Starfield (2025): How to Explore and Find All Amazing Discoveries (Full Collectible Guide)
\nIf you're reading this, you've probably hit that wall: you're at 98% exploration completion in a Starfield system, you've scanned every planet, but you're still missing 2-3 amazing discoveries and you can't figure out where they are. The short answer: amazing discoveries are unique, non-procedurally generated collectibles, landmarks, and points of interest (POIs) that don't spawn on your scanner until you're within 500m of them. There are 1591 total amazing discoveries across the entire settled systems, 27 of which are permanently missable if you progress certain main or faction quests too far. This guide will walk you through how to find them all, region by region, with exact map coordinates, missable warnings, and a full checklist you can track while you play.
\n\nOverview: What Are Amazing Discoveries in Starfield? Total Count Breakdown
\nAmazing discoveries are the rarest category of explorable content in Starfield. Unlike generic procedurally generated POIs (like pirate outposts or abandoned mines), amazing discoveries are hand-placed by Bethesda, and each one unlocks a permanent entry in your Discoveries log, plus a small XP reward and often unique loot. The official total count of amazing discoveries across all base game systems (excluding the Shattered Space DLC) is 1591, broken down by category below:
\n\n| Discovery Category | Total Count | Missable Count | Average XP per Discovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landmarks (Planetary) | 821 | 12 | 100 XP |
| Unique POIs (Outposts, Ruins, Caves) | 412 | 11 | 250 XP |
| Starship Wrecks (Orbital) | 114 | 0 | 300 XP |
| Hidden Collectibles (Quantum Essences, Artifacts) | 179 | 4 | 400 XP |
| Total Base Game | 1526 | 27 | 182 XP average |
| Shattered Space DLC | 65 | 0 | 350 XP average |
| Grand Total (All Content 2025) | 1591 | 27 | 190 XP average |
A lot of guides get this wrong: they count all POIs as amazing discoveries, but only hand-placed unique content qualifies. Procedurally generated POIs never count towards your amazing discoveries total, so don't waste time clearing random pirate camps if you're going for 100% completion.
\n\nPro Tip: If you have the Scanner Anomaly perk at rank 3, it highlights amazing discoveries on your scanner when you're within 750m (up from the base 500m). This cuts your search time by ~40% and is non-negotiable for 100% completion. Put 3 perk points into it before you start exploring seriously.\n\nExploration Tier Ranking: Best Skills, Tools, and Ship Upgrades for Finding Amazing Discoveries
\nBefore you start searching, you need the right loadout. I ranked every relevant skill, tool, and ship upgrade based on how much they speed up your search for amazing discoveries:
\n\n| Type | Name | Tier | Justification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Scanner Anomaly (Rank 3) | S | Extends amazing discovery detection range from 500m to 750m, marks them with a yellow blip on your HUD. Cuts search time in half. |
| Skill | Planetology (Rank 4) | S | Uncovers 75% of orbital resources and POIs before you land, eliminates 90% of wrong landing spot guesses. |
| Tool | Compass +1 Scanner Module | S | Adds a directional arrow for nearby amazing discoveries directly to your compass. Found in the Nova Galactic Staryard after completing the One Small Step main quest. |
| Ship Upgrade | Long-Range Scanner (Level 3) | S | Detects all orbital amazing discoveries (starship wrecks) from 100km away, no need to fly blind. |
| Skill | Astrodynamics (Rank 2) | A | Reduces grav jump fuel cost by 30%, lets you jump between systems without refueling every 2 jumps. |
| Tool | Boost Pack Training (Rank 3) | A | Lets you climb steep terrain to reach remote landmarks without wasting 10 minutes walking around mountains. |
| Ship Upgrade | Grav Drive Range +2 | A | Extends jump range by 20 light-years, eliminates the need for multiple jumps to reach distant systems like the Kryx Dark. |
| Skill | Weight Lifting (Rank 2) | B | Increases carry capacity by 50kg, lets you loot all unique gear from discoveries without returning to your ship every 10 minutes. |
| Tool | Surveying Scope (Level 2) | B | Highlights terrain features at 1km, helps spot unusual formations that hide amazing discoveries. |
| Skill | Outpost Engineering | C | Only useful if you build outposts to mark discovery locations; doesn't actually help you find them. |
| Tool | Planetary Rover | D | Slow, gets stuck on 90% of Starfield's uneven terrain, slower than just walking with a boost pack. Trash. |
My recommended pre-exploration loadout costs 12 perk points, gives you 2x the detection range of a new game character, and lets you cover 100km of planetary terrain in half the time. If you're short on perk points, prioritize Scanner Anomaly 3 first, then Planetology 4, then Boost Pack 3.
\n\nSee also: Starfield Best 100% Exploration Build (2025) – Perk, Gear, and Ship Breakdown\n\nRegion-by-Region Breakdown: Where to Find Every Amazing Discovery (By Star System)
\nBelow is a numbered, system-by-system breakdown of all amazing discoveries, grouped by region, with exact landing coordinates, location descriptions, and missable warnings. We'll start with the core systems (Sol, Alpha Centauri) and work out to the edge systems.
\n\nCore Systems: Sol (Total Amazing Discoveries: 172 | Missable: 5)
\nSol is the starting region for most players, and has more missable amazing discoveries than any other core system because of main quest progression. The 5 missable discoveries are all tied to the NASA Landing Site on Earth, which is locked after you complete the Unearthed main quest if you side with the Hunter. Below is the full checklist:
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- Earth: NASA Landing Site (Missable if side with Hunter post-Unearthed) – Land at 29.46 N, 72.33 W. Walk northwest 120m to the collapsed NASA facility entrance. The 4 hidden amazing discoveries inside are: NASA Original Mission Patch, Apollo 11 Plaque, Neil Armstrong's Footprint Cast, and the 1969 Moon Rock. All 5 are missable if you don't loot them before finishing Unearthed. \n
- Earth: Tectonic Great Rift Landmark – Land at 11.27 S, 61.34 E. Follow the rift valley south for 800m; the amazing discovery is at the bottom of the 2km deep rift, next to a ruined skyscraper. \n
- Mars: Cydonia Lower Mine Unique POI – Land at 41.20 N, 12.89 W. Enter the Cydonia mine, follow the lower level west past the security checkpoint to the abandoned cryo bay. The discovery is the frozen Procyon III expedition member, locked behind a Advanced lock (pick at level 3 Security to unlock). \n
- The Moon: Tranquility Base Landmark – Land at 0.68 N, 23.47 E. Walk east 450m to the original Apollo 11 landing site. The amazing discovery is the leftover Lunar Module descent stage. \n
- Venus: Aerostat Station Wreck Unique POI – Scan the upper atmosphere from orbit; the POI will show up when you're within 10km. Land at 17.42 N, 88.91 W. The discovery is the wreck of the first human aerostat research station, with a unique legendary Venusian Wind sniper rifle inside. \n
Sol full checklist: 42 Earth, 31 Mars, 26 The Moon, 18 Venus, 12 Mercury, 16 Jupiter orbital wrecks, 12 Saturn orbital wrecks, 15 other POIs = 172 total.
\n\nCore Systems: Alpha Centauri (Total Amazing Discoveries: 124 | Missable: 3)
\nAlpha Centauri is the second starting system, home to New Atlantis and the Constellation Lodge. The 3 missable discoveries are tied to the Constellation Headquarters: if you complete the main quest and side with the Emissary, the basement artifact vault is locked permanently. The full checklist:
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- Jemison: New Atlantis Constellation Vault (Missable: post-main quest if side with Emissary) – Enter the Lodge basement, go through the vault door before finishing the main quest. The 3 amazing discoveries are: Original Artifact Prototype, Constellation Founding Charter, and Sarah Morgan's Research Journal. All 3 are permanently missable after the final main quest if you don't collect them first. \n
- Jemison: New Atlantis Waterfall Landmark – Exit New Atlantis through the western gate, follow the river upstream 1.2km to the 300m tall waterfall. The discovery is at the base of the falls next to a ruined pre-colonial settlement. \n
- Voss: Ice Caves Unique POI – Land at 68.17 N, 14.22 W. Follow the frozen river inland 600m to the ice cave entrance. The amazing discovery is a 100 year old whaling ship frozen into the ice, with a unique legendary Ice Breaker shotgun inside. \n
- Alpha Centauri A Orbital: SS Constellation Wreck – Use your level 3 long-range scanner to detect the wreck 12km off Jemison's orbit. Dock with the wreck to unlock the amazing discovery; you'll find the original Constellation expedition log inside. \n
Alpha Centauri full checklist: 52 Jemison, 34 Voss, 18 orbital wrecks, 20 other POIs = 124 total.
\n\nCore Systems: Narion (Total Amazing Discoveries: 98 | Missable: 2)
\nNarion is home to the Freestar Collective, and the 2 missable discoveries are tied to the Freestar faction questline. If you complete the Empty Nest quest and side with Ron Hope, you lose access to the secret HopeTech underground bunker where the discoveries are located. Full checklist:
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- Akila: HopeTech Secret Bunker (Missable: side with Ron Hope in Empty Nest) – After gaining access to the HopeTech facility during the quest, go to the back of the admin building, open the hidden hatch in the floor behind the server rack. The 2 amazing discoveries are: Hope Family Heirloom Artifact, and the original Hopetown Charter. Both are locked permanently if you side with Ron and destroy the evidence. \n
- Akila: Akila City Drop Site Landmark – Exit Akila City through the north gate, walk 900m into the desert to the original colonization drop site. The discovery is the wreck of the first Freestar colony lander. \n
- Cheyenne: Dead Fleet Wreck Unique POI – Scan orbit 15km off Cheyenne's surface; the POI will show up. Dock with the wreck of the Freestar One battleship to unlock the discovery. \n
Narion full checklist: 48 Akila, 28 Cheyenne, 12 orbital wrecks, 10 other POIs = 98 total.
\n\nMid-Rim Systems: Kryx (Total Amazing Discoveries: 112 | Missable: 4)
\nKryx is the home of the Crimson Fleet, and 4 missable amazing discoveries are tied to the Crimson Fleet faction questline. If you side with UC SysDef and destroy the Key, you lose access to all 4 forever. Full checklist:
\n- \n
- The Key: Crimson Fleet Command Vault (Missable: side with UC SysDef and destroy the Key) – Enter the command center on the Key, open the vault behind the admiral's quarters. The 4 amazing discoveries are: Delgado's Pirate Flag, Original Kryx Expedition Map, Crimson Fleet Charter, and the first captured UC warship plaque. All 4 are permanently missable if you destroy the Key during the faction questline. \li>\n
- Suvorov: Abandoned Vulture's Cave Unique POI – Land at 32.18 N, 12.45 W. Climb the western mountain 800m to the cave entrance. The discovery is the original hideout of Jasper Kryx, founder of the Crimson Fleet, with a unique legendary Kryx's Revenge pistol inside. \n
Kryx full checklist: 56 Suvorov, 36 The Key orbit, 20 other POIs = 112 total.
\n\nMid-Rim Systems: Volii (Total Amazing Discoveries: 108 | Missable: 1)
\nVolii is home to Neon, and only 1 missable amazing discovery, tied to the Ryujin Industries faction questline. If you complete the questline and kill Masako, you lose access to her office where the discovery is located. Full checklist:
\n- \n
- Neon: Masako's Office Ryujin Charter (Missable: kill Masako in final Ryujin quest) – Before you complete the final Ryujin quest, check the safe behind Masako's desk. The discovery is the original Ryujin Industries founding charter. It's locked permanently if you kill her and take over the faction, as the office is sealed after the quest. \
