Colonia (Jaques Station / Colonia (System) / Animula Spires / The Mosta-Murdoch Raceway)
Waypoint 1: Departure from Jaques Station
We begin at Jaques Station, in Eol Prou RS-T d3-94. Our path is a twisted string leading into the galactic core, up to the roof of the galaxy, and back to our starting point. In a month we will cover nearly 33,000 light years, and make history both as the first major expedition that neither starts, ends, nor passes through the bubble, as well as the first to rendezvous with another expedition in deep space. Along the way we will see many stunning sights, set down on some historically significant planets, and count coup on the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. Fuel your ship, charge your FSD, we depart!
Waypoint 2: Jaques Station to the Simmic Kyloaln Nebula
Leaving Jaques Station, we head coreward to our first destination, the Simmic Kyloaln Nebula. This dramatic nebula is a supernova remnant expanding out from an embedded black hole. The view from within the nebula is stunning, with threads of glowing red gas mingling with darker areas through which the stars can be seen.
Star System: Kyloaln GR-W e1-5394
Approx. distance traveled : 3,300 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 3,000 LYs
The name of this small nebula centered on a neutron star has a double meaning: it partly represents the appearance of the nebula, resembling a pair of blue lilies, and partly gives notice to two nearby Earth-like Worlds, one of which is in the closest system to this. DUMBAA PS-R C18-2660 6 is just 1.28 LY from the nebula and has a sky with spectacular blue and green colors. DUMBAA PS-R C18-1220 B1 is 13.5 LY away and sees the nebula as a blue flower in a sky and white with the many stars of the Galactic Core - and the B3 planet is an Ammonia World, so other forms of life can also share in the view. Within the nebula itself the sky is an eerie green color.
Base Camp Designation : Slocum's Cove
Star System: Dumbaa XJ-R e4-5596
Planet/Moon :4 a
Base Camp Surface Coordinates : -6.9 / -156.45
Surface Gravity : 0.16
Approx. distance traveled : 6,400 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 4,600 LYs
The Great Annihilator is a system containing two black holes. Great Annihilator A compresses approximately 198 solar masses within 0.0008 solar radii and Great Annihilator B contains about 66 solar masses within 0.003 solar radii. The black holes have five stars orbiting them.
The Great Annihilator is one of the brightest gamma-ray sources found in the Milky Way Galaxy. It produces massive amounts of pairs of photons at 511 keV, which usually indicates the annihilation of an electron-positron pair (thus, the name). The Great Annihilator also has a radio source counterpart which emits jets that are about three light years long. These jets are probably synchrotron emissions from positron-electron pairs streaming out at high velocities from the source of antimatter.
Star System: Great Annihilator
Approx. distance traveled : 11,000 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 1,000 LYs
One of the Distant Worlds waypoints, this blue coloured ejecta cloud nebula surrounding a black hole sits toward the southern edge of the galactic core regions. The nebula itself has no planets to land on but a visit to the system is worth it just to see the gravitational effects on the blue glowing ejecta cloud. Our base camp is in a neighboring system.
Base Camp Designation : "Mt. Hillary"
Star System : Athaip CR-C B55-4
Planet/Moon : 2 C
Base Camp Surface Coordinates : -15.82 / -72.29
Surface Gravity : 0.12
Approx. distance traveled : 12,000 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 3,000 LYs
Another Distant Worlds waypoint, this is one of several close proximity stellar remnant ejecta nebula within the Myriesly Sector. The Amethyst Cloud being one of the most colorful. We're less that 600 LYs from Sagittarius A* now so our stay at this nebula will be brief as we prepare for the galactic core gathering.
Base Camp Designation : "Tereshkova's Ridge"
Star System : Myriesly EC-B c27-381
Planet/Moon : AB 3 B
Base Camp Surface Coordinates : -70.26 / 47.59
Surface Gravity : 0.03
Approx. distance traveled : 15,000 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 600 LYs
KEY EVENT - FLEET RENDEZVOUS WITH THE GALACTIC NEBULA EXPEDITION AT THE GALACTIC CORE
Here we visit Sagittarius A* - the famous supermassive blackhole at the centre of the galaxy. The closest star systems are less than a light year away and it is at one of them where our core base camp is situated - an ideal staging post to prepare for the exploration of the Milky Way's heart. We will be making an extended stay at this Distant Worlds basecamp as we make our rendezvous with the Galactic Nebula Expedition. A trip to the roof of the galactic core awaits after this!
Base Camp Designation : "Armstrong Landing"
Star System : Stuemeae KM-W C1-342
Planet/Moon : 1 B
Base Camp Surface Coordinates : 57.25 / 78.06
Surface Gravity : 0.08
Approx. distance traveled : 15,600 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 2,000 LYs
For our final Distant Worlds waypoint, we're heading to the roof of the galaxy, some 2,000 LYs directly above Sag-A*. From our base camp vantage point we get a spectacular view of the expansive galactic core regions below us. An awe-inspiring site that only a few have witnessed first hand. For larger FSD-ranged ships with J3 Jumponium, an optional excursion to Altum Sagittarii "Prime" is available for those who have the time. Sagittarii "Prime" is situated a further 870 LYs above our designated base camp system!
Base Camp Designation : "Gagarin's Reach"
Star System : Nyuena JS-B D342
Planet/Moon : 4 F A
Base Camp Surface Coordinates : -66.88 / -96.00
Surface Gravity : 0.06
Approx. distance traveled : 17,600 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 3,000 LYs
Leaving the galactic center, we're now making our way back towards Jaques Station. Our first stop is the 'North' Zunuae Nebula. Nicknamed the "Inky Nebula", Zunuae is a small purple nebula situated on the near edge of the galactic bar.
Star System: Zunuae RZ-O e6-1973
Approx. distance traveled : 20,600 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 3,000 LYs
This blue planetary nebula, produced by a newly formed neutron star, looks very much like its neighboring nebula. Two blue glowing orbs of dust and heavy elements engulf a nearby k-class star, and a few systems in the area.
Star System: Phroi Flyuae MN-S e4-4719
Approx. distance traveled : 23,600 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 2,6000 LYs
We've left the core behind and are making our way back through the western neutron fields. Passing through the gap between the galactic bar and the near 3 kiloparsec arm, we come across Aegel. A beautiful blue planetary nebula surrounding a neutron star, commanders should exercise caution jumping into this system.
Star System: Wepae XE-Q E5-236
Approx. distance traveled : 26,200 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 2,600 LYs
Near the root of the Norma Arm, we come across another stunning planetary nebula. La Vie en rose is a beautiful nebula, blue from the outside but shining pink inside, expanding from a central neutron star.
The system itself is not so interesting, but there is another one (SCREAKOU LD-A D14-4579) in this nebula which has landable planets and a water world.
Our final waypoint of the expedition, this planetary nebula located 2813.36 ly from Jaques on the way to the Galactic Core. Its dual blue orbs radiate out from its central Neutron star which is joined by three other stars (one A and two K class) each of the four featuring its own solar system totaling at 50 objects in the system (asteroid belts included).
The view inside the nebula is awe inspiring. Every shade of blue and purple color the entire galaxy from here, making the vacuum of space feel like the comforting waves of the ocean.
Star System: Kyloarph DV-Y e4134
Approx. distance traveled : 30,600 LYs
Distance to next waypoint : 2,800 LYs
Waypoint 14: Expedition Conclusion, Jaques Station redoux
The expedition ends where it began, at Jaques Station in Eol Prou RS-T d3-94. In the month we have been out, we have seen many beautiful sights, visited some locations of historical significance, counted coup on the galactic core, and made history ourselves. Never before has a major expedition been conducted that did not start, end, or pass through the bubble. Never before has a major expedition rendezvoused with another expedition in deep space.
Approx. distance traveled : 33,400 LYs
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