A class J planet was a type of planet, classified as having a surface composed of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen compounds. (ST reference: Star Charts)
In Federation science, planets of this type were also called Jovians. (TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown)
History and specifics[]
In 2269, the Federation starship USS Enterprise investigated a First Federation star system with unusual configuration. It included a hot Jovian in the star's habitable zone, with a class K silicate planet at the Jovian's L5 Lagrange point. The planet was later identified as Cherela. Commander Spock explained to the bridge crew that Jovians of this orbital range tended to form in situ rather than migrate, making them more likely to retain planetary companions like moons or Trojan planets.
Cherela's moons were barren. Any atmosphere and liquid water they previously held had been long since stripped away by the Jovian's intense radiation belts.
Inside the habitable zone, a Jovian was too warm to retain ammonia, which gave planets like Jupiter their brown coloration. (TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown)
Bennett, Christopher L.. The Face of the Unknown (Star Trek: The Original Series) . Pocket Books. Kindle-Version.
In 2372, the USS Defiant evaded Jem'Hadar ships in the Gamma Quadrant by diving into a class J gas giant's atmosphere. (DS9 episode: "Starship Down")
In 2381, a Starfleet graphic identified two planets of the Laap system as class J. (LD episode: "First First Contact")
Planets of this type[]
- Ba'Syladon
- Cherela[1]
- Jupiter (Sol V)
- Rigel XIII
- Saturn (Sol VI)
- Tharnos VI
Appearances and references[]
- DS9 episode: "Starship Down" (first mentioned)
- ST reference: Star Charts
- TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown (Jovians)
External links[]
- Class J gas giant article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Gas giant article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.