The process of using a fleet to scout out new systems and Worlds. This is extremely useful for finding good planet to colonize and enemy threats. Some consider it a tedious task, and players bitch about every round. However, exploration is not something you have focus on to succeed in this game, so if you do not find it interesting, focus on your colony, military, and science scores instead...or forget about score and just conquer the universe.


There are several ways to do this, but a handy to way to do so while keeping track of which portion of the universe you're looking at is the following.

Go to a Fleet Command page, usually a probe. Click on the coordinates link under "fleet position." It will open the map. You may move or zoom in and out using the mouse wheel, and rotate camera by clicking and holding. Every system labeled unexplored is a potential target. If the text is in red, however, it is out of range. Select the nearest unexplored system. Click the launch button, and off your probe goes to take a look at the new system. A blue tracer will be displayed on the map. When it gets there, you will get a message in your starlog that tells you this.

Note that the blue tracer towards destination is visible on the maps of your allies and enemies as well as your own. This is true for all mission types.


Once your probe has arrived at the system, when you click on the fleet location it will present you with a list of planets. You may click on any of these planets to create your new launch. If an information page about the planet pops up you have already explored that planet.

And if your probes comes across a World that has previously undetected inhabitants on it, you will be duly notified.

See also: Known Universe