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Star Trek Planetary Classes (Canon classification from series only) D H M L K J Y B N C

Asteroid Classes (Classification used in astronomy)
Comets/Asteroids C S M E D A P V U

Discussion on Terraforming/Colonisation

Geological Constraints on Planetary Classes

Planetary Atmospheres

 

Class D
Rocky, lack atmosphere or very tenuous, or likely planetary/moon debris that has approached within the Roche limit of another planet. Most likely consisting of the basic silicates from planetary condensation. From the work of (Hewman and Herbey 1996) we can also see that these would be high in ice but to be accurate with science there really would need to be another class for further out objects. These types of planet and planetoid can be further grouped as shown below. It is believed that Pluto may have an atmosphere dominated by nitrogen, according to the observations by Tobias Owen of the University of Hawaii and his colleagues. Using the UK Infrared Telescope in Mauna Kea they detected spectral lines indicating for the first time the presence of nitrogen and carbon monoxide ice on Pluto's surface. Because these two substances, along with methane (previously discovered on Pluto), are some of the essential constituents of interstellar clouds, astronomers believe that studying the composition of Pluto may be useful in understanding the chemical processes which formed the solar system. (New Scientist, 20 June 1992.)

 

Class H.

Very dry planets though are occasionally habitable. Lifeforms present in various stages of evolution. They are often desert like and bathed in hyperonic radiation. Hyperonic radiation can be fatal to unadapted humans and possibly accounts for the primitive indigenous life on the worlds. A class H moon would have been suitable to leave a colony of Borg on, suggesting the Borg are more resilient to these environments than unadapted humans. (Scorpions Pt.2)

Class M

Most frequently visited planet by the crews of the Enterprise. The worlds are small and made from silicates around denser iron rich cores. They have nitrogen-oxygen-carbon dioxide atmospheres, that are modifications of the volcanic outgassing. The atmospheres are abundant in nucleogenic hygroscopic particles allowing moisture condensation. The designation Class M is not particularly dependent on the distance from the star as long as the world lies in the designated habitable domains. Both Mars and Venus could have been Class M but due to other factors these are class Y and class K/L. The atmosphere of these worlds is oxidising as contrasted with the reducing atmosphere of most other worlds. Though the Moon orbiting with the planet Earth is incapable of supporting life, being class D, other moons may be classed as M. No moon in the Sol system satisfies these criterion, however Class M moons have been encountered or discussed. One example might be Rinax the satellite of the planet Talax, this moon was the site of a dreadful weapon detonation in 2356 that rendered much of the moon uninhabitable for many years.

Class L

Class L planets are characteristically high in Co² levels but often possess comparatively high concentrations of oxygen similar to post Archean Earth. The atmospheres are sufficiently dense enough to support life though no higher indigenous life exists and land animals are absent. The oxygen levels vary, some Class L worlds are capable of supporting humanoid life where as others are toxic due to the very high carbon dioxide levels. Water condenses out almost certainly creating seas where primordial life exists as does slightly more developed plantae, monera and fungal forms. Water also flows across the surface of the continental landmasses and a structured water cycle has both developed and settled. Surface plantae can be very developed in some cases with tree life present. It is possible that L is simply a proto-class M world. The worlds support very large oceans and dense atmospheres. Temperatures are generally low.

Class K
Unsuitable for humanoid life outside of biodomes. Biodomes include pressure domes and life support systems. in 2267 the USS Enterprise was sabotaged by Android Norman. The mass of K type planets usually falls into the standard M class; organic life is usually underdeveloped or absent.

Class J
Gas giant class, both Saturn and Jupiter are class J. Other gas giants are not mentioned but there are significantly different forms of gaseous planet, condensed ammonia is absent in many atmospheric layers of Uranus and Neptune suggesting it is very abundant in lower levels where ammonium slush is very held in the clouds. The upper atmosphere of Neptune consists of 85% hydrogen, 13% helium. Other upper cloud layers are dominant in hydrogen sulphide and various hydrocarbons such as acetylene and ethylene. High Cirrius clouds are thought to be methane dominant. Methane in Uranus was first identified by R.Mecke in 1934. Much of Uranus' mass is considered to be water, ammonia and methane condenses that hang as frozen sublimated layers of cloud. The density suggest higher level of heavier elements that warrant a different class. Saturn was the first gaseous world visited by manned exploration. In 2009 Captain Shaun Geoffrey Christopher piloted the successful Saturn mission forty years after the Enterprises encounter with the U.S. Air Force pilot John Christopher 1969 (Tomorrow Is Yesterday) (Fontana 1969).

 

It has been argued that Jupiter's core probably began as a solid mass of ice and rock about 15 times the mass of Earth. The ice content of Jupiter's mass was high because it formed in the colder outer region of the solar system, where the nebula contained a lot of ice particles, principally water and methane. The gaseous planets do not have solid surfaces visible and the gaseous material simply gets denser with depth. The substances inside the atmosphere are subject to extreme conditions, leading to exotic chemistry that creates a liquid metallic hydrogen. The liquid metallic hydrogen possess a strange matrix capable of conducting huge electrical currents and the persistent radio noise and improbably strong magnetic field of Jupiter could both emanate from this layer of metallic liquid.

What is observed when looking at these planets is the tops of clouds high in their atmospheres. The composition of Jupiter’s atmosphere is about 90% hydrogen, 10% helium (by mass, 75/25%) with traces of methane, water, ammonia and "rock", compared with the details given on Neptune above. Jupiter's atmospheric gases are very close to the composition of the primordial solar nebula from which the entire solar system was formed. Saturn has a similar composition, but Uranus and Neptune have much less hydrogen and helium.

Jupiter is believed to have three cloud layers in its atmosphere. At the top are clouds of ammonia ice; beneath that ammonium-hydrogen sulphide crystals; and in the lowest layer, water ice and perhaps liquid water. The origins of the colourful features such as the Great red Spot are uncertain, but scientists believe that they are caused by plumes of warmer gases that rise up from deep in the planet's interior. The plumes' colours are probably caused by their chemical content. Although the amount of carbon, for example, in the Jovian atmosphere is very small, carbon readily combines with hydrogen and trace amounts of oxygen to form a variety of gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, and other organic compounds. The orange and brown colours in Jupiter's clouds may be attributable to the presence of organic compounds, or sulphur and phosphorus and are low in water. The expectation was that Jupiter's atmosphere would contain about twice the amount of oxygen (combined with the abundant hydrogen to make water) as the Sun. The Sun has more recently been found to be far wetter than believed. The Galileo Probe that penetrated Jupiter's atmosphere in December 1995 found only a fraction of the water expected. Further analysis of the probe data has turned up additional surprises. Wind speed at the surface was clocked at 150 m/sec; at the lower depths the speed did not fall off but actually increased to 200 m/sec. Lightning at Jupiter was observed to be less frequent than on Earth. (The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News Number 272 May 23, 1996 by Phillip F. Schewe and Ben Stein). Jupiter is not the only planet with such high velocity winds and the other gas planets have similar velocity currents which are confined in wide bands of latitude. The winds blow in opposite directions in adjacent bands. Slight chemical and temperature differences between these bands are responsible for the colours that dominate the planet's appearance. The light coloured bands are called zones; the dark ones belts. The data from the Galileo probe indicate that the winds are even faster than expected (more than 400 mph) and extend down into as far as the probe was able to observe; they may extend down thousands of kilometres into the interior. Jupiter's atmosphere was also found to be quite turbulent. This indicates that Jupiter's winds are driven in large part by its internal heat rather than from solar input as on Earth. The colours correlate with the cloud's altitude: blue lowest, followed by browns and whites, with reds highest. Sometimes we see the lower layers through holes in the upper ones. Atmospheres are discussed in more detail below (physics of planetary atmospheres)

Jupiter radiates more energy into space than it receives from the Sun. The interior of Jupiter is hot: the core is probably about 20,000 K. The heat is generated by the Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism, the slow gravitational compression of the planet. (This interior heat probably causes convection deep within Jupiter's liquid layers and is probably responsible for the complex motions we see in the cloud tops. Saturn and Neptune are similar to Jupiter in this respect, but oddly, Uranus is not. Jupiter's diameter is about as large as a gaseous planet can be. If more material were to be added, it would be compressed by gravity such that the overall radius would increase only slightly. A star can be larger only because of its internal (nuclear) heat source. (But Jupiter would have to be at least 80 times more massive to become a star.) Jupiter has a huge magnetic field, much stronger than Earth's. Its magnetosphere extends more than 650 million km, though not spherically.

Jupiter has faint rings like Saturn's, and were only discovered when two of the Voyager 1 scientists insisted that after travelling 1 billion km the space probe should attempt to look in the direction for the possibility of ring structures or ring arcs. Though the general consensus of opinion was against there being any such matter around Jupiter Voyager 1 succeeded in detecting rings. Unlike Saturn's, Jupiter's rings are dark (albedo about .05). They are most likely composed of very small grains of rocky material. Particles in Jupiter's rings are unlikely to remain there for long, due to atmospheric and magnetic drag. Therefore, if the rings are permanent features, they must be continuously resupplied. The small satellites Metis and Adrastea which orbit within the rings, are the obvious candidate sources.

NASA planetary science database

Class Y

These are terrestrial worlds where high heat levels above 500 kelvins is combined with thermionic radiation. The atmosphere is dense and contains corrosive compounds. Footprints embedded on the surface remain visible for at least several hours. Radiation discharges can effect ships even in standard orbit, and as such planets are in general avoided or modifications have to be made to the shields. Probes released from ships incinerate within seconds of entering the atmosphere even shuttles encounter systems failures on landing approaches and normally such procedures are forbidden. Shield modifications have been known to allow shuttle operations within the atmosphere of Y class planets. Surface features suggest tectonic procedures and volcanic vents are common, suggesting degassing on small continuous scales. The surface is covered by a dust residue but given that any volcanism seems more basaltic it would appear that dust is not from explosive discharges but from the vents across the surface. The particulate matter forms hygroscopic particles in the atmosphere and creates a haze with the atmospheric gases. The tectonic processes create monochromatic geological formations of a dull red colour, though browns and even dull golds are not uncommon. Humanoid life is absent and exposure can kill within minutes, even environmental suits corrode under the atmosphere. The atmospheric gases can not be replicated safely by starships. Life is almost always absent though highly viscous metallic substances with extremely high deuterium concentrations may support non-conscious protein molecules. The metallic fluids are silver in colour with temperatures of 12 degrees (not specified Kelvins or centigrade, though Kelvins would not normally be followed by the suffix degrees). These pools contain deuterium, hydrogen sulphate and dichromates. The particular fluid encountered by USS Voyager in 2375 had mimetic properties that reads DNA and recreates it from the protein molecules and possible electromagnetic forces in the silver fluid. The electromagnetic forces are weakened by Nadion bursts. Nadions being subatomic particles associated with high-speed interactions within atomic nuclei.

Class Y planets are probably best associated with the Jovian Moon Io. It is likely that the main source of danger in the Class Y environment is the radiation, referred to as thermionic. though we cannot be certain about the specifics of this radiation we can compare this with the radiation on Io. Io itsef has a plasma torus where the ejecta from the surface are ionised by the Jovian magnetosphere. In addition to this Io is in a position whereby it is swept by the Jovian magnetic field once every 10 hours. 

Other Classes and the Adaptability of Federation Facilities to Alternative Atmospheric Classes

The starbase Deep Space 9 is designed to allow many different races accommodation onboard. To facilitate this process the station has variable environmental capabilities within the occupants quarters. All rooms are equipped to handle class M environments with provisions for 25% of quarters to support class H, K and L environments. The transient facilities, those reserved for peoples passing through but not intending to stay abroad for any length of time, include 3% class B, N and C environments. We have no way of knowing if the atmospheric designations exactly match the planetary classifications but in the light of the details for Class M it would seem likely. Nominal Starfleet Class M ship operations as noted in Starfleet Standard 102.19 differ slightly from the actual class M environment used aboard the station. Deep Space Nine being designed to support Bajoran nationals and thus replicating the surface conditions of the planet as accurately as possible. Bajoran atmospheric values are kept maintained at 25 Celsius, 45% relative humidity, with a pressure of 99.7 kilopascals as opposed to SFRA standard 102.19 which maintains ships at 26 Celsius, 45% relative humidity with pressures of 10 kilopascals. The actual composition of the atmospheric gases is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 2% trace gases, mostly argon, helium and xenon. The Galaxy Class USS Enterprise NCC 1701 D, could support Classes H, K and L in 10% of its quarters with 2% equipped to handle N and N(2) conditions. It was possible using the facilities of a starbase to equip the vessel with ship wide Class H, K or L conditions.

The mention of Atmospheric classes B, N and C (see previous paragraph) suggests, logically, that there are at least three classes not listed here. No information is given about these classes but one might very well assume that they differ significantly from standard Class M given the small number of quarters capable of housing them. A fe from lifelessness." Carol Marcus 2284.

A project developed during 2280's by Carol Marcus and her son David Marcus but prematurely concluded in 2285. The project was designed to allow the recreation of planet surfaces, atmospheres and biospheres to Class M, habitable environments. Stage 1 of the testing was completed in a laboratory with Stage 2 being carried out less than 12 months later in the underground caverns of a lifeless planetoid Regula 1, a rock classed as a D type planet. The Genesis Proposal to the Federation showed a computer simulation. of the proposed Genesis Effect. The device would be deployed by a torpedo, presumably deployed from a starship's weapons system. Upon impact the device re-arranged matter on a subatomic level. It seemed the planet's mantle, core and even most crustal formation was left intact. The surface and any biosphere (should the device inadvertently be detonated on a habited planet) would be reformed in preference of the new matrix. Molecular matter was reorganized at subatmoic scale in favour of a life generating matter of equal mass. USS Reliant was assigned to be at the disposal of the Regula One observatory science crew. Reliant was scheduled to find an uninhabited planetoid for Genesis testing and report back three months later. Unfortunately, Reliant was captured at Ceti Alpha V and the testing was interrupted and subsequently prematurely detonated by the 20 century war criminal Kahn Noonian Singh .

The premature detonation of the genesis device in the Mutara Nebula seemed to condense the nebula gases into not only a planet but a stellar body as well. The Genesis Wave accelerated the development of the world and probably accounted for the fact that no pre-main sequence events were seen in the newly formed star. The planet aged rapidly due to the use of proto-matter in the Genesis matrix. This was against the consensus of opinion of the late 23rd century that maintained it was extremely hazardous.

Terraforming

Terraforming involves any large scale attempt to allow human(oid) life to survive on a previously uninhabitated world. This process either involved the use of bio-domes (see Mars/Lunar). Other more ambitious projects involve the complete restructuring of the atmosphere. Due to the implications that any terraforming would have on already existing life forms, the Federation employs very strict rules to protect indigenous life. Professor Gideon Seyetik was a renowned scientist having terraformed the planets New Halana and Blue Horizon the later being a particularly beautiful world.

Comets and Asteroids

Comets

These are members of solar systems made consisting of small particles and very tenuous gases with low density and very different chemical components to the planets and inner system debris. Cometary science was advance considerably in 1986 when five space probes were sent to rendevous with Halley's comet. These probes consisted of the Japanese Suisei and Sakigake, Rusian probes Vega 1 and Vega 2 and Giotto from the European Space Agency. Giotto passed through the inner coma and within 605 km of the nucleus. The probes showed that water ice was the main constituent making almost 84% of the comet's mass, followed by formaldehyde and carbon dioxide each of around 3%. There are a smaller amount of volatiles including nitrogen and carbon monoxide. The first U.S. mission launched to fly close to a comet will be the Stardust mission to be launched in February 1999. The mission objective includes the collection and return of cometary material to Earth for analysis. Stardust is scheduled to rendevous with comet Wild 2 in January of 2004. The collected dust and debris returned will consist of the ancient pre-solar interstellar grains. This further probe will allow further work on the development of the solar system before the planetary condensation. The tail has two components an ion trail, that points straight and is repelled by photons from sunlight and a slightly curved dust trail moved by solar wind. Comet P/Tempel 2 studied by the Infrared Astronomical Telescope in 1983 was shown to consist of pebbles around 6 cm in diameter down to tiny grains 0.006 mm across. Comet Tago-Sato-Kosaka was found to be surrounded by a hydrogen cloud 1.6 million km in diameter. Given that comets are the detrital matter of the early solar system. Though the planets have been changed by weathering, tectonics and surficial processess yet comets are the most unaltered, bodies in the solar system. The vast distance from the sun in the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto means the debris is frozen and thus usually unaltered by the heat from the Sun.The probe will not only collect samples at given time increments in the approach the probe will also offer real time interstellar dust analysis conducted with the CIDA.

Even though the comets are usually bound to a system Starfleet have encountered that have escaped the gravity of a single system and move through the ISM. On stardate 47615.2 the USS Enterprise under the command of Jean Luc Picard encountered a comet serving as the host for a massive computer archive hidden in the core of the nucleus. The archive had been launched 87 million years ago by the D'Arsay civilisation. Other encounters with comets include the 2371 silithium laden comet that passed through the Bajoran/Idran wormhole. The silithium was unstable and highly re-active to verteron particles. The "burning of the temple" was prophesied 3000 years before by Trakor who encountered the Orb of Change.(Prophecy)

Asteroids

It is believed that the planets formed via the aggregation of material from a nebula surrounding the protostar around 4600 million years ago. It has been theorised that the accretionary period took place while the nebula was very hot in excess of 1500° c. The planetessimal would begin to contract and the cloud’s heat would rise. Recent work suggests that this period of solar system formation could only occur in the presence of a nearby large X-ray gamma ray burst. Brian McBreen and Lorraine Hanlon of University College Dublin suggest that all the chondrules in the solar system formed within a matter of minutes when intense X-rays hit the gas and dust circling the primordial sun. (New Scientist 11 September 1999). However, oxygen isotope studies by some geochemists believe in a cold accretion theory where the cloud never reached temperatures in excess of 20 –30 K. The minor impacts of the said primordial material in the collapsing planet cloud created a frictional heat flow that that caused fractionation of the primordial elements into layers of dense and lighter material. This caused the heavier elements such as the irons and nickels to literally sink into the cloud forming the dense metallic core by gravitational attraction. This falling of matter towards the center of mass caused the release of potential energy. The released energy caused the s nickel-iron alloy in composition. The iron meteorites are primarily an alloy of iron with approximately 10 percent nickel. The observed textures seen by passing space craft suggests the cooling was slow and crystallisation. The crystallisation would most probably occurred when the detrital mass was part of a significantly larger body that later broke up. Theories hold that the iron meteorites found on the earth may be the broken cores of parent asteroidal bodies of around 70 to 200 kilometres across.