While a Starfield Star Map legend does not exist, we’re here to explain what all the icons and red planets mean. The galaxy map in the game has a lot of subtleties that aren’t explained anywhere. The Help section of the pause menu doesn’t provide a key or legend that tells you what each map icon means. Yet there’s a lot of information on the map that you might not get even by the midgame or endgame. Here’s a breakdown of every symbol and indicator available on the star map in Starfield.
Starfield Star Map legend list
The following is a Star Map legend that explains the meanings behind the icons and colors on the galaxy map and planetary map:
- White System With Glow – A glowing white dot means that you have visited this system before. (It doesn’t reveal whether you have fully explored it, though.)
- White System Without Glow – A white planet without a glowing aura around it means that you have not visited the system yet, but it will only take one jump using your ship to reach it.
- Red System – A red dot on the galaxy map indicates that you can reach the system, but you will need to make more than one jump to reach the location. These will typically be systems that have a high level.
- Three Dots – A planet with three dots over it means that there is a relatively unknown point of interest somewhere on its surface
- Human With Raised Hands – This icon indicates that there is a major settlement on the planet, be it a large city like Neon or a smaller town.
- Trapezoid With Door – This symbol means that you have built an outpost on this planet.
- Vertical Space Ship – This icon means that you will have an encounter here with another vessel. It’s a gamble whether the ship will be friendly or hostile.
- Satellite – This symbol means that there is a space station that you explore and most likely use your ship to dock.
There are also other symbols that appear on the planet map as well the local surface map, but these are fairly self-explanatory since there’s usually a descriptor like “Industrial Outpost” right next to it. Many of these locations are procedurally generated.
Starfield Star Map Legend FAQ
A: A glowing white dot indicates you’ve visited that system before. A non-glowing white planet means it’s unvisited but only one jump away with your ship. Red systems, however, require multiple jumps and typically have higher level enemies.
A: Three dots on a planet signify an unknown point of interest. A human with raised hands indicates a major settlement, ranging from large cities to small towns. A trapezoid with a door means you’ve established an outpost there. A vertical spaceship suggests an encounter with another vessel, which could be either friendly or hostile. Lastly, a satellite icon indicates the presence of a space station where you can likely dock your ship.
A: Yes, as you explore, systems colored red or white may shift based on your progress and ship capabilities. Colors also reset if you start a new game plus.
As you continue to explore the galaxy map, the systems that are colored red or white will change as you progress. Your ship’s ability to grav jump will also impact this. These colors will also reset if you restart the game in new game plus.
