CEA 8 Leg 3

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

For leg 3 of Celebration of Early Astronomy 8, we are moving from the Seagull Nebula down below to the Jellyfish Nebula, and passing through the NGC 2244 cluster as well as the Rosette Nebula along the way.

Dates

Start Date: June 21, 2026
End Date: June 28, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 2,962.35 Ly
Main Waypoints: 3,960.95 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 4,007.61 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: CXOU J061705.3+222127

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • HD 258691
    • Rosette Sector CQ-Y d59
    • HD 45829
    • CXOU J061705.3+222127

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: HD 258691
    • POI:NGC 2244 Cluster Start
    • NGC 2244, also known as Caldwell 50 is a young cluster in the Rosette Nebula. HD 46223 and HD 46150 are the two brightest members of the cluster. While the former is not in the game, the latter, HD 46150 curiously is in-game but 1,383.34 Ly away from the cluster (as measured as distance from HD 258691).
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Rosette Sector CQ-Y d59
    • POI: Rosette Nebula
    • The Rosette Nebula, also known as Caldwell 49 is an ionized hydrogen star forming nebula (known as an H II region) in the Monoceros region of the sky as seen from Earth. NGC 2244 is also related to this nebula, having been formed rom the nebula’s matter. There are over 2,500 yound stars in the star forming region of this nebula. Rosette Nebula is also the official astronomical object of the U.S. State of Oklahoma as designated by their legislature in 2019.

      In real life the nebula look similar to a human skull and is often also called the Skull Nebula. (Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosette_Nebula#/media/File:SHO_Final_with_copyright.jpg)

      This particular system also is home to the asteroid base New Beginning for your use for any station based needs.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HD 45829
    • HD 45829 is a red supergiant that was studied in a 1989 paper of red supergiants that were either far from the galactic plane or moving at unusually fast velocities. HD 45829 being studied as one of the latter. It showed blueshifted Hydrogen-alpha emission wings indicating that it was likely outflowing mass rapidly.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: CXOU J061705.3+222127
    • POI: Jellyfish Nebula
    • Jellyfish Nebula, also known as IC 443 is a supernova remnant in the Gemini constellation of the night sky as seen from Earth. It appears in the sky near Eta Geminorum, officially known as Propus, which can also be found in the bubble in-game.

      Jellyfish Nebula is the remnant of a supernova that occurred 30,000 to 35,000 years ago that likely created the neutron star CXOU J061705.3+222127 which is believed to be the collapsed core of the original star.

      Jellyfish Nebula is heavily studied for how supernovae remnants interact with pre-existing molecular clouds as part of the complex making up this nebula is another remnant shell from a supernova estimated to be from around 100,000 years ago known as G189.6+3.3.

      Unlike some other supernova remnants like Crab Nebula though (which we will see on a later leg), Jellyfish Nebula is not dominated by the pulsar’s wind.
    • SIMBAD Link for CXOU J061705.3+222127
    • SIMBAD Link for Jellyfish Nebula
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • HD 258691
    • NGC 2244 CDZ 346
    • Rosette Sector CQ-Y d59
    • HD 45829
    • Jellyfish Sector FB-X c1-5
    • CXOU J061705.3+222127

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: NGC 2244 CDZ 346
    • POI: NGC 2244 Cluster End
    • This system is located at the other end of the NGC 2244 cluster from main waypoint HD 258691 to mark out the length of the cluster for those wishing to explore it more in-depth.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Jellyfish Sector FB-X c1-5
    • POI: (Beta Site, station in Jellyfish Nebula)
    • This system in the Jellyfish Nebula is home to the asteroid base Beta Site for your use for any station based needs.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

CEA 8 Leg 2

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

For the second leg of Celebration of Early Astronomy 8 we will be continuing out from Orion’s Belt southward as we visit a few planetary nebulae as well as a few exoplanets while looking for new discoveries along the way, finally arriving to Seagull Nebula where one of the original deep space outpost asteroid bases is located.

Dates

Start Date: June 14, 2026
End Date: June 21, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 2,161.83 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,252.56 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 4,774.53 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: Seagull Sector MC-V c2-6

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • 44 Iota Orionis
    • CoRoT-19
    • R Monocerotis
    • CoRoT-18
    • TYC 148-1894-1
    • V651 Monoceros
    • FN Canis Majoris
    • 2MASS J07133240-1018380
    • ALS 299
    • Seagull Sector MC-V c2-6

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: 44 Iota Orionis
    • Iota Orionis also known as 44 Orionis (Elite does this strange thing sometimes combining the Bayer and Flamsteed designations into one) is the 8th brightest star in the Orion constellation and the brightest of the Orion’s Sword asterism with an apparent visual magnitude of 2.77. The main star of the system is an O class giant star, with the secondary star being a variable B class star, also known as V2451 Orionis. Iota Orionis is also believed to have been ejected from the Orion Nebula region in the same collision event as AE Aurigae.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: CoRoT-19
  • Map Reference: R Monocerotis
    • POI: Hubble’s Variable Nebula
    • R Monocerotis is a very young binary star system in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky. While in-game it is depicted as an A class star, in real life it is a pre-main sequence Herbig Ae/Be star. This isn’t necessarily inaccurate as Herbig Ae/Be are destined to become A class or B class stars, so this may just mean it reached main sequence beteween 2026 and 3312. In 2026 it is still in the accretion phase and has a circumstellar disk of gas and dust.

      It is located within and illuminates a diffuse nebula known as Hubble’s Variable Nebula, also known as NGC 2261, which was first observed by William Herschel in 1783. This nebula varies in brightness, hence the name “variable nebula,” one hypothesis for this is that dense dust clouds near R Monocerotis at times obscure and block some of the light from the star, causing less of it to reach our solar system, therefore dimming the nebula.It is located within and illuminates a diffuse nebula known as Hubble’s Variable Nebula, also known as NGC 2261, which was first observed by William Herschel in 1783. This nebula varies in brightness, hence the name “variable nebula,” one hypothesis for this is that dense dust clouds near R Monocerotis at times obscure and block some of the light from the star, causing less of it to reach our solar system, therefore dimming the nebula.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: CoRoT-18
    • POI: CoRoT-18b
    • CoRoT-18b is a confirmed hot jupiter type exoplanet in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky. It orbits a G class star.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: TYC 148-1894-1
    • POI: NGC 2301 Cluster Start
    • NGC 2301 is an open cluster in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky, first discovered by William Herschel in 1786.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: V651 Monoceros
    • POI: Butterfly Nebula
    • NGC 2346 is also known as the Butterfly Nebula is a bipolar planetary nebula in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky. However, since Butterfly Nebula is an informal name, it is not to be confused with the other informally named Butterfly Nebula in the Scorpius constellation, which is also a bipolar nebula.

      This Butterfly Nebula centers around the binary star system of V651 Monoceros with an A-type subgiant and an O-class subdwarf. (in-game the second star is depicted as an M class though.)
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: FN Canis Majoris
    • FN Canis Majoris is a binary star system in the Cnais Major constellation of the sky. In 1967 is was observed to be variable by Graham Hill and designated as a Beta Cpehei Variable Star, with apparent magnitude varying between +5.38 and +5.42 in a period of 36.7 hours. However a 2005 study has rejected it as variable enough to be a Beta Cephei Variable Star, and it is no longer considered to be one.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: 2MASS J07133240-1018380
    • POI: NGC 2353 Cluster Start
    • NGC 2353 is a loosely bound open cluster in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky. The main star of it HIP 34999 however does not appear to be in-game under any identifiers for it.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: ALS 299
    • POI: Thor’s Helmet
    • NGC 2359 also known as Thor’s Helmet Nebula is an emission nebula in the Canis Major constellation region of the sky. The central star is the Wolf-Rayet star WR7, also known as ALS 29, which is current in a pre-supernova stage. The complex shape is thought to be cause by interactions with other nearby molecular clouds.

      ALS 299 is the second smallest known Wolf-Rayet N class star in the galaxy, after WR 2. Due to it’s rapid loss of stellar mass creates the nebula around it known as Thor’s Helmet Nebula.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Seagull Sector MC-V c2-6
    • POI: Seagull Nebula
    • Seagull Nebula, also known as IC 2177 is a nebula lying on the border of the Monoceros and Canis Major constellations of the sky. It was first discovered by Isaac Roberts, and is informally called the Seagull Nebula.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • 44 Iota Orionis
    • CoRoT-19
    • R Monocerotis
    • CoRoT-18
    • TYC 148-1894-1
    • TYC 149-95-1
    • V651 Monoceros
    • Outotch MB-N c7-1
    • FN Canis Majoris
    • 2MASS J07133240-1018380
    • NGC 2353 FHR 163
    • ALS 299
    • Seagull Sector DL-Y d3
    • Seagull Sector MC-V c2-6

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: TYC 149-95-1
    • POI: NGC 2301 Cluster End
    • NGC 2301 is an open cluster in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky, first discovered by William Herschel in 1786.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Outotch MB-N c7-1
    • POI: (NC) Cocijo’s Origin
    • This is the system that the Thargoid Titan that was codenamed “Cocijo” first appeared closest to as an anomalous signal when the Titans were approaching the bubble.
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 2353 FHR 163
    • NGC 2353 is a loosely bound open cluster in the Monoceros constellation region of the sky. The main star of it HIP 34999 however does not appear to be in-game under any identifiers for it.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Seagull Sector DL-Y d3
    • POI: Hell Port, Station in Seagull Nebula
    • This sytem in the Seagull Nebula contains the asteroid base known as Hell Port. A good stopover as we continue deeper into space on our expedition.
    • EDSM Link

CEA 8 Leg 1

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

We start off Celebration of Early Astronomy 8 from one of our colony systems, Algenib, which is a major star of the Pegasus constellation. We will then begin southward making our way through various nebulae away from the bubble.

Dates

Start Date: June 7, 2026
End Date: June 14, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 1,956.83 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,573.60 Ly Ly
Optional Waypoints: 5,787.13 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: Epsilon Orionis

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Algenib
    • HIP 3289
    • HIP 102082
    • Volkov
    • Flaming Star Sector LX-T b3-0
    • Epsilon Orionis

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Algenib
    • POI: Gamma Pegasi
    • Algenib, also known as Gamma Pegasi is a binary system in the Pegasus constellation and part of the asterism, represetnting the wing of the Pegasus at the southeast corner. Historically Algenib was also used as the name for Alpha Persei as well, however in 2016 the Internaional Astronomical Union formalized that Algenib will be specifically for Gamma Pegasi.

      Algenib experiences small rapid variations in it’s brigtness and as such is classified as a Beta Cephei Variable star. The pulsations have a period of 3.6 hours.

      The primary star of the system is 8.8 times as massive as our own sun (although in-game it is set as 15) and 5.5 times the sun’s radius (roughly accurate in-game) and is a B2 IV subgiant star. Not much is known about the secondary star of the system beyond that it has a 85.6±0.1 microarcsecond seperation from the main star.

      The photo taken by Artemis II astronauts of the moon eclipsing the sun in April 2026 features Algenib prominently as a particulary bright star to the top right of the moon. https://www.nasa.gov/image-detail/amf-art002e009301/
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: HIP 3289
    • POI: LBN 623
    • LBN 623 Nebula, also known as IC 59, is a dark purple emission nebula. It has also been called the Gamma Cassiopeiae nebula due to visual proximity of that bright star and the nebula as seen from old Earth. It is the nearest photodissociation region to our solar system. Photodissociation regions are regions of interstellar medium where far-ultraviolet photons strongly influence the gas chemistry and act as the most important source of heat. They occur in any region of interstellar gas that is dense and coldenough to remain neutral (electrically), but has too low of a density to prevent far-ultraviolet photons from penetrating.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: HIP 102082
    • POI: V Cygni
    • A very large carbon star with only twice the mass of our sun, but nearly 200 times the size of our sun. It is located 271 parsecs from our own solar system. Additionally it is a Mira Variable star, which are pulsating stars characterized by very red colors, pulsation periods longer than 100 days, and amplitudes greater than one magnitude in infrared spectrum and 2.5 magnitude within the visible spectrum. The large visual amplitudes are not due to actual luminosity changes, but shifting of their output between the infrared and visual wavelengthsas that star changes temperature during the pulsations.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: Volkov
    • POI: NGC 1333 Cluster and Nebula
    • NGC 1333 is a star forming region and reflection nebula located in the Perseus constellation region of the sky. It was first discovered by Eduard Schönfeld in 1855. This star formation region contains various low mass stars below 10 times the mass of Jupiter and has been studied for how stars of such low mass are formed. So far it has been noted that many of them form like planets and sometimes get ejected from their formation systems. It has also been seen that there are none below 4 times the mass of Jupiter, leading the hypothesis that the lower limit of stellar formation could be near that point.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: Flaming Star Sector LX-T b3-0
    • POI: Flaming Star Nebula
    • Flaming Star Nebula, also known as IC 405 and Caldwell 31 is an emission and reflectoin nebula roughly 1,500 Ly away from our own solar system in real life (1,700 in-game) in the Auriga constellation region of the sky. It surrounds the star AE Aurigae (although for some reason that is about 200 Ly away in-game). Based on its proper motion, the central star, AE Aurigae is believed to have been a star ejected from the Orion Nebula from a collision of a pair of binary star pairs.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: Epsilon Orionis
    • POI: Alnilam, Orion’s Belt
    • More commonly known as Alnilam, this is the center star of the Orion’s Belt asterism. It is a decent bit further (in-game) from our solar system than the other two stars of Orion’s Belt (Alnitak and Mintaka). It is the 29th brightest star in the night sky and the fourth brightest star in the Orion constellation.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Algenib
    • HIP 3289
    • HIP 102082
    • Alpha Cygni
    • HD 239486
    • HD 25508
    • 2MASS J03292407+3119577
    • Volkov
    • Schweickart
    • Flaming Star Sector LX-T b3-0
    • AE Aurigae
    • Epsilon Orionis

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Alpha Cygni
    • POI: Deneb
    • The brightest star in the Cygni constellation, and 19th brightest star in the night sky. It represents the tail of the swan in the Cygnus constellation. This star is the star ionizing the North America Nebula and Pelican Nebula. Was also featured multiple times in the science fiction series Star Trek.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: HD 239486
    • POI: Cepheus Dark Region
    • The Cepheus portion of the sky is home to a selection of various dark nebulae such as the Seahorse Nebula and Cave Nebula. These nebulae are not energetic enough to emit their own light, and so appear dark and obscure stars behind them.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: HD 25508
    • POI: California Nebula
    • The California Nebula, also known as NGC 1499 is an emission nebula in the Perseus constellation, named due to it’s resemblance to the outline of the US State of California. (granted in game it’s a generic nebula). It was discovered in 1884 by E. E. Barnard and is roughly 1000 lightyears from our own solar system. Its flourescence is due to the nearby energetic star Xi Perrsei, also known as Menkib, which is the next waypoint on the route.

      Be aware that Thargoids hyperdictions may occur in California Nebula!
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: 2MASS J03292407+3119577
    • POI: NGC 1333 Start
    • System on one end of the NGC 1333 cluster used as a main waypoint to show the length of the cluster.
    • EDSM Link
    • SIMBAD Link
  • Map Reference: Schweickart
    • POI: NGC 1333 Cluster End
    • System on one end of the NGC 1333 cluster used as a main waypoint to show the length of the cluster.
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: AE Aurigae
    • AE Aurigae is currently the central star of the Flaming Star Nebula, however is was not formed there. It is considered a runaway star, believed to have been ejected from the Orion Nebula by a collision of a pair of binary star groups along with 53 Arietis. As such it is passing through Flaming Star Nebula at high speed. This is creating a bow shock which creates my of the high energy electromagnetic radiation lighting up the Flaming Star Nebula.
    • EDSM Link

Celebration of Early Astronomy 8

Niamh Kaminari

Dates: June 7, 2026 to August 16, 2026

Planned Map (Still subject to alterations to orange line) (click for full size):
Distance: 50,588.74 Ly

Register Now
See Roster
Join Discord
EDSM

“The early 2000s, they were often the speculative setting of early science fiction works. Early imaginings of interstellar travel, first contact with aliens, apocalypses, pandemics, you name it, there was probably a movie or book set in the early 21st century of it. While humanity may not have invented interstellar travel by 2020 as many novels and films purported, they still discovered plenty gems of our galaxy by then.

Lucky for us in 3312 we do have interstellar travel and can visit these gems that humans on Earth in the early 21st century could only dream of visiting. So that is just what we will be setting out to do. This expedition will visit many of the noteworthy celestial objects discovered by the early 21st century, some of which even still are considered noteworthy even today in 3312.“

— Patron Kezika T. Wylair, CEO of C.E.A. Psychiatric Institutions Ltd.

We will be setting off from Algenib, one of the brightest stars in the Pegasus constellation, and the one representing the wing of the Pegasus. From there we will be travelling southward to HD 39340 the southernmost catalog star reachable in the in-game galaxy. From there we will make our way northwesterly, finally ending up back at The Bubble Nebula, visiting old discoveries as well as finding new ones along the way!

==============================================================

Please fill out a sign-up form if you’re coming along!
Note: even if you’re not sure yet all your details, the form will give you an edit link once you submit so that you can come back and edit your submission in the future with any changes you make. Just make sure to save your link!

Sign-up form: https://theexpedition.info/Register
Roster: https://theexpedition.info/Roster

==============================================================

Summary and Information

Dates: June 7, 2026 to August 16, 2026
Waypoint Count: 36
Distance: 50,588.74 Ly
Expedition Discord: https://theexpedition.info/Discord

For Celebration of Early Astronomy 8 we are heading to visit HD 39340, the southernmost catalog available to be visited in the in-game galaxy.

==============================================================

Waypoints

Start: Algenib
End: Bubble Sector PD-S b4-4

=====================
Current Waypoint List
=====================

Leg 1 – 6/7 – 6/14

  • Algenib
  • HIP 3289 (LBN 623)
  • HIP 102082
  • Volkov (NGC 1333 Cluster and Nebula)
  • Flaming Star Sector LX-T b3-0 (Flaming Star Nebula)
  • Epsilon Orionis (Alnilam of Orion’s Belt)

Leg 2 – 6/14 – 6/21

  • 44 Iota Orionis
  • CoRoT-19 (CoRoT-19b)
  • R Monocerotis (Hubble’s Variable Nebula)
  • CoRoT-18 (CoRoT-18b)
  • TYC 148-1894-1 (NGC 2301 Cluster)
  • V651 Monoceros (Butterfly Nebula)
  • FN Canis Majoris
  • 2MASS J07133240-1018380 (NGC 2353 Cluster)
  • ALS 299 (Thor’s Helmet Nebula)
  • Seagull Sector MC-V c2-6 (Seagull Nebula)

Leg 3 – 6/21 – 6/28

  • HD 258691 (NGC 2244 Cluster)
  • Rosette Sector CQ-Y d59 (Rosette Nebula)
  • HD 45829
  • CXOU J061705.3+222127 (Jellyfish Nebula)

Leg 4 – 6/28 – 7/5/2026

  • Monkey Head Sector KC-V c2-6 (Monkey’s Head Nebula)
  • HIP 26696
  • NGC 1817 MMU 1408 (NGC 1817 Cluster)
  • Crab Pulsar (Crab Nebula)
  • NGC 1931 Sector PD-S b4-0

Leg 5 – 7/5 – 7/19

  • Gongae QW-L c24-0 (Non-Catalog: Dreamer Blush Glowing Green Gas Giant)
  • Eok Hypue ZO-Z b33-0 (Non-Catalog: Colliding Rings, mid-leg basecamp)
  • 3 Geminorum
  • HD 39340 – (Southernmost reachable catalog star in game)

Leg 6 – 7/19 – 7/26

  • Hyueths HS-H d11-5 (Non-Catalog: Earthlike Binary)
  • NGC 1893 CF 43 (NGC 1893 Cluster)

Leg 7 – 7/26 – 8/2

  • NGC 1491 Sector EB-X c1-3 (NGC 1491 Nebula and Cluster)

Leg 8 – 8/2 – 8/9

  • Soul Sector EL-Y d7 (Heart and Soul Nebulae)
  • RS Persei (NGC 884 Cluster)
  • BD+55 191 (NGC 281)

Leg 9 – 8/9 – 8/16

  • NGC 7538 Sector LC-V c2-17 (NGC 7538 Cluster)
  • CSI+50-22218 (IC 5217 Cluster)
  • Bubble Sector PD-S b4-4 (Bubble Nebula)

=====================

Each Leg will additionally have an announcement post when they start detailing any optional waypoints they may have added to them. Optional waypoints are subject to be added during the expedition up until the start of the leg, and are not included in the above list.

=====================

Register Now
See Roster
Join Discord
EDSM

CEA 7 Finale Mass Jumps

Niamh Kaminari

Here are the videos of the Finale Mass Jumps! Thank you everyone for participating in Celebration of Early Astronomy 7!

As mentioned we will be having “Colonization of Early Astronomy” efforts going on in our Discord server to keep up the community fun and collboration! Make sure to join if you haven’t already at https://theexpedition.info/Discord!

If the video below doesn’t work on this site due to codecs the mirror is at https://youtu.be/PEc0Z30fME4

CEA 7 Leg 6

Niamh Kaminari

We launch the final leg of Celebration of Early Astronomy 7 by departing from the first ever discovered black hole, and headed towards the first of another type of stellar corpse, LGM-1, which is both the first ever discovered neutron star, and first discovered pulsar.

Dates

Start Date: March 9, 2025
End Date: March 23, 2025

Distances

Basecamp Line: 3,518.20 Ly
Main Waypoints: 6,822.46 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 7,890.99 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: LGM-1
Mid-Leg Event: QZ Vulpeculae

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • KOI 4939
    • HD 188504
    • QZ Vulpeculae
    • CSI+19-20105
    • HD 343965
    • LGM-1

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: KOI 4939
    • POI: Kepler-486b (False positive exoplanet)
    • This is a bit of a different one for CEA. KOI 4939.01 also known as Kepler-486b is actually NOT a real exoplanet. It was later discovered in 2016 to be a false positive. This highlights the importance of the scientific process in astronomy and confirming observations by peer review and additional observations.
    • Caltech NASA Exoplanet Archive Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HD 188504
    • POI: Platais 10 Cluster
    • HD 188504 is a binary star system and a member of the Platais 10 star cluster, an open cluster in the area.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: QZ Vulpeculae
    • Discovered by the Ginga telescope in April 1988 when it produced an X-ray nova caused by matter falling in from it’s K class companion into the black hole classified as GS 2000+25. In 3308 it is found to also contain some other bodies, including a terrestrial planet with ammonia based life.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: CSI+19-20105
    • POI: NGC 6886
    • NGC 6886 is a planetary nebula discovered by Ralph Copeland in 1884. It is located in the Sagitta constellation region of the sky. The central star is a post-AGB star with 55% of the Sun’s mass, but 2700 ± 850 times its luminosity. The nebula is thought to have been expanding for between 1,280 to 1,600 years.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HD 343965
    • HD 343965, also known as HIP 94327 is a blue-white B class main sequence star in the Vulpecula constellation of the sky.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: LGM-1
    • LGM-1, officially designated as PSR B1919+21 is the first ever discovered pulsar in 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell. It is also the first ever discovered pulsar as well since it is a neutron star of the pulsar variety. Due to the nature of pulsars as a repeating radio source not being a known phenomenon at the time, it was at first thought to be a signal from an alien intelligence. Originally named LGM-1 standing for “Little Green Men” because of that assumption. Later observation into it led to the discovery of pulsars and their nature.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • KOI 4939
    • HD 188504
    • QZ Vulpeculae
    • Thailoe UO-A e4
    • CSI+19-20105
    • Traikeou OR-W b5-0
    • HD 343965
    • LGM-1

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Thailoe UO-A e4
    • AKA: Existence in Desolation
    • This system harbors an extremely rare ringed Earth-like moon orbiting a ringed Y-class dwarf star. What’s more, this planet exhibits many rarities, such as very high ice content (88.9%), high argon content in its atmosphere (43.4%), very low density (2.292 g/cm^3), and zero orbital eccentricity. Further, the system’s primary star is an A2 VAB — this planet represents the very first Earth-like found around this type of star. A2 stars in general are quite disagreeable to the formation of Earth-like planets (thanks to their short lifespans and high radiation), so very few have been found around them.

      What’s especially appealing about this world is the low concentration of stars in its vicinity, thanks to its location 800 light years below the galactic plane, on the Orion-Cygnus Arm. This produces unobstructed, scenic views of the galactic plane on one side, and the inky black on the other. Thus the name: this planet affords life in a region of scarcity and desolation. For explorers looking to visit this world, it lies just under 9,000 light years away from Sol, making it quite accessible.
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Traikeou OR-W b5-0
    • POI: Goliath’s Rest Stop
    • A scenic stopping location near the hyper-luminous Traikeou Goliaths. Planet C 3 is an earth-like world with a moon orbiting at no more than 0.1 light-seconds. Terrific and varied views are possible due to the 60 degree orbital inclination of the moon. If you arrive at the right time, the Traikeou nebula can also be observed while admiring the earth-like world. A water world with a moon just as close can also be found, but the water world is both smaller and less colorful. An ammonia world rounds out the collection of life types.
    • EDSM Link

CEA 7 Leg 5

Niamh Kaminari

Leg 5 is the penultimate leg of the Celebration of Early Astronomy 7, ending at the first ever discovered black hole, Cygnus X-1! This is a two week leg with a mid-week event.

One of the additional waypoints is KOI 1701, put in for the challenge of landing on the 45G planet. Use Extreme Caution if you attempt this, and it is highly recommended to turn in exploration data prior to attempting.

Dates

Start Date: February 23, 2025
End Date: March 09, 2025

Distances

Basecamp Line: 2,590.68 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,635.11 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 7,686.35 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: V1357 Cygni
Mid-Leg Event: HR 7678

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • IC 4996 DAM 9
    • V1820 Cygni
    • HR 7678
    • CSI+29-19529
    • HD 191612
    • V1357 Cygni

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: IC 4996 DAM 9
    • POI: IC 4996
    • IC 4996 is a small cluster in the Cygnus constellation about 5,600 Ly from our solar system. It is also very young at only 9 million years old. Because of that theyre are some stars in it that haven’t yet reached their main sequence stage. As a result this cluster is studied to research pre-main sequence stage of stellar evolution.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: V1820 Cygni
    • POI: NGC 6871
    • NGC 6871 is a small young cluster in the Cygnus constellation, located roughly 5,135 Ly from our solar system. It has fewer than 50 members. Most of the members are blue and white stars. The cluster was discovered by Wilhelm von Struve in 1825.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HR 7678
    • POI: V1768 Cygni
    • HR 7678, also known as V1768 Cygni, is a blue supergiant star in the Cygnus constellation, located roughly 8,000 Ly from our solar system.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: CSI+29-19529
    • POI: NGC 6842
    • NGC 6842 is a planetary nebula on the border of the Cygnus and Vulpeculae constellations, it was discovered in 1919 by Heber Doust Curtis.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HD 191612
    • POI: Cygnus OB 3 Association
    • HD 191612 is a binary star system in the Cygnus constellation. It is located roughtly 6,100 Ly from our solar system and is part of the Cygnus OB 3 association. In 1972 astronomer N. R. Walborn proposed this star as a Of?p type stellar classification. Later in 1989 the Einstein Observatory listed it as a possible X-Ray Binary due to having high x-ray luminosity. Then in 1992 another study of OB stars found that the spectrum for HD 191612 was different than the one reported by Walborn in 1972, which led to a 2003 study that showed that HD 191612 alternated between two spectral states. It was shown to have a cycle time of roughly 540 days, which seemed too long to be explained by normal rotation of pulsation. In 2006 a strong magnetic -1.5 kilogauss field was discovered, making it the second ever O-type star found to have a strong magnetic field, the other being Theta-1 Orionis C.

      By 2007, the combination of earlier observations along with lack of radial velocity suggested a binary system with an orbital period of 1,542 days (+/- 14) with a B-type main sequence companion star with about half the mass of the primary star. In 2011 the magnetic field was confirmed and found to also vary with a period of 537 days, matching the spectral variation, supporting that the star was an oblique rotator, with the magnetic field oriented at a different angle than the stellar poles by 30 degrees tilt.

      For in-game peculiarity this is also the only known system with an F-class supergiant in a planetary orbit around another star.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: V1357 Cygni
    • POI: Cygnus X-1
    • Cygnus X-1 is a microquasar, and was the first x-ray source widely accepted to be a black hole. First discovered in 1964, it is one of the strongest X-ray sources detectable from Earth. Estimated mass is roughly 21x that of our sun, but has shown to be too small to be any other known type of star or object besides a black hole. The event horizon radius is estimated to be 300km in size. — It orbits in a binary system with blue supergiant HDE 226868 at 0.2AU.

      Cygnus X-1 is thought to be orbited by a thin, flat disk of accreting matter known as an accretion disk. While not represented in-game, these are highly heated disks of matter from the friction cuased by vast differences in orbital speeds as the proximity to the black hole increaes, with the innermost orbits forming a plasma. Accretion disks emit massive amounts of x-rays, which begin as lower energy photons in the accretion disk and are given more energy through the process of Compton scattering from extremely high temperature electrons from the corona surrounding the accretion disk.

      As the matter from the accretion disk dalls towards the black hole, it loses massive amounts of gravitational potential energy. Due to law of conservation of energy, that energy has to go somewhere, which it does in the form of jets of matter flowing outwards from the black hole accelerated to relativistic velocities.

      In 2006, Cygnus X-1 became the first stellar-mass black hole found to display evidence of gamma-ray emission in the very high energy band above 100 GeV.

      Cygnus X-1’s companion star is HDE 226868, an O-type supergiant with a surface temperature of 31,000 Kelvin, and a mass roughtly 20-40 times that of our Sun. The surface of HDE 226868 is tidally distorted by the gravity of the black hole, causing it to be tear drop shaped, and causes the optical birghtness of the star to vary by 0.06 magnitude during each 5.6 day orbit.

      Cygnus X-1 is the subject of a two-part song by the band Rush.

      Additionally the 1979 Disney movie The Black Hole features a black hole called “The Cygnus” in the movie, which presumably would be Cygnus X-1.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • KOI 1701
    • IC 4996 DAM 9
    • V1820 Cygni
    • HR 7678
    • CSI+29-19529
    • Blaa Eohn YZ-G d10-0
    • HD 191612
    • V1357 Cygni

Additional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: KOI 1701
    • POI: Via Gravitatis (Extreme Caution!)
    • KOI-1701.01 is an unconfirmed exoplanet around the star KOI-1701. It is thought to be a gas giant, however the game generated it as a landable metal-rich body, resulting in the wackiness of a 45.32 G landable body.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Blaa Eohn YZ-G d10-0
    • POI: Planet of Slightly Lesser Death
    • Like the infamous Monde de la Morte (Spoihaae XE-X D2-9), this system consists of a planet which orbits perpendicular to the core white dwarf’s jet cones close enough to pass through them at either end. While not passing as near as the exclusion zone unlike its eponym, the cones themselves still create a severe hazard for landing which should not be attempted while the planet is inside the jets themselves.
    • EDSM Link