Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the task of searching for and analyzing planets before going on expedition. Proper astrophysics work is necessary for safe and productive expeditions. It is performed at the AstroTerminal on the Bridge.

The AstroTerminal on the Bridge.

Scanning for Planets

When not in orbit around a planet, you can search for new planets to explore.

Scanning costs 3 and has an 80% chance of success.

• You will save 1 if you are Astrophysicist.
• You will save 1 if your ship has completed CPU Overclocking.
  • These bonuses stack with each other.

If the Planet Scanner in the engine room is broken, the chances of successfully finding a planet will decrease to 50%.

Analyzing Planets

Once you have found a suitable planet, you may perform a surface analysis.

For 2 or 1 you can reveal one zone on the planet.

• You can reveal 1 additional zone if the BIOS CPU Priority is set to Astronavigation.
• You can reveal 1 additional zone if you are Astrophysicist.
• You can reveal 1 additional zone if your ship has completed Quantum Sensors.
• You can reveal 1 additional zone and save 1 while approaching/orbiting the planet.
  • All of these bonuses do stack with each other, for a maximum of five zones for an Astrophysicist in orbit.

Additionally, if you have the Magellan Liquid Map artifact in the shelf at the bridge while scanning, it will reveal 1 to 2 zones upon initial discovery of the planet.

Empty Space

• When the Daedalus is not in orbit around a planet, it is considered in "Empty Space".

• While in empty space, everyone is able to scan for new planets and the AstroTerminal will keep records for up to two planets per crew member. These results are private and cannot be shared with others to verify results or to help with the scanning.

• If you want to delete a scan from your workspace, you can click the icon to permanently delete this planet. You will not be able to visit this planet once it has been deleted.

Attributes

Every planet has the following attributes:

• Direction: Determines the direction that the commander will need to point the Daedalus.
• Distance: Determines how many fuel are required to get to the planet. Ranges from 2 to 9.
• Size: How many zones to explore. Ranges from 1 to 20.
• Name and Appearance: Random and purely decorative.

Travel

• To travel to the planet, you will need to make sure that you have the exact amount of loaded that is required, as determined by the planet scan.

Over or under loading will mean that you miss the planet and you will need to start the scanning process from scratch.

• Once you move the Daedalus, all previous scan results are lost (with the exception of the planet you are moving to, if you're moving into orbit).

• When the ship starts moving to or from a planet, the AstroTerminal behaves as if it were already the end of the journey.
  • For instance, if you're moving to a planet, even though you're not there yet, everyone will see the planet scan results and be able to uncover any zones that might still be covered.
    • If you're moving out of orbit and back into empty space, you can start scanning for new planets as soon as the ship starts moving out of orbit.

Notes & Tips

• Scan only with 8-12 since it is an expensive activity, and incomplete scans may go to waste.

• If you will be consuming anything to scan ( Coffee, Standard Rations, etc), or several people are scanning, it is not a bad idea to go to the lab to use the Stainproof Apron to eat, or borrow it to use at the bridge.
  • Even though it can use up some , if you get Dirty and have to shower before continuing, that negates most to all of your gain.

• First look for a planet. If it has 6 to 12 zones, proceed.
  • If fewer than 6, delete it. Generally a very small planet has low chance of having what your ship needs, but in times of desperation this rule can be flexible.
  • Conversely, an extremely huge planet may not be worth proceeding to analyze if you need to get to a planet quickly, and is more likely to have dangerous zones as well as resources. Keep in mind that an average expedition covers 9 zones.

• Another factor in analyzing a planet may be the amount of needed to get there.
  • If your ship has very low you may want to hold off on analyzing a planet that takes 5 or 6 to get to and see if you can find a closer planet instead.

• Once you have a suitable planet to analyze, start advanced analysis only if you have enough even though it can use up some to uncover all the zones.
  • If you don't have enough , see if you can acquire food or a mission. If you can't, generally it is better to wait until you regenerate enough to carry out the full analysis before beginning.
    • Since it is usually not a good idea to move to a planet until a full analysis has been made, forging ahead to see what just a few zones from a planet contains is rarely helpful. It could end up being a waste of if you end up in a desperate situation and need to move ship to escape hunters/asteroids. Or, if your ship is in urgent need of finding a planet to explore, someone else might start scanning and find a suitable planet before you finish yours, rendering all your used a waste.

• Stop at any point if your analysis shows Volcanoes (possible group death), Mankarogs or Seismic Activity (possible member death).
  • Unless the ship is desperate for certain resources such as Template:Oyxgen, delete that planet and do not spend more on it.
  • These planets are generally considered too risky to explore due to chances of instant death.
    • Mankarogs zones may yield a Starmap Fragment, so if you have a Diplomat to at least avoid the fight event, it may be worth the risk.

• Once you have completely analyzed a planet, post for everybody to see the direction, fuel needed, and a list of every zone so that the exploration group can be fully prepared.

• Unless the Daedalus moved since the discovery of the planet, you can still travel there if you know its direction and required fuel, even when a person who found the planet is dead.

• To move to open space if currently in orbit, you must load one into the Combustion_Chamber and have the Commander move the ship one part in any direction

Note about scans

• Only you can see the results of your planet.

• Once the ship moves, all scans you have on the terminal will be deleted except that of the planet the ship has moved to. For this reason it's a good idea to coordinate with your shipmates to only have one analysis going at a time.
  • If more than one person scans at the same time, then one person's will likely be just wasted. This is another reason why it's a good idea to only analyze if you have enough to uncover the whole planet, you won't overlap with someone else if you can post your results right away for people to know whether to go to your planet or to start scanning for something else.
• Mind that the existence of Forest or living creatures on a planet does not guarantee !