The Universal Systems of Astronomical is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by Skyren Nebulae with a fair hand, and notable for its rum-swilling pirates, keen interest in outer space, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic population of 4.619 billion Astronomicalians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Orion Supercluster. The average income tax rate is 72.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Astronomicalian economy, worth 542 trillion Quasars a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Woodchip Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 117,450 Quasars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Fishermen take out second mortgages to afford the yearly fishing permit, politicians "baring all" for the camera isn't always a figure of speech, almost every singles' party has a clergy and courtesans theme, and kids are told they can be whoever they want to be when they grow up. Crime is totally unknown. Astronomical's national animal is the Ursa Major, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Hypernovae.

Astronomical is ranked 37,717^th in the world and 1,186^th in The North Pacific for Nudest, with 198 Cheeks Per Square Mile.