

Cold Zone

Surface

Tenuous, comprised of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds; radiates heat

Atmosphere

Zones vary in temperature, pressure, and composition; water vapor may be present

Evolution

None

Life Forms

No Know Life forms

Class J - Gas Giant

Examples

Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

50,000 to 140,000 km

Location

Cold Zone

Surface

Tenuous, comprised of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds; radiates some heat

Atmosphere

Zones vary in temperature, pressure, and composition

Evolution

None

Life Forms

Hydrocarbon based

Class K - Adaptable

Examples

Mars

Age

4 to 10 billion years

Diameter

5,000 to 10,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Barren, little or no surface water

Atmosphere

Thin mostly Carbon dioxide

Evolution

No Further Evolution

Life Forms

Primitive single celled organisms; adaptable for humanoid colonization through use of pressure domes

Class L - Marginal

Examples

Borg Prime, Vaadwaur

Age

4 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Rocky and barren, little surface water

Atmosphere

Oxygen/argon, high concentration of carbon dioxide

Evolution

None

Life Forms

Limited to plant life; suitable for humanoid colonization

Class M - Terrestrial (Minshara)

Examples

Earth, Vulcan, Cardassia Prime, Romulus, Qo'noS

Age

3 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Surface water abundant

Atmosphere

Nitrogen, Oxygen, trace elements

Evolution

No further evolution, 2 sub-types

Life Forms

Extensive vegetation, animal life, humanoids

Class N - Reducing

Examples

Venus

Age

3 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

High surface temperature due to greenhouse effect; water exists only as vapor

Atmosphere

Extremely dense, carbon dioxide and sulfides

Evolution

No further Evolution

Life Forms

No Known life forms

Class O - Pelagic (M subtype)

Examples

None

Age

3 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Liquid water covers 80% or more of surface area

Atmosphere

Nitrogen, oxygen, trace elements

Evolution

No further evolution

Life Forms

Aquatic vegetation, animal life, humanoids

Class P - Glaciated (M subtype)

Examples

None

Age

3 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Ecosphere

Surface

Frozen water(ice) covers 80% or more of surface area

Atmosphere

Nitrogen, oxygen, trace elements

Evolution

No further evolution

Life Forms

Hardy vegetation, animal life, humanoids

Class Q - Variable

Examples

Genesis Planet

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

4,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Hot Zone/Ecosphere/Cold Zone

Surface

Ranges from molten to water and/or carbon dioxide ice, due to eccentric orbit or variable output of star

Atmosphere

Ranges from tenuous to very dense

Evolution

None

Life Forms

No Known Life forms

Class R - Rouge

Examples

None

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

4,000 to 15,000 km

Location

Interstellar space, cometary halos

Surface

May be temperate due to geothermal venting

Atmosphere

Primarily volcanic out gassing

Evolution

None

Life Forms

Non-photosynthetic plants, animal life

Class S - Ultra-giant

Examples

None

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10 to 50 million km

Location

Cold Zone

Surface

Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds; radiates generous amounts of heat

Atmosphere

Zones vary in temperature, pressure, and composition; water vapor may be present

Evolution

None

Life Forms

No Known Life forms

Class T - Mega-giant

Examples

None

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

50 to 120 million km

Location

Cold Zone

Surface

Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds; radiates generous amounts of heat

Atmosphere

Zones vary in temperature, pressure, and composition; water vapor may be present

Evolution

None

Life Forms

No Known Life forms

Class Y - Demon

Examples

None

Age

2 to 10 billion years

Diameter

10,000 to 50,000 km

Location

Hot Zone/Ecosphere/Cold Zone

Surface

Temperature can exceed 500 Kelvin

Atmosphere

Turbulent, saturated with toxic chemicals and thermionic radiation. Comunications can not be maintained. Should land on this planet in only extreme emergencies.

Evolution

None

Life Forms

Mimetic (only know to be in Delta Quadrant)