Which body gives the most Science now? (The answer may surprise you!)

[SkyRender]

So now that all of the planets and moons in KSP have their own biome maps, the question comes up of which one is the most valuable. Most would probably guess Eve, Tylo, Eeloo, or Moho. I decided to crunch the numbers, and the results are in:

#1: Moho (18,520)

#2: Eeloo (16,650)

#3: Laythe (14,593)

#4: Eve (13,819)

#5a: Ike (10,255)

#5b: Dres (10,255)

#6: Duna (9,923)

#7: Tylo (9,850)

#8: Bop (9,621)

#9: Mun (9,087)

#10a: Pol (7,857)

#10b: Val (7,857)

#11: Minmus (7,034)

#12: Gilly (4,786)

#13: Kerbin (2,753.6)

#14: Sun (1,170)

This is just for doing a single instance of every possible experiment in every possible biome (as applicable), so you could theoretically eke out higher overall numbers with repeat experiments. That said, the margins are wide enough from most of the bodies that the ranks wouldn't shift, for the most part. I was kind of shocked that Tylo falls so close to the middle, given how much trouble it is to do anything there.

[UmbralRaptor]

Does this include how the multipliers were changed for at least some bodies? Low/high atmosphere/space are no longer equal in all cases.

[SkyRender]

Does this include how the multipliers were changed for at least some bodies? Low/high atmosphere/space are no longer equal in all cases.

Sure does! I made all of the appropriate adjustments, including accounting for the fact that you cannot get both Landed and Splashed Down reports for oceans for anything save EVA reports and surface samples.

[Red Iron Crown]

Great info, looks like Duna/Ike is a good early target for interplanetary science.

[Norpo]

Interesting how Ike has more possible science than Duna; I normally tend to think of Duna as the harder body to land on (and return from), Ike must have a lot more biomes, or a large multiplier. (especially considering Duna also has an atmosphere).

imo, some of it may need some balancing on squad's end, but most importantly; Thanks for making this chart!

[NecroBones]

Great info! It looks like Eve is still a great place for one-way lander probes in the early career, but Duna/Ike on the whole will be a great source of science.

[SkyRender]

Ike got so high on the chart for the same reason as Dres did: it has a lot of biomes! Ike and Dres both have 8 biomes, and interestingly have the same multipliers, meaning they're effectively equivalent. Same thing happened with Pol and Vall. Moho's massive edge also comes from its huge biome count, at 12 total. Eeloo got 2nd not from its biome count (a respectable 7), but because its Landed multiplier is quite frankly enormous.

[Superfluous J]

I was going to guess Eeloo but don't know the exact multipliers or how many biomes each planet got.

I also suspected that if you count Duna and Ike together (which is very reasonable) it would be a boon.

But of course the best PLANET to go to is Jool. Almost Over 50k science if you suck that puppy dry.

(I know Jool has no biomes, but it still has science it can return which I believe would push the total over 50k)

[rodion]

interesting to see that the Mun is now ranked 9. very handy information, lets me know where to start spending my mid-game dv.

[SkyRender]

I was going to guess Eeloo but don't know the exact multipliers or how many biomes each planet got.

I also suspected that if you count Duna and Ike together (which is very reasonable) it would be a boon.

But of course the best PLANET to go to is Jool. Almost Over 50k science if you suck that puppy dry.

(I know Jool has no biomes, but it still has science it can return which I believe would push the total over 50k)

It would, actually. I actually forgot to crunch the numbers for Jool (oops!), but they should be roughly between Kerbin and Gilly thanks to the atmospheric region data.

The real trick, of course, would be actually acquiring all of that science from the Jool system in one mission. Hmm, I smell challenge material!

[Superfluous J]

The real trick, of course, would be actually acquiring all of that science from the Jool system in one mission. Hmm, I smell challenge material!

Jool-5 Challenge: Super Amazing Jeb-Cubed Jool-6 Level!

[Laie]

@SkyRender: have the particularities of having seas and an atmosphere also been considered?

With an atmosphere, you can get temperatures and crew reports flying over every biome; and water (or whatever) always allows for the possibility of being landed at sea or splashed down in a ground biome. Laythe seems boring in that respect, but Eve's many seas and puddles could greatly boost the output.

Jool-5 Challenge: Super Amazing Jeb-Cubed Jool-6 Level!

Can you say pie-eating contest? I may do a proof-of-concept, but I don't think I'll ever be bored enough to actually visit every biome on every body.

[SkyRender]

@SkyRender: have the particularities of having seas and an atmosphere also been considered?

With an atmosphere, you can get temperatures and crew reports flying over every biome; and water (or whatever) always allows for the possibility of being landed at sea or splashed down in a ground biome. Laythe seems boring in that respect, but Eve's many seas and puddles could greatly boost the output.

Practically speaking, it would take a LONG time to find all of the potential spots for that, and figure out which biomes are excluded from that exploit. Though depending on what extended research found on the subject, it could easily bump Eve up a rank. I just limited this to the science you can perform "normally", ie. not exploiting the splashdown/landed situation save with the two types of science it's easiest to do that with (EVA Report and Surface Sample).

[Laie]

Yeah; and visiting every spot on Moho will be comparatively easy (for all practical purposes, if you can do it on the Mun, you can do it on Moho); but trying the same on Eve will be considerably more effort.

[Renegrade]

Wait.. so the total is now... 152,861?

D:

The science tree doesn't look any different, so I'm assuming it's still around 10,000 ....

[UmbralRaptor]

Wait.. so the total is now... 152,861?

D:

The science tree doesn't look any different, so I'm assuming it's still around 10,000 ....

It means you can play in science mode with 10% rewards and actually unlock everything.

Also, science/hard (60% rewards) should still be possible without leaving cis-minmus space. Maybe even 50% if you do a quick pop out to high Kerbol orbit.

[SkyRender]

Wait.. so the total is now... 152,861?

D:

The science tree doesn't look any different, so I'm assuming it's still around 10,000 ....

If you account for repeat science for various experiments that get extra data from further tests, the number climbs up to around 180,000. There's plenty of science to be had, and it's always been intended that you can get more science than is needed to unlock the tech tree. That's what the science-to-reputation and science-to-funds strategies are there for.

[Xavven]

If you account for repeat science for various experiments that get extra data from further tests, the number climbs up to around 180,000. There's plenty of science to be had, and it's always been intended that you can get more science than is needed to unlock the tech tree. That's what the science-to-reputation and science-to-funds strategies are there for.

On top of that, contracts give you science. Since contracts are always offered continuously, there's technically no upper limit to the amount of science you could earn.

[Pecan]

Give Dres some love!

Now it'll hug you back :-)