Asteroid

Overview

An Asteroid is a static procedurally generated object, that is used as a mining resource, or a platform for players to use to build upon. They have no gravitational field of their own, so Artificial Gravity such as a Spherical Gravity Generator Will function. Asteroids can both be either procedurally generated or predefined in any world. When creating a world the World Generator option sets the number of asteroids that mostly fit into two categories, infinite and limited. Limited has a set number of asteroids (You can decide the amount). Infinite generates asteroids based on how dense you want your world to be with asteroids.

Procedural Generation

Asteroids are procedurally generated objects, meaning no two asteroids are alike. These will only occur in worlds that are created with infinite asteroids of any density, under World Generator when 1st creating your world. Each spawned Asteroid has its seed, which can allow players to assign a random unique value. The seed acts as a bar code and allows SE players to share unique asteroids they discover from other people or find on their own. They are fully destructible voxels and can be molded and/or shaped to the players liking. Players are also capable of spawning in procedurally generated asteroids with their choice of seed in Creative Mode.

Predefined Generation

Predefined Asteroids are models that exist in the game files, and/or are downloaded from the steam workshop. The ores they spawn with can vary, but the actual size, shape, etc are already decided. These models will only appear if players choose Normal, Large, or Extreme under World Generator in world settings upon creating a new world. Additionally, players can spawn in pre-defined model asteroids in Creative Mode. An example of a predefined asteroid would be one that Easy Start Station Green sits upon.

Ore Generation

Cobalt Ore	Gold Ore	Ice	Iron Ore	Magnesium Ore	Nickel Ore	Platinum Ore	Silicon Ore	Silver Ore	Stone	Uranium Ore
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Ores are randomly generated along with each Asteroid spawned. Each Asteroid typically mainly consists of Stone ore, which makes up the outer shell. Iron Ore is also commonly found (but sometimes isn’t) in most Asteroids and acts as a filler inside. That being said, the procedural generator can create variations that contradict this. Among iron and stone, all other Ore types have a chance of spawning as well.

Media

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  “alienrockymountain_largestone” predefined asteroid

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  Procedurally generated asteroid

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  The procedurally generated asteroid was created with several smaller ones attached to the main body

Tips

• Asteroids have many uses, a more than common one is mining, seeing that it is a prime location for ores. Another valuable use for Asteroids is to create stations on/in an Asteroid, many asteroids have wide open spaces that can be easily used as a hangar, and base stations in Asteroids is also a good tactic when preventing damage to a station, making it useful if you turned on Meteor Storms.
• If playing on a server with griefers consider putting your stations/ships in an asteroid, which would create a well-hidden and well-defended base.
• When mining asteroids, try to put a spherical gravity generator closest to the center as possible this will help prevent ores from flying into space.