This is the only system directly controlled by the Pilots Federation and entry is only allowed by those invited. Achieving a high status is the usual cause for invitation, but other more secretive methods are also known.

The system is governed by the Elite Pilots Federation and members are allowed to retire here.

The Elephant's Trunk Mine is an asteroid base situated within the inner rings of a gas giant. The occupants of the station, the Mapas Dynasty, value their isolation: the station is 2,700 ly away from civilization. In addition to mining, which can be done literally next to the station (as long as Commanders stay out of the no-fire zone!), the base sees plenty of traffic from tourists as well. Interested Commanders can hire on not just people who want to head farther out into the galaxy, but also those who wish to head back to the inhabited worlds.

One of the most iconic nebulae in astronomy, the Elephant's Trunk nebula is a concentration of interstellar gas and dust within the much larger ionized gas region IC 1396. It is located in the constellation Cepheus and about 2,400 light years away from Sol. What gives the Trunk its striking appearance is the colourplay between the illuminated patches of interstellar dust and gas and the relatively dark areas in between. These dark areas are thought to be small voids where massive bright stars eroded away all the surrounding gas and thus left a 'hole' or a 'rift' in the complex.

The Elephant's Trunk is one of the most heavily surveyed areas of star formation. Exploration is still ongoing, and as of April 3303 a small asteroid base has been set up in the vicinity to facilitate access to the area.

A research facility operated by the Life Sciences Expedition. This fully functional asteroid base offers most standard station services, including a Passenger Lounge and Universal Cartographics.

The Cave Nebula (also known as Sharpless 155) is a diffuse nebula in the constellation Cepheus. It is widely known as the Cave Nebula, though that name was applied earlier to Ced 201, a different nebula in Cepheus. The nebula is composed of ionized atomic hydrogen, also called an H II region. The nebula was first noted as a galactic emission nebula in 1959 in the extended second edition of the Sharpless catalogue. The name "Cave Nebula" was coined for this object by Patrick Moore, presumably derived from photographic images showing a curved arc of emission nebulosity corresponding to a cave mouth.

The nebula is 35 ly in diameter and of muted rust and green colors. The nebula is mostly empty of systems, with a few on the outer edges. Cave Nebula is close to the Elephant's Trunk nebula, and both can be observed together in the right locations.

The North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The remarkable shape of the nebula resembles that of the continent of North America on old Earth, complete with a prominent Gulf of Mexico. It is sometimes incorrectly called the 'North American Nebula'. The North America Nebula and the nearby Pelican Nebula are in fact parts of the same interstellar cloud of ionized hydrogen.

The Pelican Nebula (also known as IC 5070 and IC 5067) is an ionized cloud of interstellar atomic hydrogen associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The gaseous contortions of this emission nebula bear a resemblance to a pelican, giving rise to its name. The Pelican Nebula is divided from its more prominent neighbour, the North America Nebula, by a molecular cloud filled with dark dust.

Sadr, also known as Gamma Cygni, is an F-class super-giant and one of the brightest stars visible from old Earth. It has historical significance for astronomers, being used as one of the stable reference points by which other stars are classified. The Sadr region, or IC 1318, is the diffuse emission nebula which surrounds Sadr.

Part of the supernova remnant known as the Cygnus Loop, the 'East' Veil Nebula appears as a dark crimson fading to pink in the diffuse areas. When seen together with NGC 6992 it is also known as the "Network Nebula"

Field of water geyser, offering unique combination of colours thanks to its location in Veil West nebula.

Star: D Planet: 4e Coords: 27.02, 80.59

Part of the supernova remnant known as the Cygnus Loop, the 'West' Veil Nebula is a long blue and pink collection of gas. Due to the unique appearance, it has also been called "Witch's Broom", "Finger of God" and "Filamentary Nebula"

Two frontier border 'dark' nebulae situated a mere 600 LYs from Sol. Neither reflect visible light and the Chameleon is devoid of stars. Due to their close proximity to Frontier borders, both nebulae are often cited as one of the first places to visit for new explorers fresh out of the pilots federation academy.

On December 20th 3300 the Coalsack was visited by a large group of explorers from the First Great Expedition, making this the very first group exploration effort since the general restrictions to deep space travel were lifted by the Pilots Federation in december 3300. The recommended minimum jump range to take part was a mere 12 LY - to account for the limited technology available (and affordable) for the many new pilots graduating at the time (source)The Coalsack Dark Nebula (or simply the Coalsack) is the most prominent dark nebula in the sky on Earth, easily visible to the naked eye as a dark patch silhouetted against the southern Milky Way. As such it has played a prominent role in navigation and mythology in the southern hemisphere on pre-spaceflight Earth. The Coalsack was important in Australian Aboriginal astronomy, and formed the head of the Emu in the sky. In Inca astronomy this nebula was called Yutu meaning a partridge-like southern bird or Tinamou. The first reported observation of the Coalsack by european explorers venturing south was by Vicente Yáñez Pinzón in 1499. It was named “il Canopo fosco” (the dark Canopus) by Amerigo Vespucci and was also called “Macula Magellani” (Magellan's Spot) or “Black Magellanic Cloud” in opposition to the Magellanic Clouds.

The Pencil Nebula is only 800 LYs away from Sol and yet we might never have even looked at it, prey for the linear appearance triggering its popular name. However, this asteroid station now gives us more reason than ever to visit this place, where one can look out in peace at shapes of wind made by the neighbouring planet D5 A 5. Very close by this station, in the Regor sector, are some interesting Guardian ruins to visit if the traveller so wishes. But please do not do so before chatting with the barman of the "Seven Stages Movement". He will tell you this cooperation has invested quite a lot in building this rocky place but he might also ask for your assistance against a growing mysteriously named anarchy faction called.. "The Shunned".

The Pencil Nebula (also known as NGC 2736) is a small part of the Vela Supernova Remnant, located near the Vela Pulsar in the constellation Vela. The nebula's linear appearance triggered its popular name. It resides about 815 light-years away from the Solar System. It is thought to be formed from part of the shock wave of the larger Vela Supernova Remnant.

The nebula was discovered by John Herschel on March 1st, 1835. The nebula is blue and brown, is small for a non-planetary nebula, and contains no systems inside.

Mysterious small dark nebula that reflects no light.

A small reflection nebula in the Orion constellation near the Witch Head Nebula and the Orion-Running Man nebular complex. NGC 1999 was originally classified as a "dark nebula" because the black spot at its center was believed to be an extremely dense patch of light-absorbing gas and dust, but radio telescope observations in the early 21st Century revealed the spot was actually a hole punched in the nebular cloud.

The nebula's core includes a Class A star and two Class M stars, one of which is orbited by three high metal content worlds. Due to its location, NGC 1999 has a skyline rich with some of the famous nebulae near inhabited space -- the Witch Head, Orion, and Running Man nebulae, as well as Barnard's Loop, the Horsehead Nebula and the Flame Nebula -- all of which are set against the background of its own fiery gas cloud.

A visit to the 'Fiery Sky' tourist beacon on V380 Orionis C 1 is highly recommended.

The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way, being south of Orion's Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky on Earth.

The Orion Nebula contains a very young open cluster, an association of about 2,800 stars within an ellipsoid with a diameter of 20 light years. This stellar nursery, as it is known, contains over 100 known kinds of organic and inorganic gases as well as dust; some of the latter is made up of large and complex organic molecules. In this region is also several notable stars including the white supergiant EZ Orionis.

Observers have long noted a distinctive greenish tint to the nebula, in addition to regions of red and of blue-violet. The red hue is an emmision from ionized hydrogen gases, while the blue-violet coloration is the reflected radiation from the massive O-class stars at the core of the nebula.

The green hue was a puzzle for astronomers in the early part of the 20th century because none of the known spectral lines at that time could explain it. There was some speculation that the lines were caused by a new element, and the name nebulium was coined for this mysterious material. With better understanding of atomic physics, however, it was later determined that the green spectrum was caused by a low-probability electron transition in doubly ionized oxygen, a so-called "forbidden transition". This radiation was all but impossible to reproduce in the laboratory at the time, because it depended on the quiescent and nearly collision-free environment found in the high vacuum of deep space (Source).

NGC 1973/5/7 is a reflection nebula 1/2 degree northeast of the Orion Nebula. The three NGC objects are divided by darker regions. It is also called The Running Man Nebula and Sharpless Catalog 279.

The Flame Nebula (or NGC 2024) is a small emission nebula in the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. It sits between the Orion and Horsehead nebulae, and directly under the arc of Barnard's Loop. The nebula takes it's name from the sharp contrast of red and oranges against a cloud of deep black, appearing to be flames rising from a bed of coals.

Barnard's Loop is the most prominent nebula in the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex and acts as a navigational aid to travelers as far afield as the Sagittarius Gap far rim.

For the many pilots travelling the space lanes in or around human inhabited space, Barnards Loop stands out as a unique point of reference.

Deep Space explorers returning from the depths of the galactic core regions know home is ever closer once the tiny but welcoming distant red haze of Barnard's Loop becomes visible through their canopy window.

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Barnard's Loop is thought to have originated in a supernova explosion about 2 million years ago, which may have also created several known runaway stars, including AE Aurigae, Mu Columbae and 53 Arietis. These stars may have been part of a multiple star system in which one component exploded as a supernova. Today the loop is more than 300 LY across and centered approximately on the Orion Nebula. The stars within the Orion Nebula are believed to be responsible for ionizing the loop.

Although this nebula was certainly observed by earlier astronomers, it is named after the pioneering astrophotographer E. E. Barnard who photographed it and published a description in 1894.

The Horsehead Nebula is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. When viewed from Earth the nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, which is farthest east on Orion's Belt. It was first recorded in 1888 by Scottish astronomer Williamina Fleming.

The Horsehead Nebula is approximately 1500 light years from Earth. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which bears some resemblance to a horse's head when viewed from Earth. The heavy concentrations of dust in the Horsehead Nebula region is highly localized, resulting in alternating sections of nearly complete opacity and transparency. The red or pinkish glow originates from hydrogen gas ionized by the nearby stars (Source).

Exlorers travelling this region has reported on mysterious fluctuating behavior from their nav-computers, at times restricting entry into several systems within the nebula but at other times allowing it. This was first reported as early as november 3300

The Orion Dark Region Nebula is an absorption nebula in the larger Orion Nebula complex. As a light-absorbing region it appears darker than the space around it and blocks light transmission. No stars are found inside the nebula.

Discovered by Edward Barnard in 1885, the California nebula is a large and relatively close nebula in the Orion Arm of our Galaxy. Historians with a speciality in pre-spaceflight Earth believe, that the nebula got its name because it appeared to resemble the outline of the US State of California that existed at the time of its discovery.

The nebula is an emission nebula and glows because of the radiation from the intensely hot class O star, Xi Persei.

The California Nebula was the destination of one of the early research voyages organized by the First Great Expedition - making it one of the first nebulae to be surveyed by group exploration.

NGC 1333 Nebula is a red-green reflection nebula located in the Perseus Molecular Cloud that was first discovered by Eduard Schoenfeld in 1855. It is the most active region of star formation within the Perseus Molecular Cloud, featuring an estimated 150 young, low-mass stars. Only one system, a 178 million year old T-Tauri star located on the outer edge of the cloud, is currently bright and distinct enough for an FSD guidance system to target, but it offers an amazing views of NGC 1333, the California Nebula and Barnard's Loop.

NGC 1333 is also used to refer to the star cluster in which the nebula is found.

A small compact nebula situated within a large elongated star cluster on the near edge of the Orio-Persean Gap.

For reasons currently unknown, the Pilots Federation requires a permit to enter system PQ Monocerotis. This permit has not been made available to the public.

Hubble's Variable Nebula (also known as NGC 2261) is a small variable nebula located approx. 3000 light years from Sol, in the Orio-Persean Gap. The nebula is named after Edwin Hubble, a famous 20th century astronomer, who is also credited with discovery of the nebula. The nebula's host star, R Monocerotis, is an unremarkable body of stellar type A3 V.

Thor's Helmet is a relatively small emission nebula just 'north' of the Seagull Nebula. Its illumination effects are created by heavy solar winds of a Wolf-Rayet star labeled WR 7 at its center.

The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177), is a region of nebulosity that lies along the border between the constellations Monoceros and Canis Major. It is a roughly circular H II region centered on the star BD-10 1848 (HD 53367). This nebula was discovered by Welsh amateur astronomer Isaac Roberts and was described by him as 'pretty bright, extremely large, irregularly round, very diffuse.

The Rosette Nebula (also known as Caldwell 49) is a large, roughly spherical, H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 (Caldwell 50) is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter. The Nebula is quite large in appearance from Sol, and would be as large as the full moon if visible. The actual size of the nebula is approximately 100 Ly vertical, by 80 Ly east-west by 60 Ly north-south. The nebula is 5300 Ly from Sol.

Due to the size of the nebula, several different NGC designations are given, and various names are associated with discovery; credit for observation and cataloging the Rosette Nebula can be attributed to at least Lewis Swift, John Herschel, and John Flamsteed.

The supernova that gave birth to the nebula left a neutron star in CXOU J06 1705.3+222 127, currently traveling at 800,000 km/h away from the site.

NGC 2174 (also known as Monkey Head Nebula) is an H II emission nebula located in the constellation Orion and is associated with the open star cluster NGC 2175. It is about 6,400 light-years away from Earth. The nebula may have formed through hierarchical collapse of the greater interstellar medium.

A relatively small and lesser-known nebula situated on the edge of the Perseus Arm, some distance farther south than the Monkey Head nebula. It serves as a good waypoint for those looking to cross into the Outer Arm Vacuus, as it's as far south as the Crab Nebula, but it's near the galactic plane.

Two prominent nebula in the Cassiopeia constellation, approx. 7,800 LYs from Sol and situated on the far fringe of the Perseus arm and right on the very near edge of the Formidine Rift. Approaching from the opposite side, these two nebulae act as a beacon of light and colour to intrepid explorers returning from across the Rift.

They are very well surveyed and the Soul Nebula contains a radio source named W5, although its exact location remains unclear as of 3303. The Soul Nebula is also named IC 1848 and the Heart Nebula is named IC 1805 (which may be confusing due to the IC 1805 Cluster). All objects are thought to be part of a giant molecular cloud within what is called the Cassiopeia Superbubble.

A small nebula situated approx. 9,200 LYs from Sol in the Perseus Arm, close to the Heart and Soul nebulae, but around 800 LYs beneath the galactic plane.

The central system of the nebula is BD+55 191, and contains an unusual four O-class stars. All are very massive, giving a total system of 386 solar masses. The composite luminosity is 114 million times greater than Sol, placing it among the most luminous systems known.

Small nebula situated on the edge of the Perseus arm, approx. 9,000 LYs from Sol towards the Formidine Rift.

A visually striking emission nebula, approx. 7,200 LYs from Sol across the Orio-Persean Gap and along the Perseus arm.

The Crescent Nebula (also known as NGC 6888, Caldwell 27, Sharpless 105) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, about 5000 light-years away from Earth. It was discovered by Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel in 1792.

NGC 6820 is an emission nebula that surrounds open cluster NGC 6823 in the Vulpecula constellation. The most striking feature are the pillars of dust and gas protruding from the east side of the nebula, shaping something of a bowl inside the complex. The open cluster of NGC 6823 lies adjacent to the nebula. It is about two million years old and predominantly represented by many young blue stars, although a great patch of young protostars is also present in the area. Star formation is an active, ongoing process here.

Traikeou AA-A H2

The Traikeou Nebula sits to the west of Sol, roughly 9,000 ly away from our home world. It's a typical hydrogen cloud, forming hundreds of main sequence stars over the eons. Contrasted by the bright reds and whites is a field of darker gases, that make the nebula appear to snake and twist about itself.

The nebula sits mostly alone in it's corner of the Orion-Cygnus Arm of the galaxy, except for an oddly named system (Traikeou AA-A h0) containing a Wolf-Rayet star not 1,500 ly away.

Small-medium sized nebula situated within the Sagittarius arm, approx. 7,000 LYs from Sol. The Eagle Nebula contains scores of tightly packed young F5 class stars, making it a hotbed of scientific research for short-range exploration vessels.

The Omega Nebula is a blue, red and purple nebula located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of app. 5.500 LY from Earth. It is a low-density cloud of partially ionized gas which spans some 15 light-years in diameter and has a mass of an estimated 800 solar masses.

The nebula was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and Charles Messier catalogued it in 1764. But the name of the nebula was added somewhat later. The first attempt to accurately draw the nebula (as part of a series of sketches of nebulae) was made by John Herschel in 1833, and published in 1836. He described the nebula as such: "The figure of this nebula is nearly that of a Greek capital omega, Ω, somewhat distorted, and very unequally bright."

The Omega Nebula has been used as a waypoint for several major expeditions, including the Sagittarius-Carina Mission and the Distant Worlds Expedition.

Landing site : Camp Baatuta

Orbital body : 2 a Surface coordinates : 18.44 / -139.30 Surface Gravity : 0.15g

A red and black Nebula resembling a moth or butterfly from certain angles.

A distinctive green and orange nebula situated on the near rim of the Norma arm, approx. 4,500 LYs from Sol in the constellation Sagittarius. It is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes on Earth.

Herschel 36 is the primary star of the Lagoon Nebula. This hot O-type star emanates ultraviolet light, heating and ionizing gases on the surface of the nebula.

Due to its convenient location just on the other side of the Sagittarius-Gap, the Lagoon Nebula has been used as a waypoint for many explorers travelling towards the galactic core regions. It was first used as a basecamp on the Distant Worlds 3302 Expedition, then later for the Sagittarius-Carina Mission.

Landing site : Tinné's Endevour

Star system : NGC 6530 WFI 16706 Orbital body : A 1 A Surface coordinates : -12.71 / 70.28 Surface Gravity : 0.16g

Situated approx. 5,000 LYs from Sol, just beyond the more prominent Lagoon Nebula, this object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars; an emission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent 'gaps' within the emission nebula that cause the trifurcated appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85)

Initially discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764: Its name means "three-lobe." The nearest outpost, Observation Post Epsilon, is located a mere 20 LY away on Trifid Sector IR-W d1-52.

A distinctive red and orange nebula situated on the near side of the Sagittarius arm, approx. 5,500 LYs from Sol and almost directly inline between Sol and NGC 6357.

NGC 6188 is an emission nebula in the southern constellation Ara, located about four thousand light years coreward of Sol. It also has reflection nebulosity due to the associated open cluster, NGC 6193. It is an active, star forming nebula, with some recently formed stars that are only a few million years in age. These stars continue to sculpt the nebula and contribute to the glow with intense solar ultraviolet radiation. The recent star formation was probably triggered by supernova explosions from previous generations of massive stars within.

Small pinkish diffuse emission nebula with a 50 LY radius, situated along the Orion Spur in the direction of the more visually impressive Eta Carina Nebula.

A very large nebula situated approx. 9,000 LYs from Sol along the Orion Spur and across the Vela Molecular Ridge. One of the earliest explored nebula's, first visited during the New Horizons Expedition - when the early "Gamma-Phase" of testing current FSD technology was being undertaken.

The nebula is one of the largest diffuse nebulae when seen from Earth. Although it is some four times as large and even brighter than the famous Orion Nebula, the Carina Nebula is much less well known, due to its location in the southern sky.

The nebula itself is varied and impressive and you could spend an entire expedition just to explore this area. Large populations of Bell Molluscs and so-called Brain Trees has been reported within the nebula.

The Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex consists of two nebula: The dark absorption Rho Ophiuchi Nebula (IC 4603), and the small reflection Rho Ophiuchus Nebula (IC 4604). These may also be considered part of The Great Rift. The complex is one the closest star-forming regions to Sol, with an estimated 3000 solar masses of material.

The reflection nebula has vivid red hues, and no stars currently inside the nebula proper. The dark nebula is only a few light years across and has no internal bodies. The nebula complex is illuminated by the triple star system 5 Rho Ophiuchi.

In the reference picture, the absorption nebula can be seen as the small dark area in the upper left of the gas cloud.

The R CrA Nebula (NGC 6729) is a small emission/reflection nebula in the Corona Australis constellation. It is unusually small for a nebula, not much larger than a planetary nebula. The nebula was originally discovered on Jun 15, 1861 by Julius Schmidt, and associated with the star R Coronae Australis. The nebula is red-orange. The only interior object is the double-star BrsO 14, of which the primary is unusually large and hot for a B-class star (source).

Submitter note: In the real world, this nebula is not associated with the star BrsO 14 (which actually associated with nebula IC 4812).

This is the only system directly controlled by the Pilots Federation and entry is only allowed by those invited. Achieving a high status is the usual cause for invitation, but other more secretive methods are also known.

The system is governed by the Elite Pilots Federation and members are allowed to retire here.