Sector Survey Phase 0 (Remote Survey)

Remote surveys are conducted at extremely distant ranges. Since the early 20th century on Earth, astronomers have been able to determine from afar the basic characteristics of a star, such as type, mass, chemical composition. When a chart of a sector is first prepared, the location and types of stars are presumed to come from a database compiled from prior observations.

Step A: Astronomical Databases Review

Table 1: Remote Survey

Determine star fields
Step A: Roll 1d100
01 – 73	empty space
74 – 91	possible unusual item (go to Step B)
92 – 00	single star system (go to Step C)
Alternate Step A: Roll 1d100	(for when object positions are already known)
01 - 67	possible unusual item (go to Step B)
68 - 00	single star system (go to Step C)

Callout: As Star Charts indicates the approximate number of stars in a sector is 40 (p 16), and presuming this is based upon the Local Space's location within the Orion Arm, the academic view is that a sector could range from 20 to 80 stars. With my judgement call that the higher end is too high, I'm resetting it to 50. Therefore, when randomly generating a sector within SST, roll for 20 to 50 stars per sector.

Step B: Unusual Item Determination

Table 2: Unusual Item

Step B - Unusual Item: Roll 1d100
01 – 17	unusual item (go to Step E)
18 – 59	binary star system (go to Step C to roll for largest)Note 1
60 – 87	trinary star system (go to Step C to roll for largest)Note 1
88 – 00	quadruple star system (go to Step C to roll for largest)Note 1

Note 1: Then roll for next star(s); re-roll any that are larger (in mass) than the immediate previous largest. All successive stars must either be equal to or smaller than the preceding stars. The Spectral Class table has the necessary details.

Step C: Star Type Determination

Table 3: Star Type Determination

Step C1: Roll 1d10
01	Non-Main Sequence star (go to Step C1.1)
02	Class W brown dwarfNote 1
03 – 10	Main Sequence star (go to Step D)
Step C1.1 - Non-Main Sequence: Roll 1d1000
01 – 410	Class D white dwarf
411 - 560	Class Z1 stellar black hole
461 - 480	Class Z2 intermediate mass black hole
481	Class Ia super giant (go to C1.1.1)
482	Class Ib super giant (go to C1.1.1)
483 - 484	Class II large giant (go to C1.1.1)
485 - 561	Class III giant (go to C1.1.1)
562 - 590	Class IV sub giant (go to C1.1.1)
591 - 1000	Class VI subdwarf (go to C1.1.2)
Step C1.1.1 - Giant Star Types: Roll 1d100
01 - 03	O (Blue)
04 - 09	M (Red)
10 - 28	B (Blue-white)
29 - 83	K (Orange)
84 - 100	A (White)

Note 1: When brown dwarfs are the result of the roll for the primary star type determination, re-roll starting with Step A. Brown dwarfs may fill the role of a secondary or later star in a multi-star system, with a solar mass of (1d8 / 100). There is a 5% chance the object will be placed within a planetary orbit, replacing the otherwise largest planet, rather than as a member of a binary (or more) pair orbiting a common center of gravity. Otherwise (95%), the brown dwarf will pair with a partner star(s).

Step D: Spectral Class Determination

The star determinations have been made more amenable for hospitable planets (and life), compared to the real variance in star types.

Table 4: Spectral Class Data

Roll 1d1000	Spectral Class	Mass (mSun)	Radius (rSun)	Temp (K)
001-010	Red M9V	0.08	0.1	2,300
011-020	M8V	0.09	0.13	2,450
021-030	M7V	0.10	0.28	2,680
031-040	M6V	0.39	0.45	3,100
041-050	M5V	0.40	0.5	3,200
051-060	M4V	0.43	0.53	3,300
061-070	M3V	0.46	0.57	3,500
071-080	M2V	0.5	0.6	3,600
081-090	M1V	0.5	0.65	3,660
091-100	M0V	0.5	0.7	3,900
101-120	Orange K9V	0.59	0.608	3,930
121-140	K8V	0.62	0.615	3,990
141-160	K7V	0.64	0.630	4,100
161-180	K6V	0.69	0.669	4,300
181-200	K5V	0.70	0.701	4,440
201-220	K4V	0.73	0.713	4,600
221-240	K3V	0.78	0.755	4,830
241-260	K2V	0.82	0.783	5,100
261-280	K1V	0.86	0.797	5,170
281-300	K0V	0.88	0.813	5,270
301-325	Yellow G9V	0.90	0.853	5,380
326-350	G8V	0.94	0.914	5,480
351-375	G7V	0.95	0.927	5,550
376-400	G6V	0.97	0.949	5,600
401-425	G5V	0.98	0.977	5,660
426-450	G4V	0.985	0.991	5,680
451-475	G3V	0.99	1.002	5,720
476-500	G2V	1.00	1.012	5,770
501-525	G1V	1.03	1.060	5,860
526-550	G0V	1.06	1.100	5,930
551-570	Yellowish-white F9V	1.13	1.167	6,050
571-590	F8V	1.18	1.221	6,180
591-610	F7V	1.21	1.324	6,280
611-630	F6V	1.25	1.359	6,350
631-650	F5V	1.33	1.473	6,550

	Spectral Class	Mass (mSun)	Radius (rSun)	Temp (K)
651-670	F4V	1.38	1.533	6,670
671-690	F3V	1.44	1.578	6,750
691-710	F2V	1.46	1.622	6,820
711-730	F1V	1.50	1.679	7,020
731-750	F0V	1.61	1.728	7,220
751-762	White A9V	1.75	1.747	7,400
763-774	A8V	1.77	1.748	7,590
775-786	A7V	1.81	1.750	7,760
787-798	A6V	1.83	1.775	7,910
799-810	A5V	1.86	1.785	8,100
811-822	A4V	1.88	1.794	8,250
823-834	A3V	1.93	1.861	8,600
835-846	A2V	1.98	2.117	8,800
847-858	A1V	2.05	2.136	9,300
859-870	A0V	2.18	2.193	9,700
871-878	Blue-white B9V	2.75	2.49	10,700
879-886	B8V	3.38	2.86	12,300
887-894	B7V	3.92	2.94	14,000
895-902	B6V	4.30	3.27	14,500
903-910	B5V	4.70	3.36	15,700
911-918	B4V	5.10	3.46	16,400
919-926	B3V	5.40	3.61	17,000
927-934	B2V	7.30	4.06	20,600
935-942	B1V	11.00	5.71	26,000
943-950	B0V	17.70	7.16	31,400
951-955	Blue O9V	19.63	7.51	33,300
956-960	O8V	23.00	8.50	35,100
961-965	O7V	30.85	9.52	37,100
966-970	O6V	43.71	10.71	39,500
971-975	O5V	60.00	12.00	41,400
976-980	O4V	85.31	13.43	42,900
981-985	O3V	120.00	15.00	44,900
986-990	O2V	125.34	15.93	47,000
991-995	O1V	142.3	17.17	48,900
996-000	O0V	159.26	18.41	50,900

Step E: Unusual Item Catalog

Conventional planet- and orbit-bound sensors (including the various types of telescopes) can detect at extremely long ranges a large number of standard items that do not fit under the standard star system category, such as nebulae and pulsars. However, other interstellar items require detection by sensors in closer proximity, such as starships performing sector (or navigational) surveys (sometimes within 10 lightyears or less, depending on the long-range sensor tech levels). Others require detection from almost right on top of them (i.e., Point Blank) or there are devastating consequences.

All unusual items are determined in this Phase 0 in order to develop impacts, if any. When a sector is generated (for game purposes), properly designate each of the unusual items that are a result of Step A. If the items are reasonably detectable through remote conventional means, use their specific designations and general coordinates (see "System Designation") as their article designation, until a proper name is applied, and denote them as such on the chart / SST. When the roll result is for an unusual item not likely to be detected by conventionally remote means, designate it as U-(coordinates) and mark it on SST with a red Unknown Object symbol (i.e., the question mark). Once they have been detected but not identified, change the symbol color to gray.

Table 5: Interstellar Phenomena Survey
see Interstellar Phenomena for details

Roll 1d1000	Catalog ID	Item	Notes
01 - 62	NMA	Lost planet (Class R)	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
63 - 478	NMB	Lost planet (Type I, J, S, T, U, or W)	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
479 - 540	NMC	Planetary nebula (1d10 x 0.1 lys diameter) (go to Table 5.1)	Detectable by conventional sensors; always have a white dwarf (Class D) star at center
541 - 556	NMD	Small nebula (1d6 x 0.33 lys diameter) (go to Table 5.1)	Detectable by conventional sensors
557 - 560	NME	Large nebula (3d6 lys diameter) (go to Table 5.1)	Detectable by conventional sensors
561 - 576	NMF	Protostar	Detectable by conventional sensors
577 - 638	NMG	T. Tauri star	Detectable by conventional sensors
639 - 654	NMH	Variable star	Detectable by conventional sensors
655 - 658	NMI	Neutron star	Detectable by conventional sensors
659 - 660	NMJ	Pulsar	Detectable by conventional sensors
661 - 664	NMK	Nova	Detectable by conventional sensors with long advance notice
665 - 668	NML	Lazarus star	Detectable by conventional sensors
669 - 684	NMM	Ion storm (1d10 strength level)	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
685 - 700	NMN	Plasma field (1d10 strength level) (go to Table 5.2)	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
701 - 716	NMO	Spatial flexure	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
717 - 732	NMP	Particle fountain	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
733 - 748	NMQ	Quantum filament	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
749 - 752	NMR	Temporal rift	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
753 - 814	NMS	Star cluster (1d12 stars and roll for another interstellar phenomenon)	Detectable by conventional sensors
815 - 816	NMT	Spatial interphase	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
817 - 820	NMU	Quantum fissure	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
821 - 824	NMV	Energy vortex	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
825 - 826	NMW	Supernova	Detectable by conventional sensors with long advance notice
827 - 828	NMX	Wormhole (randomly determine exit) (go to Table 5.3)	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
829 - 830	NMY	Cosmic string (1d10 light-years in length)	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
831 - 856	SPC	Subspace compression (diameters of single-digit AUs)	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
857 - 907	SPE	Subspace eddy	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
908 - 909	SPG	Graviton ellipse	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
910	SPH	Subspace sinkhole	Detectable at low-resolution range on starship long range sensors
911 - 998	SPO	Subspace corridor	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
999	SPR	Subspace rift/rupture	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
Note	SPS	Subspace shockwave	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
Note	SPT	Subspace turbulence	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors
1000	SPV	Subspace vacuole	Detectable only at high-resolution range on starship long range sensors

5.1 Nebula Classes^{Note 3}

Roll 1d100	Class
01-60	Class A (Hydrogen type)
61-64	Class C (Mutara type)
65-68	Class E (Gamma Eridani type)Note 4
69-72	Class G (Dichromic type)
73-76	Class H (Hugora type)
77-79	Class I (Idari type)

Roll 1d100	Class
80-83	Class J (Mar Oscura type)
84-86	Class K (Cerulean type)
87-91	Class P (McAllister type)
92-94	Class R (Rolor type)
95-98	Class T (Emission type)
99-00	Class Y (Inversion type)

Note 3: See Nebula for descriptions and rules regarding the different types of nebulae.

Note 4: Re-roll if a planetary or small nebula.

5.1.1 Nebula Levels^{Note 5}

Roll 1d20	Grade
1	Level 1
2	Level 2
3	Level 3
4	Level 4
5	Level 5
6	Level 6
7	Level 7
8	Level 8
9	Level 9

Roll 1d20	Grade
10	Level 11
11	Level 10
12	Level 12
13	Level 13
14	Level 14
15	Level 15
16	Level 16
17	Level 17
18-20	re-roll

Note 5: These levels indicate the basic structure and composition of individual nebulae, with no direct bearing to the game or charting.

5.1.2 Nebula Centers^{Note 6}
(Planetary nebulae only have the 1 center.)

Roll 1d6	Small Nebula	Large Nebula
1-3	1 center	3 centers
4-5	2 centers	4 centers
6	3 centers	5 centers

Note 6: See Help:Sectors for guidance on depicting multi-center nebulae on the sector charts.

5.2 Plasma Field Level

Roll 1d10	Level
01 – 10	Level of field (see Interstellar Phenomena: Plasma Field) Go to Table 5.2.1

5.2.1 Plasma Field Size

Roll 1d100	Size
01 – 15	Planetary sized (1d10 x 0.1 lys diameter)
16 - 77	Small (1d6 x 0.33 lys diameter)
78 - 00	Large (3d6 lys diameter)

5.2.2 Plasma Field Centers^{Note 7}
(Planetary sized only have the 1 center.)

Roll 1d6	Small	Large
1-3	1 center	3 centers
4-5	2 centers	4 centers
6	3 centers	5 centers

Note 7: See Help:Sectors for guidance on depicting multi-center plasma fields on the sector charts.

5.3 Wormhole Opposite Side

Roll 1d100	Small
01 – 95	unattached opposite end (jumps around between quadrants/galaxies)
96 – 00	attached end (go to Table 5.1.)

5.3.1 Wormhole Exit Point

Roll 1d100	Small
01 – 19	within charted Alpha Quadrant
20 – 25	uncharted Alpha Quadrant
26 – 50	Beta Quadrant
51 – 75	Delta Quadrant
76 – 00	Gamma Quadrant