Star System
Star Systems are the main play areas in most of Cosmoteer's game modes. They are scaled representations of entire solar systems, featuring a central star, an asteroid belt, and varying numbers of planets.
Layout
Star
The core feature of any star system is the large, central star, which appears to be a Class-F main-sequence star judging by the white color.
Stars are unremarkable for the most part, with the key feature being the heat-damage perimeter called the sun zone surrounding them.
Damage Perimeter
- Main article: Sun Diving
The sun zone is an area that surrounds every star, highlighted by a red-striped circle. Any ship entering this perimeter very quickly sustains massive heat damage to all parts, representing the ship getting too close to the sun.
Ships given move orders will skirt around the perimeter and refuse to path inside it unless specifically ordered.
Any crew member who leaves the ship while in the sun zone will die instantly.
The perimeter contains many highly valuable asteroids with rare resources such as 
Gold, 
Uranium, and 
Tri-Steel. These asteroids can be retrieved from the perimeter using specialized ship designs and tractor beams, allowing for safe harvesting.
Asteroid Belt
- Main article: Asteroid
Another highly notable feature in every system is the asteroid belt, represented by a white dashed line that surrounds the system. The belt contains vast amounts of common resource asteroids — such as 
Iron and 
Copper — and can even contain rare resource asteroids, albeit in far fewer numbers.
Hyper-Jump Relays
- Main article: Hyper-Jump Relay
Another feature common to all systems are Hyper-Jump Relays. These are located at the extreme edges of systems, far beyond the asteroid belt, and point in the direction of other star systems relative to their position on the galaxy map. Player-owned ships can interact with these relays and use them to travel to other systems at the expense of 
Hyperium.
Points-of-interest
Systems feature varying numbers of 'points-of-interest' (aka PoIs) represented by 
icon. PoIs fall into the following types, though some may only spawn in Career mode:
- Trade Stations
- Pirate Stations
- Faction Bases
- Hyper-Jump Relays
- Hyper-Jump Beacons
- Asteroid Fields
- Valuable Asteroids
- Ship Graveyards
- Abandoned Ships
- Target Areas
- Storage Pods
Trade Stations
- Main article: Stations
Trade stations are central hubs of activity within systems. Players can interact with them to accept Missions, trade resources, purchase blueprints, and hire crew members. NPC ships will periodically visit stations to purchase and restock resources.
Pirate Stations
Pirate stations are hubs of pirate activity. They consist of a central station flanked by several defense platforms, with a handful of pirate ships patrolling the perimeter. These locations can be highly dangerous, meaning unprepared players should stay clear.
Faction Bases
Faction bases are outposts belonging to other factions with influence over a system. For example, a Fringe Systems Resistance-owned system with Monolith Cooperative influence will likely contain a Monolith faction base. These bases are usually highly protected, with numerous defense platforms and a handful of ships patrolling the area.
Unlike main trading stations, these bases only offer trade and blueprint services, meaning players cannot accept missions or hire crew from them.
Hyper-Jump Beacons
Hyper-Jump Beacons are small immobile 'ships' with a Hyperdrive Beacon and provide 'waypoints' that player ships can instantaneously jump to using a hyperdrive, similar to jumping to a station. These intra-system jumps have a far cheaper Hyperium cost compared to jumping to other systems.
Asteroid Fields
- Main article: Asteroid
Asteroid fields consist of many asteroids containing common resources such as Copper, Iron, and Hyperium. They can also occasionally spawn rarer resources like Gold.
The quantity of asteroids makes these fields valuable locations for mining and refining operations. However, players should approach with caution, as they can contain enemy ships if the field is the target of a "Clear Asteroid Field" mission provided by a local station.
Valuable Asteroids
- Main article: Asteroid
While the asteroid belt and asteroid fields contain the majority of asteroids, systems also contain lone valuable asteroids. These asteroids are always large and contain rare resources, such as Uranium and Gold.
Ship Graveyards
Ship graveyards contain numerous shipwrecks. Most of these wrecks are highly damaged with core components missing, though some can be found on occasion with valuable parts — such as weapons and thrusters — to salvage.
These locations are great for salvage operations due to the wealth of common materials contained within, such as 
Steel. However, players should approach with caution as they sometimes contain pirate defenders.
Abandoned Ships
Abandoned ships are (usually) fully functional crafts, albeit with damaged parts that have reduced salvage refunds. Players can transfer crew to these ships to add them to their fleet, or pilot them to a safer location for salvage.
Target Areas
- Main article: Missions
Target areas are the locations of enemy ships that are the target of missions such as "Fugitive Bounty" and "Renegade Pack". The target ships patrol these areas and will attack any player or pirate ships that enter their radius.
Storage Pods
Storage pods are small, unmarked 'ships' consisting of nothing more than a central storage bay and surrounding metal frame. Players can claim control of the pod or deconstruct the storage bay to access the valuable resources — such as 
Processor, Tri-Steel, and 
Enriched Uranium — inside.
Players can often find pirate ships protecting the pods that need to be defeated before they can access the contents.
Allegiance
All systems are controlled primarily by one dominant faction, which heavily influences the types of ships and stations that will spawn within them. However, other factions also have influence over systems, meaning that their ships will be encountered too.
Gallery
A full, unexplored star system
A fully explored star system
A fully explored star system with all PoIs labelled
The asteroid belt surrounding a system, marked with a gray dashed line
An asteroid field with some asteroids visible
Asteroids within the damage perimeter of a star
A star
A ship being destroyed by a star
