Tag: leg

CEA 8 Leg 9

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

Here on the final leg of Celebration of Early Astronomy 8, we go northwesterly before looping back down towards our final basecamp in Bubble Nebula, as a result the basecamp line for this leg is much shorter than the distance including the waypoints in general, that way if people are running behind from prior legs making it to the basecamp for the final celebration mass jumps will be more reasonable distance to cover.

Dates

Start Date: August 9, 2026
End Date: August 16, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 1,895.03 Ly
Main Waypoints: 7,233.41 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 7,894.04 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: Bubble Sector PD-S B4-4

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • NGC 7538 Sector LC-V c2-17
    • CSI+50-22218
    • NGC 7380 MOF 10
    • Bubble Sector PD-S B4-4

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: NGC 7538 Sector LC-V c2-17
  • Map Reference: CSI+50-22218
    • POI: IC 5217
    • IC 5217 is a planetary nebula in the Lacerta constellation region os the sky as seen from Earth. This nebula was first discovered in 1904 by Williamina Fleming. The central star, CSI+50-22218 is a Wolf-Rayet star with spectral type WC7.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 7380 MOF 10
    • POI: NGC 7380
    • NGC 7380 is a young open cluster in the Cepheus constellation of the sky as seen from Earth. It was first discovered by Caroline Herscel in 1787. It is contained within the emission nebula known as Wizard Nebula.

      There are only three stars of this cluster in the in-game galaxy version of the cluster, NGC 7380 MOF 10, NGC 7380 21, and NGC 7380 MOF 9, so the other two have been listed as additional waypoints for reference.

      NGC 7380 MOF 10 and NGC 7380 MOF 9 are both variable stars, whereas NGC 7380 21 is not a variable star.

      The SIMBAD link for the NGC 7380 cluster as a whole is: https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=NGC+7380
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Bubble Sector PD-S B4-4
    • POI: Bubble Nebula
    • The Bubble Nebula, also known as NGC 7635 is an emission nebula in the Cassiopeia region of the sky. It is formed from stellar wind from the central star BD+60 2522. (For whatever reason however in the in-game galaxy it placed that star nearly 5,000 Ly away from the bubble nebula)

      While BD+60 2522 is around two million years old, the Bubble Nebula is only about 40,000 years old. It is hypothesised that the bubble formed as a shock front where stellar wind meets interstellar material at supersonic speeds as the wind from the star travels outwards at between 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers per second.

      Multiple SIMBAD links are relevant to this waypoint:
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • NGC 7538 Sector LC-V c2-17
    • CSI+50-22218
    • Ootosps UR-H d11-17
    • NGC 7380 MOF 10
    • NGC 7380 21
    • NGC 7380 MOF 9
    • NGC 7380 Sector WC-D b15-3
    • Bubble Sector PD-S B4-4

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Ootosps UR-H d11-17
    • POI: (NC) Four Strings
    • This system is the GEC POI named “Four Strings” submitted by CMDR EekaDroid on behalf of CMDR Gallaghar.

      Summary: An extreme rarity: four Earth-like worlds, in three different orbital configurations.

      Description: Systems which house four Earth-like Worlds are extremely rare: only five are known as of 3309/05/12, including this one.



      There are five stars in the system, each with their own assortment of planets.

      The first one is a class A blue-white star, which has a number of planets. The Earth-like world around this one (A 7) is quite hospitable, but the other planets have extremely hot and thick atmospheres.

      The second star has two Earth-likes (B 3 & 4), as a close-orbiting binary pair:

      For some added variety, the fourth Earth-like World in the system, DE 4, has a landable rocky moon of its own.

      Additionally, there are six terraformable High Metal Content worlds around the various stars.

      Lastly, there are two Water Worlds in the system, which are unfortunately not terraformable. Still, they provide some welcoming views, with their atmospheres (Ammonia and Nitrogen, respectively) shifting the colour of the blue oceans.
    • EDAstro Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 7380 21
    • POI: NGC 7380
    • NGC 7380 is a young open cluster in the Cepheus constellation of the sky as seen from Earth. It was first discovered by Caroline Herscel in 1787. It is contained within the emission nebula known as Wizard Nebula.

      There are only three stars of this cluster in the in-game galaxy version of the cluster, NGC 7380 MOF 10, NGC 7380 21, and NGC 7380 MOF 9, so the other two have been listed as additional waypoints for reference.

      NGC 7380 MOF 10 and NGC 7380 MOF 9 are both variable stars, whereas NGC 7380 21 is not a variable star.

      The SIMBAD link for the NGC 7380 cluster as a whole is: https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=NGC+7380
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 7380 MOF 9
    • POI: NGC 7380
    • NGC 7380 is a young open cluster in the Cepheus constellation of the sky as seen from Earth. It was first discovered by Caroline Herscel in 1787. It is contained within the emission nebula known as Wizard Nebula.

      There are only three stars of this cluster in the in-game galaxy version of the cluster, NGC 7380 MOF 10, NGC 7380 21, and NGC 7380 MOF 9, so the other two have been listed as additional waypoints for reference.

      NGC 7380 MOF 10 and NGC 7380 MOF 9 are both variable stars, whereas NGC 7380 21 is not a variable star.

      The SIMBAD link for the NGC 7380 cluster as a whole is: https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=NGC+7380
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 7380 Sector WC-D b15-3
    • POI: (NC) Waltz of Castor & Pollux
    • This system is the GMP POI known as “Waltz of Castor & Pollux” which is described as follows: Castor (planet 1) and Pollux (planet 2) are both landable HMC worlds with beautiful rings and contain geological sites. Castor has a small moon (1A) with mountains. Those three bodies are orbiting their M class star at only 8.3LS, and both planets have a tiny orbital period of 0.7 days, with the moon orbiting in just 0.3 days.



      Castor & Pollux are twins brother In Greek mythology, they share a bond so strong that when Castor dies, Pollux gives up half of his immortality to be with his brother. Considering that those 2 bodies are very close each other, we can see them as inseparable twin brother. The idea of the “waltz” is to represent the movement of their small and circular orbital periods.

    • EDSM Link

CEA 8 Leg 8

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

For Leg 8 we are getting back into more explored space with more points of interest to hit, and we also have a project for the group! Colonization of Early Astronomy!

Colonization efforts have reached Heart & Soul Nebulae and we would like to make a deep space exploration depot for our faction, C.E.A. Psychiatric Institutions Ltd. in the Soul Nebula. The claim has already been set down in Heart Sector IH-V c2-2

Dates

Start Date: August 2, 2026
End Date: August 9, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 4,752.25 Ly
Main Waypoints: 5,618.35 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 7,908.67 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: BD+55 191

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Heart Sector IH-V c2-2
    • RS Persei
    • BD+55 191

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Heart Sector IH-V c2-2
    • POI: Heart and Soul Nebulae + Project Colonization of Early Astronomy
    • This is a pair of nebulae very close to each other. First is the Heart Nebula, aka Westerhout 4. An emission nebula in the Persues Arm of the Mily Way, and in the Cossiopeia constellation of the sky. Within the nebula is a bright open cluster of stars known as Collinder 26 and contains a few bright stars nearly 50 times the mass of our sun, as well as many more dim stars. The size of the nebula in the night sky is nearly 2 degrees of arc, making it nearly four times the size in the night sky as the full moon.

      The second nebula is the Soul Nebula, also known as Westerhout 5. It is also an emission nebula like the Heart Nebula. Near the nebula in the night sky can also be seen the galaxies Maffei 1 and Maffei 2 of the Maffei Group. Soul Nebula is one of the most studied nebula in the field of star formation, due to it’s angle to us and ease of seeing the gas cavities and stellar formation areas allowing sceintists to easily see how gas cavities formed from the stellar winds of a star’s birth compress gasses together from other cavities leading to a chain reaction of stellar formation.

      The nebulae as a pair are known as the W3/W4/W5 Region.

      Multiple SIMBAD Links are relevant to this waypoint:
    • Project Colonization of Early Astronomy
      • Our “Colonization of Early Astronomy” project is located in this system. We are aiming to build a Coriolis station in this system with a relay installation strong link to enable Universal Cartographics and Vista Genomics at a deep space station for our minor faction, C.E.A. Psychiatric Institutions Ltd. Be a part of building a lasting legacy for Celebration of Early Astronomy 8!

        The Raven Colonial page for the project can be found at https://ravencolonial.com/#sys=Heart%20Sector%20IH-V%20c2-2

    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: RS Persei
    • POI: NGC 884 Cluster
    • Red Supergiant located in the Double Cluster in the Perseus constellation. In the game galaxy version it is orbited by a landable planet so close that you can fuel scoop while in orbital flight.

      Caldwell 14 also known as NGC 884, or Chi Persei is an open cluster in the Perseus constellaton region of the sky as seen from Earth. it is the east component of the Double Cluster with NGC 869, also known as h Persei. The clusters were first recorded by Hipparchus of Nicaea at an unknown specific date sometime during his estimated lifetime between roughly 190 and 120 BC.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: BD+55 191
    • POI: NGC 281
    • NGC 281, also known as Pacman Nebula is an emission nebula in the Cassiopeia region of the sky as seen from Earth. It was dirst discovered by Edward Emerson Barnard in August 1883.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Phrio Hypue AA-A h0
    • Heart Sector IH-V c2-2
    • Heart Sector YJ-A c9
    • RS Persei
    • Eafots RA-G B11-0
    • Eafots LZ-H B10-0
    • Eafots EU-R C4-1
    • Eafots GL-Y E2
    • BD+55 191

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Phrio Hypue AA-A h0
    • POI: (NC) Three Angels of Death
    • This system is the GMP POI known as “Three Angel’s of Death”, it is described as such: A system that only contains three black holes. Two of the black holes are less than 0.01 AU from each other and have an orbital period of 0.1 D. The third black hole is fairly close by as well with an orbital period of 4.4 D. The central black hole has the mass of 29 solar masses. The three angels of death are named Abaddon, also called Apollyon, which is the destroying angel in Book of Revelation in the New Testament, Azrael, also known as Malak al-Maut from Islam, and Mot, angel of death from the Hebraic Book of Habakkuk.

    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Heart Sector YJ-A c9
    • POI: (NC) Mount Pallas
    • This system is the GMP POI known as Mount Pallas. Described as:

      Planetary Coordinates: -75.1632, 175.7912 Discovered during the Artemis Biological Survey expedition, this particular mountain range of the system’s fifth body (A5) can be seen from space. At very high altitudes, the icy pole of the planet can be seen surrounded by the mountain barrier, which ends in a singular peak rising above the horizon, crossing two different biological biomes. It reaches a height of over 9 kilometers. From the top, we can clearly see the different features of the planet. However, this is only accessible with a small ship. On the other side is a dark plain as far as the eye can see. But, if you look up to the sky you can see a beautiful starry sky and Heart and Soul nebulae.

      Located on a high metal content stellar body, the surface temperature varies between 116k and 227k. Atmosphere type is carbon dioxide (99.0% carbon dioxide and 1.0% sulphur dioxide). It is composed of three different exobiological species rather common in worlds of the same type (Tussock Ignis, Stratum Tectonicas, Bacterium Aurasus).

      Named Mount Pallas in reference to Greek mythology. Pallas was one of the Gigantes (Giants), the offspring of Gaia, born from the blood of Uranus. According to the mythographer Apollodorus, during the Gigantomachy, the cosmic battle of the Giants with the Olympian gods, he was flayed by Athena. If you fall from above, there is a risk of flaying. Caution should be exercised.

    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eafots RA-G B11-0
    • POI: (NC) Formidine Rift Gamma Settlement
    • One of four lore related abandoned settlements out in the Formidine Rift region related to the lore of The Club.

      A badge is able to be unlocked for users of EDSM by visiting any system within the “Eafots” sector, which this system would count for.
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eafots LZ-H B10-0
    • POI: (NC) Formidine Rift Beta Settlement
    • One of four lore related abandoned settlements out in the Formidine Rift region related to the lore of The Club.

      A badge is able to be unlocked for users of EDSM by visiting any system within the “Eafots” sector, which this system would count for.

    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eafots EU-R C4-1
    • POI: (NC) Formidine Rift Alpha Settlement
    • One of four lore related abandoned settlements out in the Formidine Rift region related to the lore of The Club.
    • A badge is able to be unlocked for users of EDSM by visiting any system within the “Eafots” sector, which this system would count for.
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eafots GL-Y E2
    • POI: (NC) Formidine Rift Delta Settlement
    • One of four lore related abandoned settlements out in the Formidine Rift region related to the lore of The Club.

      A badge is able to be unlocked for users of EDSM by visiting any system within the “Eafots” sector, which this system would count for.
    • EDSM Link

CEA 8 Leg 7

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

Leg 7 is another leg through this sparsely explored region. We encourage much deeper exploration of this region due to lack of publically known POIs.

Dates

Start Date: July 26, 2026
End Date: August 2, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 4,183.61 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,183.61 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 4,742.45 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: NGC 1491 Sector EB-X c1-3

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • NGC 1491 Sector EB-X c1-3

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: NGC 1491 Sector EB-X c1-3
    • POI: NGC 1491 Nebula and Cluster
    • NGC 1491, also known as the Fossil Footprint Nebula is an emission nebula located roughly 9,800 Ly from Earth in the Persues constellation region of the night sky. It was discovered in 1790 by William Herschel.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Dryoi Eaec HF-C d14-3
    • Schee Hypue IF-A c3-0
    • NGC 1491 Sector EB-X c1-3

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Dryoi Eaec HF-C d14-3
    • POI: (NC) Thargoid’s Teeth
    • This system is the GEC POI known as “Thargoid’s Teeth” as submitted by CMDR PhoenixBlue on behalf of CMDR RoyalKnight557

      Summary: Two moons with crystalline shards orbit a ringed Ammonia World in this system.

      Description: Situated about 1,150 light-years East of the NGC 1491 Nebula, this system contains a ringed Ammonia World with two moons, both of which are home to Crystalline Shard fields. Carbon dioxide geysers dot the surface of B 7 a, while B 7 b features ammonia-based volcanism.

      The crystalline shards on both moons yield ruthenium. The shards on B 7 a seem to populate the flat portions of the moon’s surface, while they’re more populous in the highlands of B 7 b.

      In addition to the exobiology payout from sampling the crystalline shards, their ruthenium deposits can be used for premium Automated Field Maintenance Unit module reload synthesis.

      The name of this point of interest is inspired by dragon’s teeth fortifications, first used to impede tanks and infantry vehicles in World War II. Clusters of crystalline shards have been known to similarly impede surface reconnaissance vehicles.

    • EDAstro Link
  • Map Reference: Schee Hypue IF-A c3-0
    • POI: (NC) Stones From The Sky
    • This system is the GEC POI known as “Stones from the Sky” as submitted by CMDR Tan Dava on behalf of CMDR Stonsen88

      Summary: A satellite (2 a) of a gas giant located so close to its parent’s rings that the asteroids can be seen passing by from the moon’s surface.

      Description: The second planet in this system is a ringed gas giant, and its first moon (2 a) is about 200 km away from the outer edge of the ring system. This distance is short enough that explorers disembarking on the moon’s surface can distinguish individual asteroids, without any visual aid.

      The moon has geological activity, in the form of major water geysers, and a comparatively low gravity of 0.11 g.

      The system has a few other gas giants, each with moons of their own, but nothing is notable about them.

    • EDAstro Link

CEA 8 Leg 6

Niamh KaminariLeave a comment

Leg 6 of the expedition returns back on itself, covering much of the same area as the latter half of Leg 5, but angling slightly back and ending up at the NGC 1893 cluster. We encourage deeper exploration of this region during this leg to seek more POIs for this region that has not been well explored for submission to catalogs like GEC. Due to the limited existing POIs for this region this leg does not have many POIs arranged.

Dates

Start Date: July 19, 2026
End Date: July 26, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 5,321.36 Ly
Main Waypoints: 5,329.52 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 5,329.85 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: NGC 1893 CF 43

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Hyueths HS-H d11-5
    • NGC 1893 CF 43

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Hyueths HS-H d11-5
    • POI: (NC) 2 ELW Binary
    • This systems is the GMP POI known as “The Twins’ Garden”, it is described as such: Situated in a rather sparse region, with few habitable planets around, this system has a wide variety of worlds orbiting its two stars. The most striking are the two binary Earth-likes orbiting each other, but there is also a nearby ammonia world orbiting a planet as its moon. The more distant second star has two water worlds orbiting it, one which has an ammonia atmosphere: both are candidates for terraforming.

      Additionally this system is home to the DSSA carrier named DLNV Leo’s Vision.

    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: NGC 1893 CF 43
    • POI: NGC 1893 Cluster
    • NGC 1893 is an open cluster in the Auriga constellation region of the night sky as seen from Earth. Roughly 12,400 light years from our solar system (although 10,750 in game). It is located within an emission nebula IC 410, also known as the Tadpole Nebula.

      The Tadpole Nebula is very close in the sky to the Flaming Star Nebula from Leg 1 of our expedition, however in distance much further with the Flaming Star Nebula being only 1,500 Ly from earth and Tadpole Nebula being roughly 12,400 Ly from Earth. They are often imaged together though due to being so close to each other in the sky from our perspective.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Hyueths HS-H d11-5
    • TYC 2394-144-1
    • NGC 1893 CF 43

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: TYC 2394-144-1
    • POI: NGC 1893 Cluster Start
    • This system denotes the other end of the NGC 1893 cluster from TYC 2394-144-1
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

CEA 8 Leg 5 (Two Weeks)

Niamh Kaminari

We now launch into Leg 5, which will take us all the way to HD 39340, the furthest south real star in the in-game galaxy. Due to the sparseness of points of interest along this leg and the distance needed this leg is spread across two weeks to encourage deeper exploration of the region with the hopes that members can find new interesting POIs for submission to catalogs such as the GEC. There will be a midway basecamp the carriers will stop over at for the first week before continuing along.

As mentioned in the FAQ (https://theexpedition.info/faq) in order to reach HD 39340 you need to be able to make a 77.06 Ly gap along the route. That means the minimum base jump range you’ll need for your ship is 38.54 if you’re able to use Premium FSD Injection. Near the end of the leg we will arrange one of the carrier to perform shuttling service past that gap for those that need it.

Dates

Start Date: July 5, 2026
End Date: July 19, 2026

Distances

Basecamp Line: 8,790.79 Ly (4,395.36 Ly per week)
Main Waypoints: 9,856.27 Ly (4,928.14 Ly per week)
Optional Waypoints: 10,097.88 Ly (5,048.94 Ly per week)

Map, (click for full size):

Midway Basecamp: Eok Hypue ZO-Z b33-0
Final Basecamp: HD 39340

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Gongae QW-L c24-0
    • Eok Hypue ZO-Z b33-0
    • 3 Geminorum
    • HD 39340

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Gongae QW-L c24-0
    • POI: (NC) Dreamer Blush
    • This is the Glowing Green Gas Giant designated as “Dreamer’s Blush” in the GEC.
    • Summary: A magnificent ringed glowing green gas giant with deep purple clouds in the Kepler’s Crest region.

      Description: A magnificent ringed glowing green gas giant with deep purple clouds in the Kepler’s Crest region. Its bright colours shine on the dark velvet of space of this inter-arm region. Land near Silicate Vapour Geysers on planet 2 b a for an astounding and colorful view. This scenery is known for renewing the inspiration and dreams of any tired explorer.
    • EDAstro Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Eok Hypue ZO-Z b33-0
    • POI: (NC) Colliding Rings
    • This is a system with colliding rings between bodies 1 and 2 that was found using The Explorarium tool.

      The rings of the two bodies will collide ever 5 hours, 49 minutes and 12 seconds due to their orbital alignments. Niamh Kaminari scouted the firsrt known confirmed collision of these rings at March 3rd 2026 at 03:05:09 UTC. The times for the month of July calculated out from that first known time can be found at this link: Eok Hypue ZO-Z b33-0 Collision Clock
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: 3 Geminorum
    • Blue supergiant in the constellation Gemini. It was found to be an Alpha Cygni Variable star in 1998 and also given the designation PU Geminorum, and it varies by a few tenths of a magnitude on a period of 3.81 days. 3 Geminorum is a double star with it’s second star being about 2.5 magnitudes fainter.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: HD 39340
    • POI: Southernmost Catalog Star
    • HD 39340 is a main sequence star in the Columba constellation region of the night sky. It is a Be Star, which is a non-supergiant B class main sequence star that had (or has had) Balmer Emission Lines, which is chemically peculiar for B class stars outside of supergiant B class stars.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Additional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Schadgae LD-K c8-0
    • Gongae QW-L c24-0
    • Eok Hypue ZO-Z b33-0
    • 3 Geminorum
    • HD 39340

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Schadgae LD-K c8-0
    • POI: (NC) Jumponium Refill Depot before gap
    • Space will become sparse further ahead on the route as we go further south, this system contains Crystalline Shards with Yttrium on B 5 d for premium injections if you need a refill.
    • Materials can be found on the planets as follows
      • Yttrium
        • B 1 c
        • B 5 d
      • Polonium
        • B 2 a
      • Antimony
        • B 3 b
      • Ruthenium
        • B 3 c
    • EDSM Link

CEA 8 Leg 3

Niamh Kaminari

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 1

Niamh Kaminari

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

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

CEA 7 Leg 4

Niamh Kaminari

Leg 4 begins the first two-week leg of the Celebration of Early Astronomy 7 expedition. Longer distance between basecamps, and on the mid weeks we will hold an event somewhere partway through the distance.

This leg features a few systems from the KOI (Kepler Objects of Interest) catalog, which themselves have real exoplanets in them. KOI catalog contains stars with transiting planets as observed by the Kepler telescope due to periodic dimming.

Anchors:
Main Waypoints
Additional Waypoints

Dates

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

Distances

Basecamp Line: 3,551.03 Ly
Main Waypoints: 4,153.68 Ly
Optional Waypoints: 4,403.08 Ly

Map, (click for full size):

Basecamp: KY Cygni
Mid-Leg Event: BD+41 4004

Main Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Sadr
    • Kepler-5
    • KOI 3179
    • KOI 1014
    • KOI 116
    • WR 136
    • Crescent Sector GW-W c1-8
    • KY Cygni

Main Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: Sadr
    • POI: Gamma Cygni
    • Sadr, also known by the Bayer designation Gamma Cygni, is a supergiant star in the Cygnus constellation. It additionally forms the intersection of the asterism known as the Northern Cross. It is located roughly 1,800 lightyears form our solar system. The official IAU name Sadr for this star is derived from the Arabic word for chest, this base word is also used for another star Schedar (Alpha Cassiopeiae).

      Sadr has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.23, putting it amongst the brightest stars in the night sky. Sadr is 14.5 times the mass of our sun, 180 times the radius, and emitting over 33,000 times as much energy. This star is also surrounded by a diffuse nebulae called IC 1318.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Kepler-5
    • POI: Kepler-5b
    • Kepler-5 is a star located in the Cygnus consteallation. It has a closely orbiting Hot Jupter type planet Kepler-5b (Kepler-5 1 in game). This was the second exoplanet to be detected by NASA’s Kepler mission, which aimed to detect planets transiting their host stars as seen from Earth via periodic dimming. The discovery of Kepler-5b was announced at the January 4th, 2010 meeting of the American Astronomical Society along with Kepler-4, Kepler-6, and Kepler-7.

      Kepler-5b has is 2.1 times as massive as Jupiter and 1.426 times the radius. It orbits Kepler-5 at 0.0538 AU, thus making it a Hot Jupiter class exoplanet. (in comparison, Mercury orbits at .3871 AU)
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: KOI 3179
    • POI: Kepler-1911b
    • KOI 3179 is one of the many members of the Kepler Objects of Interest catalog from NASA’s Kepler missions which aimed to detect exoplanets by the dimming of their parent star as their orbit transited their parent star as observed from our solar system.

      KOI 3179.01 aka Kepler-1911b is a Super Earth type exoplanet orbiting a G-type main sequence star. Even though classified as a Super Earth (mass greater than Earth) it is barely more massive than Earth, at only 1.01 Earth masses. However, it is likely not an Earthlike planet given it orbits it’s parent star at a mere 0.06 AU. Here is the NASA page regarding this exoplanet: https://ciencia.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/kepler-1911-b/

      The specifics of the planet as a Super Earth came after the 2013 galactic generation however, the original detection with the Kepler mission it was thought to be more massive and thought to be a Hot Jupiter type, which is why in-game it is represented as a Hot Jupiter instead of as a Super Earth.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: KOI 1014
  • Map Reference: KOI 116
    • POI: Kepler-106
    • KOI 116, also known as Kepler-106 is a member of the NGC 6866 open cluster, and also contains 4 known exoplanets. Like with KOI 3179, the original dsicovery of this missions prior to 2013 has estimated some of their masses to be higher than was later revealed through further observations. As such they are represented in game by gas giants, when they are each Super Earth type exoplanets.

      Additionally Kepler-106f is as of 2024 a potential candidate for a 5th exoplanet around this star, but is as yet unconfirmed.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: WR 136
    • WR 136 is a Wolf-Rayet type star located in the Cygnus constellation of the sky and located at the center of the Crescent Nebula, and is the star responsible for the existence of the Crescent Nebula. (however in game it is erroneously located far from it) It’s age is estimated to be around 4.7 million years, but Wolf-Rayets are very short lived, so this means it is nearing the end of it’s life and is expected to go supernova within the news few hundred thousand years.

      It is roughly 600,000 times brigher than our sun, 21 times more massive, and 5.1 times larger, with a surface temperature near 70,000 Kelvin.

      Additionally there is some evidence that WR 136 may have a low mass companion star of main seqence type K or M. (which is represented in game as well as a K class star)
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: Crescent Sector GW-W c1-8
    • POI: Crescent Nebula
    • The Crescent Nebula, also known by identifiers NGC 6888, Caldwell 27, and Sharpless 105; is an emission nebula in the Cygnus constellation, located roughly 5,000 lightyears from our solar system. William Herschel discovered it in 1792, and it is formed by the fast stellar winds of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (our previous waypoint) colliding and energizing the slower moving wind ejected by the star previously when it became a red giant 250,000 to 400,000 years ago.

      The resulted in two shockwaves, one moving outward and one moving inward. The inward moving shock wave heats the stellar wind to X-ray emitting temperatures.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: KY Cygni
    • KY Cygni is a red supergiant in the Cygnus constellation, located roughly 4,700 lightyears from our own solar system. It lies near the open cluster NGC 6913, but is not a member of the cluster itself. The light from KY Cygni is heavily reddened due to “interstellar extincion” which is the absorption and scattering of light due to interstellar dust.

      Ky Cygni is also variable, but with no clear periodicty or predictability to it’s periods of variation.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link

Optional Waypoints

  • Map References quick reference list, more details below
    • Sadr
    • HR 7767
    • Kepler-5
    • KOI 3179
    • KOI 105
    • KOI 2484
    • KOI 1014
    • KOI 116
    • BD+41 4004
    • WR 136
    • Crescent Sector GW-W c1-8
    • KY Cygni

Optional Waypoints Details

  • Map Reference: HR 7767
    • HR 7767 is near the route, it is a real binary system in the Collinder 419 cluster. In-game however the secondary star is a black hole, when in reality it is a B class star.
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link
  • Map Reference: KOI 105
  • Map Reference: KOI 2484
  • Map Reference: BD+41 4004
    • POI: Magic Carpet Nebula
    • The Magic Carpet Nebula (NGC 7027) is a very young dense planetary nebula roughly 3,000 lightyears from our solar system. It was discovered in 1878 by Edouard Stephan at the Marseille Observatory. It is one of the smallest planetary nebula, and the most extensively studied. It is also one of the visually brightest planetary nebulae.

      It was photographed multiple times by the Hubble Space Telescope. Prior to being photographed by Hubbe it was thought to be a protoplanetary nebula with a central star too cool to ionize the gas, but the photographs revealed it is a planetary nebula, but unusually small, measuring only 0.2 lighyears by 0.1 lighyears dimensions, where the average size of a planetary nebula is roughly 1 lightyear.

      The Helium Hyrdride Ion (Helonium), was first detected in 2019 in this nebula, confirmed hypotheses about the early formation of the universe, as Helonium was one ofthe first molecule thought to have been formed after the Big Bang. There is also evidence to suggest the presence of nanodiamonds within the nebula. (Diamonds smaller than 100 nanometers)
    • SIMBAD Link
    • EDSM Link