Galaxy: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Milky-Way-Galaxy.png|thumb|300px|Milky Way galaxy in Elite Dangerous]]

[[Elite Dangerous]] has a 1:1 scale simulation of the '''Milky Way galaxy''' based on real-life scientific principles, data and theories. It is a barred spiral galaxy with around 400 billion [[star system]]s.<ref name=":6">[https://starwalk.space/en/news/the-milky-way-galaxy Milky Way Galaxy: Facts, Location & How to See It From Earth] - Starwalk - 30 June 2026</ref> The known systems like [[Sol]] are modeled on galactic charts. [[Planets]] and [[moons]] rotate and orbit with 1:1 scale in real-time, thus constantly changing ~~a system's~~ environment. At the center is a supermassive [[Black Holes|black hole]] [[Sagittarius A*]].<ref name=":6" /> The galaxy is divided into 42 [[Galactic Regions]].

[[Elite Dangerous]] has a 1:1 scale simulation of the '''Milky Way galaxy''' based on real-life scientific principles, data and theories. It is a barred spiral galaxy with around 400 billion [[star system]]s.<ref name=":6">[https://starwalk.space/en/news/the-milky-way-galaxy Milky Way Galaxy: Facts, Location & How to See It From Earth] - Starwalk - 30 June 2026</ref> The known systems like [[Sol]] are modeled on galactic charts. [[Planets]] and [[moons]] rotate and orbit with 1:1 scale in real-time, thus constantly changing the environment. At the center is the supermassive [[Black Holes|black hole]] [[Sagittarius A*]].<ref name=":6" /> The galaxy is divided into 42 [[Galactic Regions]].

== Overview ==

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== Milky Way ==

[[File:Milky-Way-Panorama-1500ly-Above-Galactic-Plane.png|thumb|250px|Milky Way ~~Panorama~~ 1500ly above galactic plane]]

[[File:Milky-Way-Panorama-1500ly-Above-Galactic-Plane.png|thumb|250px|Milky Way panorama 1500ly above the galactic plane]]

The Milky Way is around 13.6 billion years old.<ref name=":6" /> It is 105,700 light-years across and weighs 1.5 trillion solar masses.<ref name=":6" /> The name Milky Way is derived from the ancient Greeks and Romans.<ref name=":6" /> They thought the [[Galactic Plane|galactic plane]] resembled a river of milk.<ref name=":6" />

The Milky Way is around 13.6 billion years old.<ref name=":6" /> It is 105,700 light-years across and weighs 1.5 trillion solar masses.<ref name=":6" /> The name Milky Way is derived from the ancient Greeks and Romans.<ref name=":6" /> They thought the [[Galactic Plane|galactic plane]] resembled a river of milk.<ref name=":6" /> Greek myth says the goddess Hera spilled milk across the sky. The Roman myth says the milk was from the goddess Ops (or Juno).<ref name=":6" />

''Elite Dangerous'' allows players to travel to almost every visible [[Stars|star]] from normal space. The constellations change with parallax as you explore the galaxy, and the night sky viewed from Earth is accurate.<ref name=":0">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/features/our-galaxy Elite Dangerous: Our Galaxy]</ref> Some star systems and regions require [[permits]] to access. Certain star system clusters are permit locked for future content.

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File:Nomad in Space.jpg|Nomad and galaxy lighting update

File:Caspian and Galaxy 1500 ly below Colonia.jpg|Caspian and Galaxy 1500 ly below Colonia

File:Nomad SLV and Planet Sky.jpg|Nomad SLV and planet sky

</gallery>

== Galaxy Map ==

[[File:ED Galaxy Map 2015.jpg|thumb|250px|Galaxy Map]]

[[File:ED Galaxy Map 2015.jpg|thumb|250px|Galaxy Map in 3300 (2015)]]

The [[Galaxy Map]] is used to navigate the Milky Way. The [[System Map]] displays a system's layout and important details. Any discovered celestial and system information is documented on the [[System Map]].

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== Population ==

As of January 1, 3312, the galaxy's total [[human]] population (based on system population data) is '''10,170,147,010,813''' (10.1 trillion people). The galaxy's total commodities market stock in tonnes is '''932,024,185,180'''.<ref>[https://www.edsm.net/ Elite Dangerous Star Map: Statistics (January 1, 3312)]</ref><ref name="5th">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/celebrating-5-years-of-elite-dangerous.533151/ Frontier Forums: Celebrating 5 years of Elite Dangerous!]</ref> Most humans live in [[Star system|star systems]] with [[Station|stations]] and [[Settlement|settlements]] in the [[Core Systems]] and [[Colonia]].

=== Aliens ===

There are a few sapient alien [[species]]. The insectoid [[Thargoids]] are several millions of years old.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Canonn Research: Guardians Codex 3/28 : Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> There are [[Ancient Ruins]] of the extinct humanoid [[Guardians]]. They created the robotic [[Construct|Constructs]] 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 6/28 : Civil War Log – Dawn of the Construct]</ref> There are other non-sapient species in the lore of the [[Elite series]], but they have not been found in ED. There are many types of alien flora on planetary bodies.

File:Frontier Expo 2017 - "Exploring Alien Life" with William Baines

File:An Exploration Documentary of the Reienadi System - Elite Dangerous

</gallery>

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Distant Worlds 3 Science Summary - You're still here? Go home, it's over.

</gallery>

=== Exploration saturation ===

[[File:Galaxy Exploration Saturation Map 2026.jpg|thumb|Galaxy exploration saturation map 2026]]

The saturation map by [https://edastro.com/ ED Astrometrics] shows the [[Core Systems]] and the galaxy's edge are mostly explored (red and light blue). The core regions are the least explored (dark blue and black). This is because the edge has a low star density, while the core has a very high density. There are major differences between the dense galactic core and sparse outer edge.

==== Outer Edge ====

The star density in the galactic edge is very low. There are vast, empty voids of black space with rare, isolated [[Star system|systems]]. Thus individual star systems can be separated by long gaps of 40 to over 80 light-years. The spiral arms dwindle into the void of space. This requires a specialized high-jump-range exploration ship with an engineered [[Frame Shift Drive|FSD]] and premium synthesis materials to cross the Abyss gaps.

==== Galactic Disk ====

The galactic disk is the flat region that extends outward from the dense central bulge (center) to the sparse outer edge. The vast majority of star systems are located there including [[Sol]]. The spiral arms with lots of stars, gas and dust. The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, because the spiral arms are attached to the central bar of stars in the core. The 2 major spiral arms are the Scutum-Centaurus Arm ([[Inner Scutum-Centaurus Arm]] and [[Outer Scutum-Centaurus Arm]]), and the [[Perseus Arm]]. Minor-arms are the [[Orion-Cygnus Arm]], [[Sagittarius-Carina Arm]], [[Outer Arm]] and [[Norma Arm]]. The [[Sol|Sol system]], including [[Earth]], reside in the Orion-Cygnus Arm.

==== Central Bulge ====

The star density in the central bulge (galactic center) reaches extreme levels of tightly packed high-density areas (star cubes). The systems can be fractions of a light-year apart. There are thousands to millions of nearby stars. This causes severe performance loads on the in-game route-planner. The core has a high concentration of luminous B-type stars, Herbig Ae/Be stars, and surrounds [[Sagittarius A*]].

=== Traffic ===

[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Traffic-Report-April-3303.png|thumb|250px|Galactic Traffic Report April 3303]]

[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNYe622-pi87uSnryKB1Xag EDSM] made traffic report videos which show ship movement and exploration in the galaxy. It's based on data taken from EDSM flight logs. ED-Board made an ''Elite Dangerous Heatmap timelapse'' generated from the [http://www.edsm.net edsm.net] database (systems data submitted by E:D players) to show progress of the Milky Way [[Explorer|exploration]].

=== Expeditions ===

Player groups and squadrons organize long-range [[expeditions]] into uncharted space with hundreds to thousands of other [[Pilot|pilots]].

=== Circumnavigation of the galaxy ===

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== Online ==

The online galaxy of ~~'''~~[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ ~~E]'''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ lite~~ Dangerou'''s'''] is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players on all platforms. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. A player's actions could influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer.

The online galaxy of [http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ Elite Dangerou'''s'''] is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players on all platforms. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. A player's actions could influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer.

[[File:Alien-Sinuous-Tuber-2.png|thumb|250px|[[Sinuous Tuber|Sinuous Tubers]] on a planet]]

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''The middle-classes can afford spaceships like cars in the 20th century. This gives them tremendous freedom. Space trade is seldom hampered by politics. Pilots are encouraged to do all kinds of jobs such as supplying [[Station|stations]]. Little has changed for those in the bottom of society since the old-[[Earth]]'s dark ages. The planet-spanning mega [[corporations]] employ entire nations and rule unchecked over vast sections of the galaxy. Weapons are readily available and people are inclined to shoot first. The general lawlessness of space, inequality, greed of the galactic elite, navigational hazards and fierce creatures on [[planets]] make it a dangerous galaxy.''<ref name=":1">[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edrpg/elite-dangerous-role-playing-game Kickstarter: Elite Dangerous Role Playing Game]</ref>

== ~~Visible Galaxies~~ ==

== Other galaxies ==

[[File:External_Galaxies_Below_Andromeda.png|thumb|250px|Visible Galaxies below Andromeda]]

The Milky Way is located inside the Local Group which is 10 million light-years across.<ref name=":6" /> A total of 32 galaxies are identified by CMDR Dr. Kaii (including dwarf and irregular galaxies). The nearest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud at 158,200 light years. The furthest is NGC 6703 at 106 million light years.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/list-and-sky-charts-of-other-visible-galaxies-in-elite.202295/ Frontier Forums: List and Sky Charts of other Visible Galaxies in Elite]

=== Local Group ===

The Milky Way is located inside the Local Group which is 10 million light-years across.<ref name=":6" /> There are over 50 galaxies in this group bound together by gravity. The gravitational center is between the Milky Way and Andromeda.<ref name=":6" /> The biggest galaxy in the Local Group is Andromeda with a diameter of 220,000 light-years.<ref name=":6" /> The Milky Way is the second largest with 105,700 light-years.<ref name=":6" />

=== Visible galaxies ===

A total of 32 galaxies are identified by CMDR Dr. Kaii (including dwarf and irregular galaxies). The nearest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud at 158,200 light years. The furthest is NGC 6703 at 106 million light years.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/list-and-sky-charts-of-other-visible-galaxies-in-elite.202295/ Frontier Forums: List and Sky Charts of other Visible Galaxies in Elite]

</ref> You cannot travel to these galaxies. This table gives an overview of the visible galaxies.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Elite-Dangerous-Milky-Way-Galaxy.png|thumb|300px|Milky Way galaxy in Elite Dangerous]]
-[[Elite Dangerous]] has a 1:1 scale simulation of the '''Milky Way galaxy''' based on real-life scientific principles, data and theories. It is a barred spiral galaxy with around 400 billion [[star system]]s.<ref name=":6">[https://starwalk.space/en/news/the-milky-way-galaxy Milky Way Galaxy: Facts, Location & How to See It From Earth] - Starwalk - 30 June 2026</ref> The known systems like [[Sol]] are modeled on galactic charts. [[Planets]] and [[moons]] rotate and orbit with 1:1 scale in real-time, thus constantly changing a system's environment. At the center is a supermassive [[Black Holes|black hole]] [[Sagittarius A*]].<ref name=":6" /> The galaxy is divided into 42 [[Galactic Regions]].
+[[Elite Dangerous]] has a 1:1 scale simulation of the '''Milky Way galaxy''' based on real-life scientific principles, data and theories. It is a barred spiral galaxy with around 400 billion [[star system]]s.<ref name=":6">[https://starwalk.space/en/news/the-milky-way-galaxy Milky Way Galaxy: Facts, Location & How to See It From Earth] - Starwalk - 30 June 2026</ref> The known systems like [[Sol]] are modeled on galactic charts. [[Planets]] and [[moons]] rotate and orbit with 1:1 scale in real-time, thus constantly changing the environment. At the center is the supermassive [[Black Holes|black hole]] [[Sagittarius A*]].<ref name=":6" /> The galaxy is divided into 42 [[Galactic Regions]].
 == Overview ==
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 == Milky Way ==
-[[File:Milky-Way-Panorama-1500ly-Above-Galactic-Plane.png|thumb|250px|Milky Way Panorama 1500ly above galactic plane]]
+[[File:Milky-Way-Panorama-1500ly-Above-Galactic-Plane.png|thumb|250px|Milky Way panorama 1500ly above the galactic plane]]
-The Milky Way is around 13.6 billion years old.<ref name=":6" /> It is 105,700 light-years across and weighs 1.5 trillion solar masses.<ref name=":6" /> The name Milky Way is derived from the ancient Greeks and Romans.<ref name=":6" /> They thought the [[Galactic Plane|galactic plane]] resembled a river of milk.<ref name=":6" />
+The Milky Way is around 13.6 billion years old.<ref name=":6" /> It is 105,700 light-years across and weighs 1.5 trillion solar masses.<ref name=":6" /> The name Milky Way is derived from the ancient Greeks and Romans.<ref name=":6" /> They thought the [[Galactic Plane|galactic plane]] resembled a river of milk.<ref name=":6" /> Greek myth says the goddess Hera spilled milk across the sky. The Roman myth says the milk was from the goddess Ops (or Juno).<ref name=":6" />
 ''Elite Dangerous'' allows players to travel to almost every visible [[Stars|star]] from normal space. The constellations change with parallax as you explore the galaxy, and the night sky viewed from Earth is accurate.<ref name=":0">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/features/our-galaxy Elite Dangerous: Our Galaxy]</ref> Some star systems and regions require [[permits]] to access. Certain star system clusters are permit locked for future content.
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 File:Nomad in Space.jpg|Nomad and galaxy lighting update
 File:Caspian and Galaxy 1500 ly below Colonia.jpg|Caspian and Galaxy 1500 ly below Colonia
+File:Nomad SLV and Planet Sky.jpg|Nomad SLV and planet sky
 </gallery>
 == Galaxy Map ==
-[[File:ED Galaxy Map 2015.jpg|thumb|250px|Galaxy Map]]
+[[File:ED Galaxy Map 2015.jpg|thumb|250px|Galaxy Map in 3300 (2015)]]
 The [[Galaxy Map]] is used to navigate the Milky Way. The [[System Map]] displays a system's layout and important details. Any discovered celestial and system information is documented on the [[System Map]].
@@ Line 112: / Line 113: @@
 == Population ==
 As of January 1, 3312, the galaxy's total [[human]] population (based on system population data) is '''10,170,147,010,813''' (10.1 trillion people). The galaxy's total commodities market stock in tonnes is '''932,024,185,180'''.<ref>[https://www.edsm.net/ Elite Dangerous Star Map: Statistics (January 1, 3312)]</ref><ref name="5th">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/celebrating-5-years-of-elite-dangerous.533151/ Frontier Forums: Celebrating 5 years of Elite Dangerous!]</ref> Most humans live in [[Star system|star systems]] with [[Station|stations]] and [[Settlement|settlements]] in the [[Core Systems]] and [[Colonia]].
+=== Aliens ===
+There are a few sapient alien [[species]]. The insectoid [[Thargoids]] are several millions of years old.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ Canonn Research: Guardians Codex 3/28 : Thargoid Log - Unsuccessful Truce]</ref> There are [[Ancient Ruins]] of the extinct humanoid [[Guardians]]. They created the robotic [[Construct|Constructs]] 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://canonn.science/codex/guardians-codex/ 6/28 : Civil War Log – Dawn of the Construct]</ref> There are other non-sapient species in the lore of the [[Elite series]], but they have not been found in ED. There are many types of alien flora on planetary bodies.
 <gallery>
+File:Frontier Expo 2017 - "Exploring Alien Life" with William Baines
 File:An Exploration Documentary of the Reienadi System - Elite Dangerous
 </gallery>
@@ Line 143: / Line 148: @@
 Distant Worlds 3 Science Summary - You're still here? Go home, it's over.
 </gallery>
+=== Exploration saturation ===
+[[File:Galaxy Exploration Saturation Map 2026.jpg|thumb|Galaxy exploration saturation map 2026]]
+The saturation map by [https://edastro.com/ ED Astrometrics] shows the [[Core Systems]] and the galaxy's edge are mostly explored (red and light blue). The core regions are the least explored (dark blue and black). This is because the edge has a low star density, while the core has a very high density. There are major differences between the dense galactic core and sparse outer edge.
+==== Outer Edge ====
+The star density in the galactic edge is very low. There are vast, empty voids of black space with rare, isolated [[Star system|systems]]. Thus individual star systems can be separated by long gaps of 40 to over 80 light-years. The spiral arms dwindle into the void of space. This requires a specialized high-jump-range exploration ship with an engineered [[Frame Shift Drive|FSD]] and premium synthesis materials to cross the Abyss gaps.
+==== Galactic Disk ====
+The galactic disk is the flat region that extends outward from the dense central bulge (center) to the sparse outer edge. The vast majority of star systems are located there including [[Sol]]. The spiral arms with lots of stars, gas and dust. The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, because the spiral arms are attached to the central bar of stars in the core. The 2 major spiral arms are the Scutum-Centaurus Arm ([[Inner Scutum-Centaurus Arm]] and [[Outer Scutum-Centaurus Arm]]), and the [[Perseus Arm]]. Minor-arms are the [[Orion-Cygnus Arm]], [[Sagittarius-Carina Arm]], [[Outer Arm]] and [[Norma Arm]]. The [[Sol|Sol system]], including [[Earth]], reside in the Orion-Cygnus Arm.
+==== Central Bulge ====
+The star density in the central bulge (galactic center) reaches extreme levels of tightly packed high-density areas (star cubes). The systems can be fractions of a light-year apart. There are thousands to millions of nearby stars. This causes severe performance loads on the in-game route-planner. The core has a high concentration of luminous B-type stars, Herbig Ae/Be stars, and surrounds [[Sagittarius A*]].
 === Traffic ===
 [[File:Elite-Dangerous-Traffic-Report-April-3303.png|thumb|250px|Galactic Traffic Report April 3303]]
 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNYe622-pi87uSnryKB1Xag EDSM] made traffic report videos which show ship movement and exploration in the galaxy. It's based on data taken from EDSM flight logs. ED-Board made an ''Elite Dangerous Heatmap timelapse'' generated from the [http://www.edsm.net edsm.net] database (systems data submitted by E:D players) to show progress of the Milky Way [[Explorer|exploration]].
+=== Expeditions ===
+Player groups and squadrons organize long-range [[expeditions]] into uncharted space with hundreds to thousands of other [[Pilot|pilots]].
 === Circumnavigation of the galaxy ===
@@ Line 161: / Line 182: @@
 == Online ==
-The online galaxy of '''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ E]'''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ lite Dangerou'''s'''] is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players on all platforms. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. A player's actions could influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer.
+The online galaxy of [http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ Elite Dangerou'''s'''] is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players on all platforms. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. A player's actions could influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer.
 [[File:Alien-Sinuous-Tuber-2.png|thumb|250px|[[Sinuous Tuber|Sinuous Tubers]] on a planet]]
@@ Line 190: / Line 211: @@
 ''The middle-classes can afford spaceships like cars in the 20th century. This gives them tremendous freedom. Space trade is seldom hampered by politics. Pilots are encouraged to do all kinds of jobs such as supplying [[Station|stations]]. Little has changed for those in the bottom of society since the old-[[Earth]]'s dark ages. The planet-spanning mega [[corporations]] employ entire nations and rule unchecked over vast sections of the galaxy. Weapons are readily available and people are inclined to shoot first. The general lawlessness of space, inequality, greed of the galactic elite, navigational hazards and fierce creatures on [[planets]] make it a dangerous galaxy.''<ref name=":1">[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edrpg/elite-dangerous-role-playing-game Kickstarter: Elite Dangerous Role Playing Game]</ref>
-== Visible Galaxies ==
+== Other galaxies ==
 [[File:External_Galaxies_Below_Andromeda.png|thumb|250px|Visible Galaxies below Andromeda]]
-The Milky Way is located inside the Local Group which is 10 million light-years across.<ref name=":6" /> A total of 32 galaxies are identified by CMDR Dr. Kaii (including dwarf and irregular galaxies). The nearest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud at 158,200 light years. The furthest is NGC 6703 at 106 million light years.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/list-and-sky-charts-of-other-visible-galaxies-in-elite.202295/ Frontier Forums: List and Sky Charts of other Visible Galaxies in Elite]
+=== Local Group ===
+The Milky Way is located inside the Local Group which is 10 million light-years across.<ref name=":6" /> There are over 50 galaxies in this group bound together by gravity. The gravitational center is between the Milky Way and Andromeda.<ref name=":6" /> The biggest galaxy in the Local Group is Andromeda with a diameter of 220,000 light-years.<ref name=":6" /> The Milky Way is the second largest with 105,700 light-years.<ref name=":6" />
+=== Visible galaxies ===
+A total of 32 galaxies are identified by CMDR Dr. Kaii (including dwarf and irregular galaxies). The nearest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud at 158,200 light years. The furthest is NGC 6703 at 106 million light years.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/list-and-sky-charts-of-other-visible-galaxies-in-elite.202295/ Frontier Forums: List and Sky Charts of other Visible Galaxies in Elite]
 </ref> You cannot travel to these galaxies. This table gives an overview of the visible galaxies.

Galaxy: Difference between revisions

Fandom>Univero