The Federation
classifies planets it cataloges based on criteria such as
atmospheric composition, surface temperature, and conditions,
the size of the body, and the presence of animal and plant
life. This system is used to determine the suitability of
the planet for exploration, colonization, and scientific
research.
Each class of planet is assigned a letter in the alphabet
based on its suitability. For example, Class M (sharing
meaning with the Vulcan designation Minshara class) is applied
to planets that can support life without any special circumstances,
such as Earth, Vulcan, or Cardassia.
Class
A Geothermal
Classification:
Geothermal
Age:
0-2 billion years
Diameter:
1,000 - 10,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere / Cold Zone
Surface:
Partially molten
Atmosphere:
Primarily hydrogen compounds
Evolution:
Cools to become Class C
Life-forms:
None
In
planetary classification, a class A geothermal planet is
a type of planet. As the name describes, the planet is generally
geothermally active, generating heat. This type of planet
is usually in the very early stages of development and are
likely to evolve into other classes. No lifeforms have ever
been discovered on these planets.
Class
B Geomortheus
Classification:
Geomorteus
Age:
0-10 billion years
Diameter:
1,000 - 10,000 km
Location:
Hot Zone
Surface:
Partially molten, high temperature
Atmosphere:
Extremely tenuous, few chemically active gases
Life-forms:
None
In
planetary classification, a class B geomorteus planet is
a type of planet. This type of planet is usually very close
to, and heated by, a parent star, featuring very little
native geothermal energy. The atmosphere of these worlds
is usually tenuous, and features little or no chemically
active particles. No lifeforms have ever been discovered
on these planets. Mercury is an example of a class B geomorteus
planet.
Class
C Geoinactive
Classification:
Geoinactive
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
1,000 - 10,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere / Cold Zone
Surface:
Low temperature
Atmosphere:
Frozen
Life-forms:
None
In
planetary classification, a class C geoinactive planet is
a type of planet. As the name describes, the planet is generally
geothermally inactive, generating no heat energy. This type
of planet is usually in the very late stages of development
and has likely evolved from other classes. No lifeforms
have ever been discovered on these planets.
Class
D Asteroid / Moon
Classification:
Asteroid / Moon
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
100 - 1,000 km
Location:
Hot Zone / Ecosphere / Cold Zone; found primarily
in orbit of larger planets or in asteroid fields
Surface:
Barren and cratered
Atmosphere:
None or very tenuous
Life-forms:
None
In
planetary classification, a class D planetoid is a type
of planet. Planets of this type are generally smaller asteroids
or moons that are locked into the gravitational pull of
a larger planetary body. Class D worlds are usually composed
of metals, predominantly nickel, iron and silicate. Bodies
of this type generally do not support lifeforms.
Class
E Geoplastic
Classification:
Geoplastic
Age:
0-2 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Molten, high temperature
Atmosphere:
Hydrogen compounds and reactive gases
Evolution:
Cools to become Class F
Life-forms:
Carbon-cycle
A
Class E planet is one that has a high temperature and a
molten surface.
Class
F Geometalic
Classification:
Geometallic
Age:
1-3 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Volcanic eruptions due to molten core
Atmosphere:
Hydrogen compounds
Evolution:
Cools to become Class G
Life-forms:
Silicon based
A
Class F planet is a planet that has volcanic eruptions due
to a molten core.
Class
G Geocrystalline
Classification:
Geocrystalline
Age:
3-4 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Still crystallizing
Atmosphere:
Carbon dioxide, some toxic gases
Evolution:
Cools to become Class K, L, M, N or P
Life-forms:
Primitive single-celled organisms
Class
G geocrystalline, in planetary classification, is a type
of planet. The relatively young geocrystalline worlds have
also been classified as class F planets on other scales,
and are possessed of a mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere
with some toxic gases, released as the planet cools and
crystallizes. Lifeforms usually only exists as single-celled
organisms due to the absence of free water on the young
world. These planets are generally between three to four
billion years old and measure 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers
in diameter.
Class
H Desert
Classification:
Desert
Age:
4-10 billion years
Diameter:
8,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Hot Zone / Ecosphere / Cold Zone
Surface:
Hot and arid, little or no surface water
Atmosphere:
May contain heavy gases and metal vapors
Life-forms:
Drought- and radiation-resistant plants, animal life
A
Class H planet is a planet that is hot and arid with little
or no water.
Class
I Gas Supergiant
Classification:
Gas Supergiant
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
140,000 - 10 million km
Location:
Cold Zone
Surface:
Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen
compounds; radiates heat
Atmosphere:
Zones vary in temperature, pressure and composition;
water vapor may be present
Life-forms:
Unknown
A
Class I planet is a planet that has a very tenuous surface
made up of gasseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds.
Class
J Gas Giant
Classification:
Gas Giant
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
50,000 - 140,000 km
Location:
Cold Zone
Surface:
Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen
compounds; radiates some heat
Atmosphere:
Zones vary in temperature, pressure and composition
Life-forms:
Hydrocarbon-based
A
Class J planet is a planet that has a surface composed of
gasseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds.
Class
K Adaptable
Classification:
Adaptable
Age:
4-10 billion years
Diameter:
5,000 - 10,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Barren, little or no surface water
Atmosphere:
Thin, mostly carbon dioxide
Life-forms:
Primitive sigle-celled organisms
A
Class K planet is a planet that can be adapted for humanoid
habitation.
Class
L Marginal
Classification:
Marginal
Age:
4-10 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Rocky and barren, little surface water
Atmosphere:
Oxygen / argon, high concentration of carbon dioxide
Life-forms:
Limited to plant life
In
planetary classification Class L is a category of planet,
only marginally habitable by humanoid life. Such planets
are though capable of supporting humanoid colonization.
Class
M Terrestrial
Classification:
Terrestrial
Age:
3-10 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Water abundant
Atmosphere:
Nitrogen, oxygen, trace elements
Life-forms:
Extensive vegetation, animal life, humanoids
The
Class M (or Minshara-class) planet is the most stable type
for humanoid habitation. Class M planets may feature large
areas of water, if water or ice covers more than 80% of
surface then the planet is considered Class O or Class P.
Class
N Reducing
Classification:
Reducing
Age:
3-10 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
High temperature due to greenhouse effect; water exists
as vapor
Atmosphere:
Extremely dense, carbon dioxide and sulfides
Life-forms:
Unknown
A
Class N planet is a planet that has a high surface temperature
due to a greenhouse effect and water exists only as vapor.
Class
O Pelagic
Classification:
Pelagic
Age:
3-10 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Liquid water covers 80%+
Atmosphere:
Nitrogen, oxygen, trace elements
Life-forms:
Aquatic vegetation, animal life, humanoids
In
planetary classification Class O or Pelagic planets are
those who's surfaces are comprised of 80% or more water.
These planets may have some land, but it is not a majority
feature. An example of a class O planet is Argo, the planet
Earth is very close to Class O.
Class
P Glaciated
Classification:
Glaciated
Age:
3-10 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Ecosphere
Surface:
Frozen water covers 80%+
Atmosphere:
Nitrogen, oxygen, trace elements
Life-forms:
Hardy vegetation, animal life, humanoids
A
Class P planet is a planet that is covered by water ice
and is capable of supporting life.
Class
Q Variable
Classification:
Variable
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
4,000 - 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
The
Class Q, from the old Vulcan Quaris class, is a type of
planet that has rarely been encountered by the Federation.
Conditions vary widely on class Q worlds, with very hot
and cold regions and great variety in surface conditions.
Class
R Rouge
Classification:
Rouge
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
4,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Interstellar space, cometary halos
Surface:
May be temperate due to geothermal venting
Atmosphere:
Primarily volcanic outgassing
Life-forms:
Non-photosynthetic plants, animal life
A
Class R planet is a planet that drifts through interstellar
space or in cometary halos.
Class
S,T Ultragiant
Classification:
Ultragiant
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
10-50 million km (Class S)
50-120 million km (Class T)
Location:
Cold Zone
Surface:
Tenuous, composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen
compounds; radiates considerable heat
Atmosphere:
Zones vary in temperature and composition; water vapor
may be present
Life-forms:
Unknown
Classes
S and T planets are planets of enormous size that have very
tenuous surfaces made up of gasseous hydrogen and hydrogen
compounds.
Class
Y Demon
Classification:
Demon
Age:
2-10 billion years
Diameter:
10,000 - 15,000 km
Location:
Hot Zone / Ecosphere / Cold Zone
Surface:
Temperature can exceed 500K
Atmosphere:
Turbulent, saturated with toxic chemicals and thermionic
radiation
Life-forms:
Mimetic
A
Class Y planet is a planet that has a turbulent atmosphere,
saturated with toxic chemicals and thermionic radiation.
