The Milky Way's bar and spiral arms on the galaxy map

Exploration

The solar system and beyond

Start on Earth, visit the planets, then plan a flight to another star. Sandbox includes real nearby systems, generated planets and a map that extends beyond the Milky Way.

Real nearby stars

The nearby-star catalog contains 1,215 real systems within 50 light-years of the Sun. The 2D map preserves each star's distance from the Sun; it is not a complete three-dimensional reconstruction.

Charted systems include Alpha Centauri, TRAPPIST-1 and its seven planets, Sirius and its white dwarf, and larger landmarks such as Betelgeuse and the Pleiades. Star properties and known planets come from observations. Their appearance in the game is an interpretation of that data.

The Sun labeled Sol, with Alpha Centauri, Sirius and Barnard's Star on the galaxy map — Galaxy mapThe Sun and nearby stars on the galaxy map.

Planets and moons

Uncharted systems are generated from fixed seeds. Their planets range from lava worlds and deserts to ocean planets, ice giants and ringed gas giants. Moons can have volcanic surfaces, haze, oceans or forests.

A generated planet with turquoise oceans, rose and tan continents, white clouds and a blue atmospheric rim — Generated worldA world in the 40 Eridani system.

A generated planet with deep blue seas, several pale rocky continents and white clouds — Generated worldSeas and continents around GJ 3618.

Io in yellow and orange, with small glowing vents and the Loki Patera map label — Solar systemIo, Jupiter's volcanic moon.

55 Cancri e interpreted as an orange lava world with dark rocky patches — Real exoplanetAn interpretation of 55 Cancri e.

You can land on solid worlds and explore on foot or with a rover. Their generated surfaces are simpler than the artist-authored planets of the solar system.

Find a destination

The STAR INDEX searches stars, galaxies, nebulae and clusters by name. Its FIND tab looks for nearby systems that match the kind of trip you want.

The Star Index FIND tab listing habitable-zone systems with Earth visible behind the panel — Star finderA habitable-zone search from Earth orbit.

Filter by star type, planet and moon type, size, gravity, rings, liquid surfaces and habitable zone. Presets include habitable planets, moons with atmospheres, ringed giants and pulsars with planets.

Fly between stars

Select a star, choose NAVIGATE and set a cruise speed. The planner works out the departure burn, but your craft still needs the engines and propellant to make the trip.

Time warp speeds up the crossing. At speeds close to light speed, separate ship and universe clocks show the effect of time dilation. The 0.99 c flight below uses Sandbox cheats; it is not a typical flight with a conventional rocket. Slow below five percent of light speed to arrive at a system.

A large diagonal spacecraft with a HUD showing 0.99000 c, time dilation, and separate ship and galaxy clocks — Interstellar flightA Sandbox test at 0.99 c.

Within a star system, the transfer planner can also search for gravity assists, including flybys of binary stars.

The solar-system map with a selected Jupiter-to-Saturn gravity-assist route and flyby aim marker — NavigationA planned route to Saturn using a Jupiter flyby.

Black holes and stellar remnants

Visit Sagittarius A* at the Milky Way's centre, explore systems around pulsars, or orbit a white dwarf. Close approaches to black holes can destroy a craft through tidal forces.

Sagittarius A* in flight view, with a dark center and glowing orange gas — Black holeSagittarius A* in flight view.

Theta1 Orionis A, B, C and D labeled on a close view of the Trapezium — Star clusterFour stars of the Trapezium.

A red nebula with dark pillars and the Eta Carinae and Trumpler 16 map labels — NebulaCarina Nebula, Eta Carinae and Trumpler 16.

Beyond the Milky Way

Zoom out to Andromeda, the Magellanic Clouds and other catalogued galaxies. Their generated star systems can be visited too. At larger scales, the map shows galaxy clusters, voids and a generated cosmic web.

Andromeda seen at an angle on the galaxy map — GalaxiesAndromeda on the galaxy map.

The Whirlpool Galaxy M51 and its companion NGC 5195 — GalaxiesThe Whirlpool Galaxy.

Filaments of galaxies around the Laniakea Supercluster — Cosmic webThe map at supercluster scale.

Exploring with friends

Players in other star systems appear on the galaxy map. You can spectate across systems and, when the host permits teleporting, use GO TO to meet another player.

Flights between stars run privately. On arrival, press SYNC to rejoin the shared world. Separate travellers cannot meet during the crossing. Multiplayer interstellar flight uses the default patched-conics gravity model.

Player tags for Alice at TRAPPIST-1 and Bob at Alpha Centauri on the galaxy map — MultiplayerPlayers in two different star systems.

Multiplayer and hosting →

Questions about exploration

Can you fly to other stars?

Yes, in Sandbox. Choose a star on the galaxy map and plan the flight. Your craft uses its own engines and fuel, with time warp for the crossing. Career missions stay in the solar system.

Are the stars and planets real?

The nearby-star catalog contains 1,215 real systems within 50 light-years of the Sun. Charted systems include real binaries and confirmed exoplanets. Other systems are generated from fixed seeds, so players exploring the same location find the same worlds. Exoplanet artwork is an interpretation, not a photograph.

Can you land on generated planets?

You can land on solid planets and moons, walk outside and drive across the surface. Stars and gas giants have no landable surface.

Does interstellar travel work in multiplayer?

Yes, in Sandbox with the default patched-conics gravity model. A crossing runs privately; arrive and press SYNC to rejoin the shared world. Separate travellers cannot meet during the crossing.

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