Category: Expedition

CEA 6 Leg 2

Niamh Kaminari

As we head out away from NGC 3590, we make our way out and through the Eta Carina Nebula as we make our way further east through the Carina constellation of the night sky.

Dates

Start Date: January 14, 2024
End Date: January 21, 2024

Distances

Basecamp Line: 3,939.90 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,754.95 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: GCRV 6493

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Statue of Liberty Sector LC-V c2-12
    • x Carinae
    • V405 Carinae
    • Eta Carinae
    • Eta Carina Sector JH-V c2-9
    • GCRV 6493

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Statue of Liberty Sector LC-V c2-12
    • POI: Statue of Liberty Nebula
    • Statue of Liberty Nebula, also known as NGC 3576 is an emission nebula within the Carina constellation area of the night sky. It was discovered by Sir John Frederick William Herschel in 1834. It was additionally named the Statue of Liberty Nebula in 2009 by Dr. Steve Mazlin.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: x Carinae
    • x Carinae, also known as V382 Carinae is a G class yellow hypergiant star in the Carina constellation of the night sky. It is the brightest yellow hypergiant in the night sky, easily visible to the naked eye. It is roughly 6200 lightyears from our own solar system, 200,000 times as luminous as our sun, and around 500 times the radius of the Sun.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: V405 Carinae
    • POI: NGC 3293
    • NGC 3293 is an open cluster discovered by Nicolas-Louis de Lecaille in 1751. It contains more than 100 stars brighter than 14th magnitude, some of the brightest of are blue supergiants.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eta Carinae
    • Eta Carinae is a star system containing at least two known starts, and has a combined luminosity greater than five million times brighter than our Sun. It is roughly 7,500 lightyears from our solar system in the Cairna constellation section of the night sky. In 1837 is brightened to become brighter than Rigel. It then became the second brightest star in the night sky for a few days inMarch 1843 before beginning to fade down again, going below naked eye visibility levels in 1856. It had another short brightening period in 1892 before fading again. It has though since 1940 been brightening consistently and has become a 4.5 magnitude star since 2014.

      The brightness eruptions of this star are unqieu to it and no other anlogues to this behaviour are currently known in any galaxy. The cause of the eruptions is also not known, some hypotheses include one of the stars having mass transfer to the main star on close orbital passes (perriastron passage), or possibly the merging of two very large stars into a single larger star.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eta Carina Sector JH-V c2-9
    • POI: Eta Carina Nebula
    • NGC 3372, also known as the Carina Nebula is a large nebula in the Carina-Sagittarius arm of the galaxy, approximately 8,500 lightyears from Earth. Within it is the Carina OB1 association and several open clusters including Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16. It is one of the largest diffuse nebulae in our night sky. While it is four times as large as and brighter than the Orion Nebula it is less well known due to being in the southern sky. It was discovered in 1752 by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: GCRV 6493
    • POI: NGC 3211
    • NGC 3211 is a small blue planetary nebula around the star GCRV 6493 in the Carina constellation of the night sky. It was discovered by Sir John Frederick William Herschel in 1837

      There is reportedly Notable Stellar Phenomena in this system containing anomalies.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

CEA 6 Leg 1

Niamh Kaminari

On January 7, 2024 we will be launching the sixth iteration of the Celebration of Early Astronomy expedition. For Leg 1 we will be working our way eastward to the NGC 3590 cluster as we visit sights such as Orion’s Belt, and The Vela Pulsar along the way, as well as some clusters and other stars of interest.

Dates

Start Date: January 7, 2024
End Date: January 14, 2024

Distances

Basecamp Line: 5,333 Ly
Main Waypoints: 6,923 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 6,923 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: NGC 3590 CLA 15

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Keltim
    • Alnitak
    • Mintaka
    • Vela Pulsar
    • Phi Velorum
    • HD 78344
    • GCRV 715
    • NGC 3590 CLA 15

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Keltim
    • POI: GL 149
    • We will launch our sixth Celebration of Early Astronomy Expedition from this location, while in-game it is named Keltim, it is the real binary star system known as GJ 149, containing the stars
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Alnitak
    • POI: Orion’s Belt
    • The easternmost star of Orion’s Belt, a very recognizable landmark in the night sky. It is a known triple-star system. Its distance from our solar system in-game is actually a lot closer than in reality, as when the in-game galaxy was generated it was thought to be at a distance of about 225 parsecs from us, however observations since then have revealed that it is actually much further at approximately 1260 parsecs. (about 4100 lightyears). Alnitak Aa is an O class supergiant, estimated to be roughly 33 times as massive as our sun, 20 times the diameter, and 21,000 times the brightness. It is the brightest class O star in the night sky. – Alnitak Ab is a B type subgiant discovered in 1998, and Alnitak C is believed to be part of the system, but has not been fully confirmed and may be another star along the line of sight from our solar system to Alnitak.
    • There is a POI there named “Impressive Rings” on one of the other stars in the system.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Mintaka
    • POI: Orion’s Belt
    • The westernmost star of Orion’s Belt, a very recognizable landmark in the night sky. Mintaka is a multi star system approximately 1200 lightyear from our own solar system, however in game it is only 692 lightyears from Sol. This is due to new discoveries that occurred since the generation of the in-game galaxy show it being nearly twice as far as it was believed to be in 2013. – The primary stars of the system are a class O and a class B star that orbit each other. They are aligned such that they eclipse each other periodically as viewed from our solar system, causing periodic decreases in the brightness of the system in the night sky.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Vela Pulsar
    • The Vela Puslar is a nearby pulsar and one of the best known “gltiching” pulsar, in that it will have unpredicatble changes in its rotational speed for a few seconds at a time. Currently the most recent known glitch of the Vela Puslar was on July 22, 2021 where it briefly slowed down it’s rotational speed for a few seconds before returning to it’s normal rotational speed.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Phi Velorum
    • Phi Velorum is a B class supergiant in the Vela constellation. It is additionally known by the identifiers HD 86440 and HR 3940, and has the traditional Chinese name of Tseen Ke (天紀 ). It is approximately 10 times as massive as our sun.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HD 78344
    • This system contains the rather rare sight of a ringed neutron star. The main star of the system is an O class main sequence star. Additionally there is a fair number of other real star systems near this one for exploration.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: GCRV 715
    • POI: The Southerner Nebula
    • NGC 3918, also known as The Southerner Nebula or “The Blue Planetary Nebula” is a bright planetary nebula in the Centaurus constellation region of the sky. It was first discovered by Sir John Herschel in March 1834 and is easily visible through small telescopes. The central star of the nebula is actually obscured from optical light observations because of how bright the planetary nebula around it is.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 3590 CLA 15
    • POI: NGC 3590
    • NGC 3590 is an open cluster in the Carina constellation of the sky. There are a fair number of real stars located around this region for exploration purposes. We will be having our CEA 6 Leg 1 Basecamp at NGC 3590 CLA 15 in this cluster.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Optional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Keltim
    • Alnitak
    • Mintaka
    • Epsilon Orionis
    • Vela Pulsar
    • Phi Velorum
    • HD 78344
    • GCRV 715
    • NGC 3590 CLA 15

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Epsilon Orionis
    • AKA: Alnilam
    • 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.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Celebration of Early Astronomy 6

Niamh Kaminari

Dates: January 07, 2024 to March 18, 2024

Planned Map (Still subject to alterations to orange line) (click for full size):
Distance: 37,429.80 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 3310 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 3310.

We will be setting off from our faction’s home system Keltim, also known as Gliese 149 to the humans of 2020. From there we will be travelling our route eastward to V429 Carinae visiting old discoveries as well as finding new ones along the way!

— Patron Kezika T. Wylair

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

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
EDSM Page: https://theexpedition.info/EDSM

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

Summary and Information

Dates: January 07, 2024 to March 18, 2024
Waypoint Count: 22
Distance: 37,429.80 Ly
Expedition Discord: https://theexpedition.info/Discord

For Celebration of Early Astronomy 6 we are heading eastward to the furthest known catalog star in the in-game universe, V429 Carinae.

For the last three legs of the expedition we are travelling through sparsely explored regions with few if any POIs recorged in the Galactic Mapping Project or Galactic Exploration Catalog, so there will be a good chance you may be able to find a brand new noteworthy POI to put your name on!

The first three legs of the trip will be one week each and focus on sightseeing points of interest of known real world celestial objects. The final three weeks of the expedition will be two weeks each and focus on finding new and awesome points of interest for submission to the Galactic Exploration Catalog!

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

Waypoints

Start: Keltim
End: V429 Carinae

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

Leg 1 – 1/7 – 1-14

  • Keltim (GL 149)
  • Alnitak (Orion’s Belt)
  • Mintaka (Orion’s Belt)
  • Vela Pulsar
  • Phi Velorum
  • HD 78344
  • GCRV 715 (The Southerner Nebula)
  • NGC 3590 CLA 15 (NGC 3590)

Leg 2 – 1/14 – 1/21

  • Statue of Liberty Sector LC-V c2-12 (Statue of Liberty Nebula)
  • x Carinae
  • V405 Carinae (NGC 3293)
  • Eta Carinae
  • Eta Carina Sector JH-V c2-9
  • GCRV 6493 (NGC 3211)

Leg 3 – 1/21 – 1/28

  • GCRV 6432
  • HD 92023

Leg 4 – 1/28 – 2/4

  • NGC 3199 Sector LC-V c2-5 (NGC 3199)
  • OGLE-TR-211
  • AG Carinae
  • GU Muscae (GRS 1124-683)

Leg 5 – 2/4 – 2/18

  • Prie Aec IX-L d7-6

Leg 6 – 2/18 – 3/4

  • Preou Aip JY-U c2-0 (Paleta Carmesí)

Leg 7 – 3/4 – 3/18

  • V429 Carinae (WR 22)

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

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.

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

Register Now
See Roster
Join Discord
EDSM

CEA 5 Leg 7 – Final Leg

Niamh Kaminari

We set off now on the final leg of the Celebration of Early Astronomy expedition, which will stop at our final basecamp in the Scorpius-Centaurus Association.

Dates

Start Date: February 25 2023
End Date: March 04, 2023

Distances

Basecamp Line: 3,055.73 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,209.98 Ly
Optional Waypoints: N/A

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: J Centauri

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • NGC 752 DLM 167a
    • V518 Carinae
    • X1 Centauri
    • J Centauri

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: NGC 752 DLM 167a
    • POI: Caldwell 28
    • Caldwell 28, also known as NGC 752 is an open cluster in the Andromeda constellation region of the sky as seen from earth. It was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783, and cataloged by her brother William Herschel in 1786, however an object that is now believed to be NGC 752 had also been described by Giovanni Batista Hodierna prior to 1654.
  • Map Reference: V518 Carinae
    • POI: Caldwell 102
    • Caldwell 102, also known as the Southern Pleiades is an open cluster in the Carina constellation of the sky as seen from Earth. It was discovered by Abbe Lacaille in 1751 from South Africa. It is one of the closest clusters to our solar system, being only roughly 486 light-years from our solar system. Theta Carinae (also in game) is the brightest star in the cluster.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: X1 Centauri
    • X1 Centauri and X2 Centuari (another nearby system), are two stars near each other in the Centaurus constellation area of the sky as seen from earth. Both are late B-type main sequence stars. They are fairly bright and can be seen with the naked eye in dark enough viewing locations.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: J Centauri
    • POI: Scorpius-Centaurus Association
    • J Centauri is B-type main sequence star located in the Scorpius-Centaurus association, the nearest OB association and stellar formation region to our own solar system at a distance of about 420 light-years.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Optional Waypoints

No optional waypoints for this leg.

CEA 5 Leg 6 – Caldwell 19

Niamh Kaminari

This will be the largest (in terms of quantity of systems) Caldwell cluster to scout during this expedition. We have 448 systems to scout for this leg! Please reference the scouting spreadsheet for the full list and for filling in of scouting information: Scouting Spreadsheet

Dates

Start Date: February 25 2023
End Date: March 04, 2023

Distances

Basecamp Line: 1,262.97 Ly
Main Waypoints: 1,262.97 Ly
Optional Waypoints: N/A

Basecamp: HD2002 Star 137

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • HD2002 Star 137

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: HD2002 Star 137
    • POI: Caldwell 19
    • Caldwell 19, also known as The Cocoon Nebula, or IC 5146 is a reflection nebula in the Cygnus constellation area of the sky.

      Caldwell 19 is a star forming region. The most massive star known in the cluster is BD+46 3474 (doesn’t appear to be in game under any of it’s other identifiers either such as IC 5146 42, 2MASS J21532885+4715595, or ALS 12039)

      Another interesting star in Caldwell 19 is V1578 Cygni which is an example of an HAeBe Star (however in game it is A class, but that isn’t too weird as HAeBe stars eventually will become A or B class, and given Cocoon nebulae’s distance from Earth being about 2500 Ly, what we see today from Earth would be the star as it was in roughly 477 BC, and it may have become main sequence in the intervening 3,786 years between 477 BC and 3309 AD)

Optional Waypoints

The optional waypoints for this leg are all the systems in the Caldwell 19 cluster which can be found on the scouting spreadsheet.

CEA 5 Leg 5 – S171

Niamh Kaminari

So this one isn’t a Caldwell cluster, but it is a prominent cluster in this area of the galaxy nonetheless, and there is a Caldwell cluster to swing by along the way.

Dates

Start Date: February 18 2023
End Date: February 25, 2023

Distances

Basecamp Line: 3,696.36 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,650.81 Ly
Optional Waypoints: N/A

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: S171 7

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Kappa Cassiopeiae
    • NGC 457 124
    • S171 7

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Kappa Cassiopeiae
    • Kappa Cassiopeiae is a runaway blue supergiant star, moving at about 2.5 million miles per hour relative to its neighbors. It’s stellar wind and magnetic field create a bow shock 4 light years ahead of the star, which reaches behind the star as well for a total bow shock length of 12 lightyears.

      Additionally is has an unusual spectrum with unusually weak nitrogen lines for a B-class star.
  • Map Reference: NGC 457 124
    • POI: Caldwell 13
    • Caldwell 13, also known as NGC 457, as well as The Dragonfly Cluster is an open cluster of stars in the Cassiopeia constellation area of the sky. It is generally an easy target for amateur astronomers as it can be seen with small telescopes even in light-polluted skies.

      Two bright stars, Phi Cassiopeia and HD 7902 form the eyes of the dragonfly in this cluster.
  • Map Reference: S171 7
    • POI: S171
    • Sharpless 171 is an emission region in the larger star forming complex known as NGC 7822. One of the hottest known stars discovered within a kiloparsec of the sun is found here, HIP 139 with a surface temperature over 45,000 Kelvin.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Optional Waypoints

No optionals for this leg.

CEA 5 Leg 4 – Caldwell 10

Niamh Kaminari

Dates

Start Date: February 11 2023
End Date: February 18, 2023

Distances

Basecamp Line: 757.11 Ly
Main Waypoints: 1,629.80 Ly
Optional Waypoints: N/A

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: BD+60 327

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • HD 15558
    • BD+60 327

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: HD 15558
    • POI: IC 1805 Cluster
    • The IC 1805 cluster is the cluster which the Heart Nebula is also a part, the brightest part of the cluster is also separately classified as NGC 896 as it was the first part of the cluster to be discovered.
  • Map Reference: BD+60 327
    • POI: Caldwell 10
    • Caldwell 10 also known as NGC 663 is an open cluster in the Cassiopeia area of the sky as seen from Earth. It is considered bright enough to be detected with the naked eye in a dark enough sky. The cluster is of extra interest to astronomers because of the high number of Be class stars, with a total of about 24 discovered in real life.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Optional Waypoints

The optional waypoints for this leg is to simply scout out any stars you can within the cluster. There is a shared discoveries spreadsheet available at this link: https://theexpedition.info/Caldwell1 to keep track of what has already been scouted by the group and what needs to be scouted still. Please make sure to record any progress there as well!

CEA 5 Leg 3 – Caldwell 14

Niamh Kaminari

For the next week we will be doing an in-depth survey of the cluster known as Caldwell 14. Discovering, mapping, and bio-scanning anything we can find in there, and logging it to our discoveries spreadsheet for the leg, which can be found: here

Dates

Start Date: January 14, 2023
End Date: February 4, 2023

Distances

Basecamp Line: 480.18 Ly
Main Waypoints: 480.18 Ly
Optional Waypoints: N/A

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: BD+56 472

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Bubble Sector PD-S B4-4
    • Hypoae Ain MO-I d9-37
    • BD+56 472

Main Waypoints Details

Optional Waypoints

The optional waypoints for this leg is to simply scout out any stars you can within the cluster. There is a shared discoveries spreadsheet available at this link: https://theexpedition.info/Caldwell1 to keep track of what has already been scouted by the group and what needs to be scouted still. Please make sure to record any progress there as well!

Celebration of Early Astronomy 5 – Caldwell Edition

Niamh Kaminari

Dates: January 07, 2023 to March 11, 2023

Planned Map (Still subject to alterations to orange line) (click for full size):
Distance: 26,100.35 Ly

Register Now
See Roster
Join Discord
EDSM Page

“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 3308 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 3308.

We will be setting off from our faction’s home system Keltim, also known as Gliese 149 to the humans of 2020. From there we will be travelling our route clockwise. Many of the sights on this expedition revisit those featured on earlier CEA expeditions for those that weren’t on those.

— Patron Kezika T. Wylair

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

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
EDSM Page: https://theexpedition.info/EDSM

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

Summary and Information

Dates: January 07, 2023 to March 11, 2023
Waypoint Count: 20
Distance: 26,100.35 Ly
Expedition Discord: https://theexpedition.info/Discord

For Celebration of Early Astronomy 5 we are focusing on exploring various Caldwell clusters, and in particular, Caldwell 1, a large cluster high up from the galactic plane that can only be entered and exited using a carrier. The Caldwell catalog was created by Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore, a British astronomer and influential TV presenter on the topic of astronomy.

All legs will be one week long with the exception of our week in Caldwell 1, which will be three weeks long in duration. During this time there will be a pair of carriers swapping positions daily

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

Waypoints

Start: Keltim
End: J Centauri

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

Leg 1 – 1/7 – 1-14

  • Keltim (GL 149)
  • 45 Tauri (Caldwell 41)
  • Musca Dark Region HM-V c2-29 (Caldwell 99 – Coalsack Nebula)
  • BrSO 14 (Caldwell 68 – R Corona Australis Nebula)
  • Veil West Sector DL-Y d68 (Caldwell 34 – Veil West Nebula)
  • North America Sector LC-V c2-3 (Caldwell 20 – North America Nebula)
  • Ploea The YQ-U d3-0 (Caldwell 1’s pre-entry point)

Leg 2 – 1/14 – 2/4

  • V785 Cephei (Caldwell 1)
  • NGC 188 SMV 4385 (Caldwell 1)

Leg 3 – 2/4 – 2/11

  • Bubble Sector PD-S B4-4 (Bubble Nebula)
  • Hypoae Ain MO-I d9-37 (Heart & Soul Nebulae)
  • BD+56 472 (Caldwell 14)

Leg 4 – 2/11 – 2/18

  • HD 15558 (IC 1805 Cluster)
  • BD+60 327 (Caldwell 10)

Leg 5 – 2/18 – 2/25

  • Kappa Cassiopeiae
  • NGC 457 124 (Caldwell 13)
  • S171 1 ([GMM2009] S171)

Leg 6 – 2/25 – 3/4

  • HD2002 Star 137 (Caldwell 19)

Leg 7 – 3/4 – 3/11

  • NGC 752 DLM 167a (Caldwell 28)
  • V518 Carinae (Caldwell 102)
  • J Centauri (Scorpius-Centaurus Association)

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

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.

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

Register Now
See Roster
Join Discord
EDSM Page