Introduction
Dr. Alonzo Richter first published the Richter Scale of Cultures in 2203. Since then it has become the Federation's most important tool for determining at which point in a civilization's development the Prime Directive no longer need apply. Most first contact missions take place when a society reaches a classification of G. Exceptions include planets that do not wish contact, planets that were already contacted by non-federation agencies, and planets that were contacted before the Richter Scale of Cultures was devised.
The classifications in the Richter Scale of Cultures is not necessarily an in-order listing of power per se, although that usually is the case. Attributes like planetary government and non-aggressiveness are factored in.
Ratings higher than our own (N) are extremely speculative since more advanced beings and races are not always forthcoming about themselves and we usually have no way of covertly or openly studying them.
The Richter Scale of Cultural Development
AAA - No known intelligent indigenous life-form
Ceti Alpha 5, Manark 4, Melnos 4, Miridian 4, Nelvana 3, Nervala 5, Ohniaka 3, Omicron Ceti 3, Pandora II, Quazulu 8, Regulus 5, Septimus Minor, Sherman's Planet, Tethys 3, Titus 4, Vilmor 2, Zayra 4
AA - Prehistoric Age (No tools)
Alpha Carinae 2, Alpha Majoris 1, Bardakia, Berengaria 7, Dimorus 4, El-Adrel 4, No'Mat, Ruah 4, Surata 4
AS - Primitive Space Dwelling
Alpha Omicron System (Junior), Giant Amoeba, Nitrium Parasites from the Pelloris Asteroid Belt near Tessen 3, Ordek Nebula (Wogneers)
A - Stone Age
Altair III, Gamma Trianguli VI (Vaal), Hanson's Planet.
AR - Primitive (RESTRICTED - No Contact Permitted)
Tarchannen III, Tarella, Taurus II
B- - Agricultural Age
Malkus IX, Miramanee's Planet, Rousseau V
B - Metal Age
Apella, Capella IV, Sigma Draconis VI, Galvin V, Malurians (before demise), Rigel VII, Zeta Bootis III (Neural)
C- - Scientific Intelligence (No tools)
Janus VI, Tyrellia
C - Scientific Age
Barkon IV, Fendaus V, Mintaka III
D- - Pre-Industrialization
M-113 (before demise), Omega IV, Organian Society's Outward Appearance, Sigma Draconis III
D - Steam Age
Argo, Brax, Canopus II, Omicron IV, Rigel VII, Tartarus V
D+ - Electric Age
Landris III, Minara II (before relocation), Mintonia, Rubicun III (Edo)
E- - Liquid Fuels Age
Kraus IV, Loren III, Stakoron II, Suvin IV
E - Atomic Age
Barzans, Deneb 4 (Bandi), Beta 3, Mordan 4, Sigma Iotia 2
F - Space Age
Alpha Carinae 5, Altec, Argelius 2, Balosnee 6, Brekka, Kea 4, Penthara 4, Sarona 7, Straleb, Talin 4, Theta 7, Turkana 4
F+ - Conscientious Space Age
Halkans, Marajaretus 6, Norpin Colony, Tagus 3, Thalos 7, Tohvon 3
G - Fusion Age
Antica (Beta Renna System), Deneb 2, Drema 4, Gamma Vertis 4, Jaros 2, Ligon 2, Manu 3, Minos Corva, Nahmi 4, Niau, Ophiucus 3, Regula, Selay (Beta Renna System), Sigma Draconis 4, Solais 5, Thelka 4, Ventax 2, Xelata
H - Planet Age
892 4 (Magna Roma), Angel One, Bre'el 4, Ekos, Elas, Kataan, Kenda 2, Krios, Malcor 3, Ornara, Phylos 2, Quadra Sigma 3, Relva 7, Rochani 3, Troyius, Vault, Minor, Zeon
I - Star Age
Algolia, Altair 6, Antide 3, Barolia, Breen, Chalna, Corvan 2, Gamelan 5, Largo 5, Ligos 7, Miradorns, Pakleds, Pelleus 5, Pentaurus 5, Regulus 2, Rura Penthe
J - Expansion Age
Alcyones, Berellians, Brakas 5, Gault, Lysia, Mudor 5, Nausicaa, Ogus 2, Otar 2, Qualor 2, Sothis 3 (Sataarans), Shiralea 6, Styris 4, Tarsas 3, Tormen 5, Tyrus 7A, Valeria, Zibalia
K - Introversion Age
Acamar 3, Alpha Proxima 2, Beta Antares 4, Coridan, Epsilon Hydra 7, Gamaris 5, Mizar 2, Narendra 3, Nimbus 3, Peliar Zel, Peresphone 5, Setlik 3, Vadris 3, Xanthras 3, Zytchin 3
K+ - Enlightment Age
15 Lyncis 2 (Cait), Bajor, Gaspar 7, Hoek 4, Hurkos 3, Kurl (before demise), Mariah 4, Mataline 2, Meles 2, Memory Alpha, Pacifica, Parliment, Risa, Sauria, Sirius 9, Valo 2, Valo 3, Wrigley's Pleasure Planet, Zeta Alpha 2
L - Power Age
Angosia 3, Beltane 9, Benzar, Devidia 2, Dopteria, Eminar 7, Epsilon Canaris 3, Lenaria, Mantilles, Mariposa, Melina 2, Midos 5, Milika 3, Morikin 7, Oceanus 4, Promelians, Rakhar, Rigel 2, Rutia 4, Tagra 4, Tarsus 4, Vendikar, Zadar 4
M - Ion Age
Alpha Cygnus 9, Ardana, Bilana 3, Catualla, Canopus 3, Dachlyds, Daran 5, Delos 4, Deneb 5, Gonal 4, Hurada 3, Kaelon 2, Kaldra 4, Krisa, Kostalain, Lemma 2, Makus 3, Menthars (before demise), Merak 2, Nehru Colony, Zaldor
MR - Ion Age (RESTRICTED - No Contact Permitted)
Kavis Alpha 4 (evolved Nanites), Ktaria, Mab-Bu 6A, Moab 4, Rigel 8 (Orion), Sarthong 5, Tanuga 4, Velara 3
N - Technocracy Age
61 Cygni 5 (Tellar), Alpha Centauri, Alpha 3, Andor (Epsilon Indii 8), Arvada 3, Babel, Benecia, Bersallis 3, Beta Agni 2, Boreth, Borka 6, Cygnet 12, Deneva, Earth, Gideon, Gornar, Haven, Klaestron 4, Marcos 12, Minos Korva, Q'onos (Klinzhai), Rigel 4, Rigel 5
NR - Technocracy Age (RESTRICTED - No Contact Permitted)
Minos, Platonius, Remus, Romulus, Scalos, Sheliak Corporate, Tau Cygna 5, Tholia, Tilonus 4
N+ - Civil Technocracy Age
Betazed, Caldonia, Chandra 5, Danula 2, Delb 2, Delta 4, Efrosia, Icor 9, New Fabrina, Ramatis 3, Tamaria, Trill, Ulians, Vulcan, Yonada, Zakdor
N+PR - Civil Technocracy Age (RESTRICTED - No Physical Contact Permitted)
Gagarin 4, Torona 4
NS - Space Dwelling Civil Age
Beta Renna Cloud, Beta 12-A Entity, Calamarain, Crystaline Entity, Dikironium Cloud Entity, FGC-47 Entities, Gamma Canaris Entity (Companion), Space Jellyfish
O - Techno-Power Age
Bynaus, Cerebus 2, Legara 4, Medusa, Mudd, Sarpeidon (before demise), Vorgons (27th century)
P - Super Techno-Power Age
Amusement Park Planet, Dyson Sphere Builders, Iconia (before demise), Old Ones of Exo 3 (before demise), Rubicun 3 (Edo God), Sargon's Planet (before demise), Triacus (Epsilon Indii 4, before demise)
PS - Space Dwelling Super Techno-Power Age
Gomtuu (Tin Man), V'ger, "Whale" Probe
Q - Cloaking Age
Aldea
R - Exploratory Age
Cytherians, Tkon Empire (before demise), Makers (of Androids on planet Mudd), Vians
S - Transformation Age
Antos 4, Daled 4
T - Illusory Age
Melkotia, Prakal II
TR - Illusory Age (RESTRICTED - No Contact Permitted)
Talos 4
U - Dimensional Age
Guardian of Forever, Tau Alpha C (Traveler), Triskelion (Providers)
V - Altering Age
Excalbia, Trelane of Gothos, Kelvans, Pollux IV (Apollo, before demise), Pyris VII beings (Korob & Sylvia)
W - Galactic Age
Bajoran Wormhole Entities (Prophets), Dowds, Kalandans, Metrons, Preservers
WR - Galactic Age (RESTRICTED - No Contact Permitted)
Vagra II (Armus), Lactra VII
X- - Pre-Non-Corporeal Age
Discarders of Armus, Zalkonians
X - Non-Corporeal Age
Organians, Thasians, Koinonians, Zetarians
XX - Omnipotence Age
The Q Continuum