15 Star Trek planets you need to visit this year (pictures)
Can't wait for the upcoming Star Trek flick? Maybe you should make plans for which planets you'll visit during your gap year after graduating from Starfleet.
Risa
"Star Trek Beyond," the next installment in the series of reboot films, sees the Enterprise crew trapped on a mysterious planet. The movie is set to be released July 22 in the US and UK and July 21 in Australia.
If that planet is anything like these classic Trek worlds, we absolutely cannot wait.
Let's start with Risa: tropical luxury resorts, miles of pristine beaches, steam pools and subterranean gardens, and more than 200 very, very accommodating Nuvian masseuses...
Risa: Yeah, there are beaches too
And no weapons allowed. Risa gets the nickname "The Pleasure Planet" for good reason. (Editors' note: The "Star Trek" TV series is a property of CBS, which also owns CNET.)
Vulcan
Depending on which timeline you're in, Vulcan may have been destroyed, or may be about to be destroyed. If at all possible, we recommend seeing it while you still can.
Vulcan: Get it while it's hot
Make sure to check out the lava pools, active volcanos, religious buildings, and the iconic Fire Plains. Oh, and pack light clothing: They don't say things are "hot as Vulcan" for nothing.
Trill
If you're feeling a little lonely, look no further than Trill, a planet where there are two beings for every one person. We're talking about some mighty welcoming symbiotes, but the pluses don't end there...
Trill: Look familiar?
Yes, the oceans are purple, but if you squint, it looks remarkably like Earth. (If you squint very hard, you may notice a passing resemblance to the Huntington gardens in Pasadena, California.) Plan a visit to the Caves of Mak'ala and a hike through the ice cliffs of Tenaran.
Ba'ku
Ba'ku is a lush planet with rolling hills, sparkling lakes, and exciting local wildlife. But its most important feature is one that's not on the surface...
Ba'ku
... Metaphasic rings that regenerate health and give inhabitants eternal life and inexplicable sexiness. The veins of kelbonite in the mountains make transporting off-world difficult, so be sure to snag a ticket for the ferry.
Pollux IV
Architecture buffs will get a kick out of Pollux IV, where the Greek gods retreated after the people of Earth stopped worshipping them. Their species died out after an encounter with Captain Kirk, but they left their stunning buildings behind for tourists to enjoy.
Meridian
Plan the timing of your visit to Meridian very, very carefully. Every 60 years, Meridian undergoes a quantum energy shift that transforms inhabitants from physical beings to incorporeal consciousnesses. You really don't want to be there when they're shifting back into energy...
Meridian: Fabulous food
However, visitors shouldn't miss the chance to participate in the "First Meal" and "Last Meal" celebrations the locals use to mark their return to corporeal forms.
Andoria
Andoria is just a short trip from Vulcan. Unfortunately, you'll need to pack an entirely new wardrobe: It's an ice moon. If you visit in the summer, temperatures should hover around a pleasant -22 degrees Fahrenheit...
Andoria: True blue natives
Pack your skis for some unforgettable trips down the mountain on the surface, and cozy up with your first mate (or your favorite blue-skinned native) in some of the romantic underground caves that are popular with honeymooners.
Boreth
The sacred Klingon planet is the location of the Boreth monastery, where according to Klingon tradition, the warrior Kahless (or just his "Next Generation" clone) would return to lead the people.
Boreth: Don't miss the temples
When you're done touring the temples, pay a visit to the lava caves.
Omicron Ceti III
On this planet, you'll find complete happiness and contentment, thanks to a native species of spore. The spores also protect inhabitants from Berthold rays, which once killed everyone and everything on the planet.
Omicron Ceti III: You'll never want to leave!
Make sure you have a friend who's willing to pull you out if you get a little too content.
Eden
Another tropical paradise floating through space, Eden is an incredibly peaceful planet. That's largely because it has no native animal species, including humans. The local trees, grasses, and other flora are stunning to look at, but be warned: Everything is acidic and causes severe burns. Look, don't touch, on this one.
Ceti Alpha VI
Not to be confused with Ceti Alpha V, Ceti Alpha VI is home to an important piece of Starfleet technological history. It is the Genesis Planet, where terraforming technology was deployed to make it inhabitable once again. Admittedly, that only happened after a minor incident with a man named...
Ceti Alpha VI: You've got one guy to thank
...Khan.
Argelius II
Sick leave is no joke in Starfleet. If you're lucky, you may get assigned to recover on Argelius II. Its government is based entirely on love, which has led to some bureaucratic inefficiencies, but makes it ideal for a relaxing trip. Don't miss the dancing girls in the local cafes. The local prefect assures us that the murderous incorporeal entity that once plagued the planet has definitely moved on!
Sigma Iotia II
Get your zoot suit dry cleaned and your tommy gun oiled: Sigma Iotia II is best known as the "gangster planet." The native Iotians, who are not yet warp-capable, accidentally got their hands on an Earth textbook called "Chicago Mobs of the Twenties." Today, the entire planet is a replica of Prohibition-era Chicago. Make sure to ask the locals to show you how to play Fizzbin.
Vaskan-Kyrian
If you happen to get your hands on a Bajoran time cube, be sure to pay a visit to the Vaskan-Kyrian homeworld 700 years from now. The planet is home to the Kyrian Heritage Museum, where you can retrace the steps of the original Voyager mission to broker peace between the Vaskans and Kyrians. Thanks to The Doctor's input, it has been updated to more accurately reflect the exact sequence of events.
Dakala
A planet eternally plunged into darkness may not sound like a vacation hot spot, but Dakala is home to a wide variety of bioluminescent plants and animals. Pack your night-vision goggles and enjoy the hot gases that vent from the planet's core.