For Leg 3 of Celebration of Early Astronomy 7 we are moving over to the Veil Nebula West with two waypoints along the way to allow for a more freeform exploration leg for leg 3 before we begin with the longer two week legs.
Dates
Start Date: February 2, 2025
End Date: February 9, 2025
Distances
Basecamp Line: 1,552 Ly
Main Waypoints: 1,896.30 Ly
Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: Veil West Sector KC-V c2-18
Main Waypoints
- Map References quick reference list, more details below
- Iris Sector EL-Y d22
- HIP 102082
- Alpha Cygni
- Veil West Sector KC-V c2-18
Main Waypoints Details
- Map Reference: Iris Sector EL-Y d22
- POI: Iris Nebula
- The Iris Nebula, also known as Caldwell 4 is a reflection nebula in the Cepheus constellation. The nebula is illuminated by the star HD 200775
FW Cephei nearby is a populated system with a station for turning in exploration data if you need to. - SIMBAD Link
- EDSM 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.
- SIMBAD Link
- EDSM Link
- 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, most notably in the first ever episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as the location of Farpoint Station.
- SIMBAD Link
- EDSM Link
- Map Reference: Veil West Sector KC-V c2-18
- POI: Veil Nebula West
- Designated as NGC 6960, a nebula in the Cygnus constellation and constitutes the visible portions of the Cygnus Loop. It is the remnants of a supernova. It is also sometimes referred to as the Cirrus Nebula or the Filamentary Nebula.
Additional viewing site suggestion: Veil West Sector PD-S B4-2, puts it nearly in line with Barnard’s Loop for a spectacular view. - SIMBAD Link
- EDSM Link
Optional Waypoints Details
- Map Reference: HD 200775
- HD 200775 is the main star illuminating the Iris Nebula, it is a Herbig Be star in real life, although represented as a B star in game.
- SIMBAD Link
- EDSM Link