This guide covers how to navigate the universe and find a planet. You'll learn to use the StarMap and Telescope, as well as what to look for. If you already know how to navigate and traverse the universe but require help picking a planet, consider skipping to here. Finding a planet may take some time, so don't give up!
To navigate and traverse the universe, you will need to learn how to use the StarMap, Telescope, and HyperDrive. Let's start with the former.
The Starmap
The StarMap is divided into the Universe and Solar views.
You can toggle between them by clicking Mode in the bottom-right of the StarMap.
In the Universe view, you will be able to see nearby stars and their coordinates. The Solar view will show your current solar system; its star and orbiting planets.
Clicking on a planet displayed on the StarMap will automatically configure the (view)coordinates property of attached HyperDrives and Telescopes to its coordinates.
- A StarMap in the Universe and Solar views.
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A StarMap in the Universe view.
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The StarMap in the Solar view
The Telescope
The Telescope is used to look at the properties of celestial bodies. These include;
- Planet/Star type (See Planets/Star page for more info.)
- Resources (See link for more info)
- Atmosphere (Breathable/Non-breathable)
- Average Temperature
- Gravity
- Rings (True/False)
- Tidally locked (True/False)
- Radius (Only for stars/black holes)
Before entering a planet, you should always look at its properties (if possible) as entering a planet with conditions you are not prepared to deal with may prove deadly.
You should be especially wary of hot planets, as they may set your propulsion (And if the temperature is high enough even PowerCells and Solar panels) ablaze if proper cooling is not supplied. If this happens, try to quickly craft and attach a few Coolers to a power source, and then leave the game to prevent the fire from spreading or completely destroying your propulsion.
To view a celestial body's properties, simply configure the Telescope's ViewCoordinates property to the celestial body's Universe coordinates and click it. Be aware that the Telescope requires power to operate.
The HyperDrive
The HyperDrive is used to traverse the Universe. Simply configure its coordinates property to the coordinates you wish to travel to, ensure it is powered (Required power is listed in red text on the HyperDrive), and send a trigger signal to it (A simple yet effective way is to place a button on it and click it when you wish to warp). Remember to always sit down before using the HyperDrive, as your ship will otherwise warp away without you.
Note that you will have to input star's coordinates manually using the config tool of the hammer. Make sure to add two zeros after the universe coordinates. (x, y, 0,0, NOT x, y)
Looking for a planet
Now that you know how to navigate and traverse the Universe, it is time to look for a planet. Picking a planet out of all the possible ones is hard, so you should first try to narrow it down.
Finding a solar system
You should start with the star and solar system; at least for the early game, this guide recommends going for a blue giant (O type), sol-like (yellow/F type) or orange (K type) star. Blue giants may be slightly more risky due to also being of interest to other players, though the increased power generation from solar panels means it is a risk worth considering. There are plenty of solar systems with these star types, so if you don't like their planets you can always quickly find a new one.
Neutron or black hole systems are also an option, though are much rarer than other system types. This means finding one with the rights planets will be quite difficult. Due to their rarity, these systems may also attract the attention of raiders. Their pros may outweigh their cons, however; especially so for more experienced players. Neutron stars provide high solar power generation rates and can be mined for Neutronium, while DarkMatter can be extracted from black holes. Both of these types of systems also offer increased alien spawn rates: useful for those wanting to hunt them; less so for those just wanting some peace.
Red giants (M type) are the worst of the bunch due to their low solar power generation rates. They can still make a great home system though, as you don't necessarily have to rely on solar power. They shouldn't be disregarded as they may still have great planets, but be aware of the poor power generation you'll get if you heavily rely on solar power.
Once you've decided what type of star type(s) you'd like, you should try to explore around a bit until you find it. Don't instantly dismiss solar systems just because their star type isn't what you desire, though. Some may have planets which more than make up for it. A great opportunity to explore this possibility is if you have to recharge at a star whose type isn't what you want. Instead of sitting around, try to look at some of its planets using your telescope.
Please do note that you should strive to get as far away as possible from starter planets as players will often visit nearby systems, thus increasing the risk of your base being found (and raided).
Regarding solar systems and what to look for in them, just look for ones with many plausible planets (you'll learn how to identify these in the following section of this article).
It's good practice to write down solar systems you like, later comparing their pros and cons.
If you are spoiled for choice and can choose between a large number of solar systems, try to go for one with no Earthlike planets, as they may later become starters.
Finding a planet
As for planets, you should only really look at 5 things, in decreasing importance;
- Resources
- Planet type
- Temperature
- Tidally locked
- Breathable atmosphere
First and foremost, you should look for resources. Without good resources, you cannot make any of the more advanced items in this game. The ones which you just pay special attention to are:
- Aluminum
- Diamond
- Titanium
- Uranium
- Only if you plan on using reactors later on. If you aren't sure whether or not you'll use them, try to find a planet with uranium on it, but don't treat it as a dealbreaker.
In the best-case scenario, all of the above resources should be on your planet. If you cannot find a planet with all of them, it may be worth compromising on a planet which has a majority of the above resources; with the rest preferably being on other planets in your solar system.
Second off, you should look at the planet type.
If you want a lot of resources and don't mind potentially harsh conditions (though note these can be almost as hospitable as a terra planet if you get lucky), go for a barren one. Note you will not have any grass or water, and will have to obtain them using hydroponics and melters respectively.
On the contrary, if you just want an easy first base, a terra or forest planet would be ideal as they are almost always easily habitable and can still generate with all of the resources you'd find on a barren (except beryllium).
Tundras or deserts are great if you want to lower your risk of being raided and/or require a lot of space, while often still being only moderately difficult to inhabit. They offer slightly less resources than barren planets (on average).
Exotic planets vary, and there isn't really a good general rule of thumb for them.
Ocean planets should only really be considered once you've already set up a base as they are can be hard to inhabit. They have decent resources. If you like living underwater or want to hide, these make a good pick.
If planets doesn't meet your wishes, going for a ring base is also an option; in this case you should look for a gas giant. Do know that these can be quite difficult to set up; this guide doesn't recommend them for new players. Advanced players may also choose to enter the gas giant itself. This, however, requires a lot of preparation and requires a good power source available through relays as there is no other good way of getting power in gas giants.
For a more complete analysis of each planet type, take a look at the pages under Category:Planets.
The conditions of the planet are also important; you should optimally look for a planet with a habitable temperature (Around -10-80 degrees), which is either not tidally locked or is locked to daytime, and which has a breathable atmosphere. Temperature is the most important out of all the conditions, as having an incredibly hot or cold planet will make building out your base quite difficult. The planet being tidally locked or not is also important, as it being perpetual night means you will have to use night vision goggles or lights at all times, and generating power by using solar panels will be impossible. If you are fine with this, you may ignore it. A breathable atmosphere is also important, though not having one can be solved quite easily as air supplies have a massive range, and can easily be carried on backpacks (Apparel).
Again, as with resources, if you can't find a planet with perfect conditions, just compromise on a planet with conditions hospitable enough that you think you can handle them.
It's hardly likely that you'll find the perfect planet during your search. Finding a planet is a trade-off between time spent and the quality of planets found. It's up to you to decide how much time you're willing to spend searching. Keep in mind that you can also always move if a planet no longer suits you.
Once you've found a planet to call home, (assuming you aren't already there) warp to it using your HyperDrive and prepare to enter it. Once you've made sure you can safely enter the planet (you may need to add some coolers or heaters to your ship; preferably on a switch), point your ship at it and turn on your propulsion. Once you're in planet itself, it's time to find a spot for your new base.
Where to go from here
Congrats 🎉! You've found a planet to call home! Now, you simply have to find a spot for your new, permanent base. To start, you should check whether the planet you are going to settle is already inhabited. If this is the case you may either choose to ignore the existing base (A lot of them are abandoned), or to look for a new planet. You may also choose to raid it and take its resources, though this is up to you.
A spot for your base should have resources nearby and a lot of space for later expansion. With the knowledge you gained from escaping your starter planet, you should have no problem setting up your first base. If this is the ever case though, you can consult Getting Started again for a refresher of the basics.
As Waste of Space is a sandbox game, these starter guides come to a close at this point. It's now up to you to build whatever you want and to make your ideas come alive. Good luck, and have fun!
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