Newbie: Fleet Won't Attack Enemy Planet

Do you have a non-bombardment treaty element? With any Empire, doesn't have to be the one that owns the planet in question.

You won't get an item report on enemy colonies... not sure if this changes when you get scanners. Does your fleet have movement left? It takes at least 1 movement point to execute an attack order. Also, are you running a simultaneous game?

Do you have the correct strategy? Make sure you are not using 'Do Not Get Hurt' or 'Capture Planet' otherwise your ships will not engage the planet unless they have ground troops.

Is the task force Leader a non combat ship that will retreat in combat?

Caius

To drop troops, you need to enter combat, select a ship with troops and/or fighters in cargo and then use the Drop Troops order (bottom row, third from left).

You mean your ships move into the sector containing the enemy planet but no combat begins?

Are your ships cloaked? Do you have a treaty with the owner of the colony? This may sound silly, but are you sure you are attacking the right planet? Sometimes planets are so close together that it's hard to tell which is colonised and which is empty.

Did you check your fleet or task force orders?

If the ships have order to attack, and the fleet has order dont get hurt
the ships follow the fleet orders.

Or your settings in the attack order say "planets with colony damage amount zero"

hope this helps

If your fleet contains troop transports then IIRC they will not attack the planet. I've had that happen to me and I had to look it up in the manual. It shouldn't be a problem for single ships though.

"Don't Panic"

look under Empire Options in the main menue.

at the left side there is a list.
choose the one of the strategies you are using.

now you see on the right "target typ orders and settings"

look at the entry planets with colony damage amount.

ah, another question:
which strategie are you using. Do you try to capture or glass the planet?