Desolate and bleak are two words often used by visitors to Nixor, but they fail to describe adequately the endless grey-black landscape of jagged rock, marred by deep crevices, steep cliffs, and sudden dropoffs that form almost all of the planet's surface. There is no standing water on the surface, and the current settlements on the planet are centered around deep bore wells that reach hundreds of meters down into the rock. The few scientists that have visited this rocky world have speculated that at some time in millennia past, the world was very different. Indeed, down in the canyons, a traveler may come upon the fossilized remains of plants and animals that once dwelled on the planet, but were exterminated by a catastrophic event of such magnitude that it completely reshaped the planet's ecosystem. Just north of the planet's equator, a crater is visible from orbit, over 300 kilometers in diameter, the remains of an asteroid the size of a mountain hitting the surface. The impact would have caused a global catastrophe that buried the entire planet in rock dust, which over millennia, solidified into the jagged landscape visible today.

These same scientists are also responsible for an archeological find of some significance, having discovered a small number of ancient structures excavated into the sides of an isolated gorge. Several artifacts were recovered and holopics taken for study by the now-defunct Interstellar Survey Society, which published the results of their studies in several scientific journals. The artifacts and holopics reveal the sites to be ancient temples tied to the outlawed Krath, a secret society of Force users dedicate to the Dark side. These indicate a Krath presence on the planet dating back to the Great Sith War almost 4 millennia ago. Sadly, the original artifacts and recordings were lost in a fire that engulfed the ISS headquarters shortly after the findings were published. Occasional expeditions to survey more of the planet hint at the presence of more lost Krath ruins, although, to date, the earliest ones discovered remain the only positively identified Sith related sites on the planet.

In more recent times, a few mining companies have made their way to the planet from nearby systems to harvest the mineral wealth there. These independent miners were the cause of significant intra-system conflict as recently as the forming of the Galactic Empire. Although relative calm has returned to the system, tensions between the planets remain, simmering below the surface. In an effort to diversify Nixor's economy, some independent entrepreneurs have begun releasing hardy species wildlife that can live off the lichens and mosses that form the majority of plant life on Nixor. Predator species have also been imported to keep the plant-eaters in check and serve as a basis for a burgeoning hunting industry. Due to the rugged nature of the landscape, there are few roads, and the most convenient mode of transportation is by speeder or other anti-gravity transport. Most settlements have at least small scale industries to manufacture and repair repulsorlift engines and vehicles.