In the Federation standard system of planetary classification, a class J planet is a gas giant.

In 2372, the USS Defiant entered the atmosphere of a class J planet to rescue the crew of a Karemma ship. The Karemma were attempting to escape from two Jem'Hadar ships. The atmosphere had windspeeds of over 10,000 kilometers per hour. This planet also had fluorine gas in its atmosphere. (DS9: "Starship Down")

Planetary classification
D • H • J • K • L • M • N • T • Y • Other classes

Background Edit

According to Geoffrey Mandel's Star Trek: Star Charts, gas giants have an age ranging from two to ten billion years and a diameter between 50,000 and 140,000 kilometers. They are located within the "cold zone" of a star system. A class J planet is characterized by a tenuous surface, comprised of gaseous hydrogen and some hydrogen compounds, and an atmosphere comprised of zones that vary in temperature and composition. The only known lifeforms to be found on J-class planets are hydrocarbon-based. Examples of class J planets include Jupiter and Saturn.