Planetary Classification Index

Avg. Diameter
Class Description Example Core Typical Atmosphere System zone Notes
(1,000 km)
Very hot world. Partially to completely
Negligible to thick
Class A Proto planet 1 to 20 Molten Any molten surface. Often a very young and
Methane, Hydrocarbons
newly formed world.
Negligible to thin Hy- Also known as dwarf planets. Small
Class B Mesoplanet Luna, Pluto 0.9 to 4 Rock, Ice Any
drogen, Helium rocky or icy bodies.

Planet contains hydrocarbons, carbon

Metallic, Thin hydrocarbon com-
Class C Carbon planet 1 to 15 Inner, Bio monoxide and other carbon compounds.
Carbon pounds
Life might be possible if water is present

Metallic, Small rocky world or moon. Normally

Class D Small Terrestrial Mercury 4 to 9 Negligible or thin Any
Rock geologically inactive.
Geologically very active. Intense inter-
Hydrogen compounds,
Class E Geoactive 3 to 15 Rock Any nal heat, perhaps from highly radioac-
Sulfur compounds
tive core or tidal forces.
Possible dense atmos- Geologically very active, Metallic core.
Class F Super Terrestrial 16 to 30 Metallic Any
pheres Very high gravity 2 to 8x earth.
High concentration of oxygen silicone
Carbon dioxide, Heavy
Class G Crystalline 8 to 15 Rocky Any compounds. During cooling planet
gases.
formed crystalline structures
Less than 10% hydrosphere. Extremely
Metallic, Oxygen, nitrogen, ar-
Class H Desert 8 to 15 Bio dry, little to no natural precipitation.
Rock gon, trace gasses
Can be habitable.
Gas Giants sitting within .5 au or orbit 1
Hydrogen, Helium with
Class I Gas supergiant Jupiter 100 to 200 Any are known as Hot Gas Giants and are in
mix of other gasses.
the process of having their atmosphere
stripped away. Alternately they may be
Hydrogen, Helium with
Class J Gas giant Neptune 32 to 100 Any composed of more exotic elements such
mix of other gasses.
as heavy metallic gasses,
Limited water. Normally no advanced
Class K Marginal Mars 5 to 10 Rock Thin Bio
native lifeforms
Metallic, Carbon dioxide, oxy- Barely habitable. Hostile/Primitive
Class L Marginal 5 to 15 Bio
Rock gen, argon, nitrogen ecosystem.

Earth, Vul- Metallic, Nitrogen, oxygen, Extensive plant and animal life often
Class M Terrestrial 10 to 15 Bio
can Rock Trace gasses flourishes

Metallic, Chlorine, Fluorine, These gasses, like oxygen, could support

Class N Reducing 8 to 15 Inner, Bio
Rock Other reactive gasses. life.
Metallic, Oxygen, nitrogen,
Class O Oceanic 10 to 15 Bio Greater than 90% hydrosphere.
Rocky Trace gasses
Metallic, Oxygen, nitrogen,
Class P Glaciated 10 to 15 Bio At least 80% cryosphere
Rock Trace gasses
Planet resulting from the stripping away
of a gas giant’s atmosphere often by
Class Q Chthonian 4 to 15 Metallic Tenuous to thin Inner
proximity to a star. Entire planet may be
metallic.
low density ultragiants, often less dense
Hydrogen, Helium with
Class S Gas Ultragiant 200 to 300+ Any than water. Sometimes called fluffy gas
mix of other gasses.
giants.
Dense ultragiants. Pressure and limited
Hydrogen, Helium,
Gas Ultragiant / unsustained internal fusion provides
Class T 200 to 300+ lithium with mix of Any
Brown dwarf heat. With a bit more mass these worlds
other gasses.
would have been stars.
Ice, Liq- Icy crust, perhaps liquid beneath. Possi-
Class U Ice World 4 to 10 Negligible to thin Outer
uid ble life.

Class W Dirty Snowball Titan 4 to 10 Rock Negligible to thin Outer Mix of ice and rock.

World that does not fit into any other

category. Exotic geological structure or
Class X Exotic Any Any Any Any
atmosphere. Electrically charged worlds,
pulsar worlds, etc.
Inner, Bio Sometimes called “Demon worlds”.
Thick Carbon dioxide,
Class Y Ultra Hostile Venus 8 to 15 Metallic Extreme pressures and temperatures.
sulfur compounds,
World uninhabitable to terrestrial life.
Note: Any Gas Giant with a diameter of greater than 140 km is a candidate for a brown dwarf if dense enough. or 13 times the mass of Jupiter.

STARFLEET rev: 1231.29.004