In this guide, we will cover 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, 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 are able to
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 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 (A simple yet effective way is to simply place a button on it and click it when you wish to warp).
Note that you will have to input star's coordinates manually using the config tool, 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 we'll first try to narrow it down.
Finding a solar system
We'll start with the star and solar system; at least for the early game, you'll likely want to go for a blue giant (O type), a 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.
Do NOT go for neutron or black hole systems, as they are often checked by raiders. If you want to set up a space station however, a neutron system is worth considering due to the increased solar power generation, just make sure it's on random coordinates so it isn't found.
Red giants (M type) are only worth considering if you do not heavily rely on solar, or if the planets are great. These make great picks for a later base as you'll likely have the resources to build more powerful power generation setups which can supplant abundant solar power. Their decereased solar output will work to your advantage, bringing less attention to the solar system, passively hiding your base from griefers.
Once you've decided what type of star 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, increasing the risk of your base being found.
It's also good practice to write down plausible solar systems, later comparing their pros and cons.
For solar systems, just look for ones with many plausible planets (you'll learn how to identify these in the following section of this article), and if also possible, no Earthlike ones 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;
If possible, all required resources should be on your planet, though if you cannot find one with all of them, it may be worth compromising on a planet which has a majority of the ones which you'll be using the most, with the rest preferably being on other planets in your solar system.
Second off, you should look at the planet type.
If you need a lot of resources and don't really care about habitability, 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, though they offer slightly less resources than barren planets and can be quite difficult to inhabit. 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. They are incredibly hard to inhabit, and have decent resources. If you like living underwater or want to hide, these are a decent pick.
If a planet doesn't meet your requirements, 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 and aren't really recommended 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.
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 most important, 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).
Once you've found a planet to call home, (assuming you aren't already there) simply warp to it using your HyperDrive, and prepare to enter it. Once you've made sure you can safely enter the planet, simply point your ship at it and turn on your propulsion. Once you're in planet itself, it is time to find a spot for your new base.
Finding a spot for your base
Congrats 🎉! You've found a planet to call home! Now, you simply have to find a spot for your 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 look for a new planet. You may also choose to 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. Consult Building A Base if you require assistance with building your first permanent base.
Good luck!