The route Planet X takes a nice line up the south face of the eponymous pinnacle via a nice crack and it's the first route encountered when approaching the formation.
Start above a cactus and climb a steep, juggy hand crack until it narrows to thin hands, then fingers and then finally dies out at a bolt. Clip the bolt and make some face moves using patina edges and smears to reach up and left to a short flared crack that leads to the summit.
Enjoy the view of the surrounding desert - Saddle Rocks, Headstone Rock, The Astro Domes, King Dome/Hall of Horrors and the Loose Lady Buttress are some of the formations visible from the summit of this formation, and then rap off the west face from anchors atop the route Planet Y (5.10a). One star out of five.
Protection
pro to 2.5", bolt (3/8"), bolted rap anchor (3/8")
Vogel doesn't give this route any stars and I don't know why except its not 5.11 or harder. Just the fact this is the easiest way to the top of a perfect tower should give the route two stars. The climbing is nearly perfect albiet a little short, 60 ft. Should be four stars and a must for the 5.8 leader.
I will note that the bolt/rap anchor may be well placed for topping out and rapping off Planet Y, it is very inconvenient for a belay anchor for this route (Planet X) -- it being way off left and down.
Planet X Pinnacle
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