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[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Milky-Way-Galaxy.png|thumb|300px|Milky Way galaxy in Elite Dangerous]] | [[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 scientific principles, scientific data and theories. It includes around 400 billion [[star system]]s, modeled on actual galactic charts. Planets and moons rotate and orbit with 1:1 scale in real-time, thus constantly changing a system's environment. 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, scientific data and theories. It includes around 400 billion [[star system]]s, modeled on actual galactic charts. Planets and moons rotate and orbit with 1:1 scale in real-time, thus constantly changing a system's environment. The galaxy is divided into 42 [[Galactic Regions]]. | ||
== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
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== Milky Way == | == 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 galactic plane]] | ||
''Elite Dangerous'' allows players to travel to almost every visible star | ''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, of course, 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. | ||
[[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] | [[File:Planet_lights_ring_system.png|thumb|250px|Planet with city lights and a ring system.]]During development [[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] gathered as much information as they could about the 160,000 known star systems of our galaxy.<ref name=":0" /> We know the temperature, size and metallicity (the periodic elements that make up the star's composition) of those stars. We also know the mass distribution of the Milky Way.<ref name=":0" /> The uniquely custom built, [[Stellar Forge]] takes that information, rolls time backwards toward the Big Bang, and simulates from there the composition of hundreds of thousands of celestial bodies using the first principles that astrophysicists believe govern our universe. It uses the nebula hypothesis to simulate the composition and orbit of all the undiscovered [[stars]], [[Planets|exoplanets]], [[moons]] and [[Black Holes|black holes]] in our Milky Way.<ref name=":0" /> We end up with a huge amount of technical information about each star and its [[planets]], [[moons]] and asteroid fields, such as temperature, chemical composition and orbit.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
This delivers both an incredibly accurate and beautiful cosmic ballet, with correct motions of the celestial bodies, and it's the foundation for the various [[Market Economy|economies]] of each [[star system]] in ED.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
Newly discovered and notable star systems have been added such as [[Trappist-1]] in 2017. Prior to it's discovery on 22 February 2017, the [[Stellar Forge]]<nowiki/>coincidentally generated a system with similar characteristics in nearly the same location: Core Sys Sector XU-P A5-0. [[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] updated this system and renamed it Trappist-1 with [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons|ED: Horizons]] update 2.3. | |||
== Galaxy Map == | == Galaxy Map == | ||
[[File:UJCWhYT.jpg|thumb|250px|Galaxy Map]] | [[File:UJCWhYT.jpg|thumb|250px|Galaxy Map]] | ||
The [[Galaxy Map]] is used to navigate | 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]]. | ||
ED uses a Cartesian variant of the [[Wikipedia:Galactic coordinate system|Galactic coordinate system]]. It is visible in the GalMap grid and from exploration journal files. The origin point is Sol at 0 / 0 / 0. The axes point to the Galactic East ("right", y-axis), Galactic North ("up", towards the constellation of Coma / ~31 Comae Berenices, z-axis), and Galactic Center (~Sag A*, x-axis) respectively. | |||
== Planets == | == Planets == | ||
[[File:Terrestrial planet and a Cobra.jpg|thumb|250px|Earth and a Cobra]] | [[File:Terrestrial planet and a Cobra.jpg|thumb|250px|Earth and a Cobra]]In 2015, the [[Planetary Landings]] update extended the original galactic simulation from outer space to a 1:1 planetary scale. [[Frontier Developments|Frontier]]'s [[Stellar Forge]] takes into account the factors that govern the formation of [[planets]], from the basic chemical composition, size, neighbouring [[moons]] and tectonic activity.<ref name=":0" /> [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|ED: Odyssey]] added the [[On Foot]] first person scale in 2021. | ||
The planets and [[Planetary Ring Systems|planetary ring systems]] rotate in real time. The [[moons]] (planetary satellites) orbit planets. The planets and [[Gas Giant|gas giants]] generally orbit a [[Stars|star]] in the center of a system. Sometimes 2 planets orbit each other. Some systems have binary stars, a neutron star or a [[Black Holes|black hole]]. | |||
The Stellar Forge simulates the compression of tectonic plates, so that Frontier's developers can see where they'd move together and move apart. That creates areas where ridges are formed, mountains, canyons or trenches.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
The Stellar Forge also simulates impact [[craters]], volcanism and ageing. The [[:Category:Mineral commodities|minerals]] and elements making up a [[Planets|planet]] determine its appearance and colors.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
You can seamlessly approach and land anywhere on a 1:1 scale [[planet]] | You can seamlessly approach and land anywhere on a 1:1 scale [[planet]] to explore every square meter of terrain first-hand. You can either fly your [[Ships|ship]] close to the [[mountains]] and in the [[canyons]], or land and drive the [[SRV]].<ref name=":0" /> | ||
The simulation feeds directly into the gameplay such as resources collect and synthesize, [[Surface Ports|surface ports]] for trade, [[Points of Interest]] to explore and fortified [[Settlement|settlements]] to defend or defeat.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Nebulae == | == Nebulae == | ||
[[File:Veil-West-Nebula-and-Type-9.png|thumb|250px|Veil West | [[File:Veil-West-Nebula-and-Type-9.png|thumb|250px|[[Veil Nebula West]] and a [[Type-9 Heavy|Type-9]]]] | ||
There are 141 documented [[nebula]]e in the Milky Way and 32 external galaxies. | There are 141 documented [[nebula]]e in the Milky Way and 32 external galaxies. These are all present in-game. The distances range from 380 light years from [[Sol]] to the [[Pleiades Nebula]] or up to 27,900 light years to the G2 dust cloud. | ||
== Core Systems == | == Core Systems == | ||
[[File:Elite_Dangerous_Powerplay_Bubble.jpg|thumb|250px|"The Bubble" is where powers compete for influence, resources, territory and control.]] | [[File:Elite_Dangerous_Powerplay_Bubble.jpg|thumb|250px|"The Bubble" is where powers compete for influence, resources, territory and control.]] | ||
The [[Core Systems]] | The [[Core Systems]] (aka The Bubble), is a sphere of about 150 light years around [[Sol]] where [[power]]s compete for influence, resources, territory and control. The territory volume is about 13.8 million cubic light years, and encompasses over 20,000 inhabited [[:Category:Star systems|systems]] with over 66,000 [[Station|stations]], [[starport]]s and [[Outpost|outposts]]. | ||
Major hubs of human expansion outside the Core Systems are the [[Pleiades Nebula]] and [[Colonia Region]]. Occasional [[Asteroid Base]]s and [[Settlement|settlements]] may be found in deep space. | |||
== Population == | == Population == | ||
As of December 18, 3305, the galaxy's total human population based on system population data is '''6,632,509,648,309''' | As of December 18, 3305, the galaxy's total [[human]] population (based on system population data) is '''6,632,509,648,309''' (6.6 trillion people). The galaxy's total commodities market stock in tonnes is '''112,693,047,481'''.<ref>[https://www.edsm.net/ Elite Dangerous Star Map: Statistics (December 18, 3305)]</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> | ||
== Hard Science == | == Hard Science == | ||
[[File:SLF-Taipan-and-Planetary-Ring.png|thumb|250px|Taipan in a Planetary Ring]] | [[File:SLF-Taipan-and-Planetary-Ring.png|thumb|250px|Taipan in a Planetary Ring]] | ||
''Elite Dangerous'' is groundbreaking in that the structure | ''Elite Dangerous'' is groundbreaking in that the galaxy's structure is based on hard science. Numerous star surveys were used to plot real stars in the night sky and to help compose a consist model of the Milky Way. | ||
During a keynote presentation at Nordic Game 2014 [[David Braben]] said, ''"We've taken a lot of hard science to compose the galaxy so everybody that's in all sorts of star surveys we've merged with fixed errors in the star surveys and so in one place, possibly for the first time we've got a very consistent model of the galaxy and it's rich enough that we can plot the night sky. But when we plotted the night sky as viewed from Earth it's really bright and it actually doesn't look right. So what we've then done is we've tuned the dust so that it actually matches the night sky when viewed from [[Earth]]. What's interesting is there is way more dust than most scientific theories say there should be. But we can tell by just wandering outside on a clear day and looking know that's what it should be so we are actually looking at that from sort of first principles. There really is a lot of dust, but the great thing from a game point of view is it actually makes the night sky very interesting. So you don't need to fly very far in game terms from Earth for the night sky to change quite dramatically. So for those who've played it we've actually put in most of the earth centric constellations in the sky, but when you travel a little away they all distort, but more important we are bang in the middle of this dust. So your night sky is quite dark, but if you go say a hundred light years directly out of the galactic plane it’s a bit like poking up. When you're on a plane taking off from an airport, you get that amazing view when you come out of the clouds looking out of the window and you suddenly see right across. That's what it's like and some of the systems, [[Achenar]] for example is the center of the Empire and a giant system which is actually out of the galactic plane so you can see across to the galaxy just a little bit it's just wonderful."''<ref name=":2" /> | During a keynote presentation at Nordic Game 2014 [[David Braben]] said, ''"We've taken a lot of hard science to compose the galaxy so everybody that's in all sorts of star surveys we've merged with fixed errors in the star surveys and so in one place, possibly for the first time we've got a very consistent model of the galaxy and it's rich enough that we can plot the night sky. But when we plotted the night sky as viewed from Earth it's really bright and it actually doesn't look right. So what we've then done is we've tuned the dust so that it actually matches the night sky when viewed from [[Earth]]. What's interesting is there is way more dust than most scientific theories say there should be. But we can tell by just wandering outside on a clear day and looking know that's what it should be so we are actually looking at that from sort of first principles. There really is a lot of dust, but the great thing from a game point of view is it actually makes the night sky very interesting. So you don't need to fly very far in game terms from Earth for the night sky to change quite dramatically. So for those who've played it we've actually put in most of the earth centric constellations in the sky, but when you travel a little away they all distort, but more important we are bang in the middle of this dust. So your night sky is quite dark, but if you go say a hundred light years directly out of the galactic plane it’s a bit like poking up. When you're on a plane taking off from an airport, you get that amazing view when you come out of the clouds looking out of the window and you suddenly see right across. That's what it's like and some of the systems, [[Achenar]] for example is the center of the Empire and a giant system which is actually out of the galactic plane so you can see across to the galaxy just a little bit it's just wonderful."''<ref name=":2" /> | ||
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== Exploration == | == Exploration == | ||
{{Main|Explorer|Exobiologist}}[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Codex-Galaxy-Regions.png|thumb|250px|[[Galactic regions]]]] | {{Main|Explorer|Exobiologist}}[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Codex-Galaxy-Regions.png|thumb|250px|[[Galactic regions]]]] | ||
The [[Codex]] has a Discoveries section and | The [[Codex]] has a Discoveries section and a galaxy map which consists of 42 regions. Each [[Galactic regions|galactic region]] has information detailing the stellar bodies, geological/biological entities and civilisation contained there. Within each system are a variety of novelties to discover as an [[explorer]] or [[exobiologist]]. For example [[stars]], terrestrial [[planets]], [[species]], [[Gas Giant|gas giants]], [[Points of Interest]] etc.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/content-recap-beyond-chapter-four-livestream-exploration-and-the-codex.451420/ Frontier Forums: Content Recap: Beyond - Chapter Four Livestream - Exploration and the Codex]</ref> | ||
* As of March 2, 2018, Commanders discovered 112,863,791 unique [[star system]]s, which is only 0.028% of the systems in the galaxy.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EliteDangerous/status/969618512909078528 Twitter: Elite Dangerous, 2 Mar 2018]</ref> Over 20,262,978,541 light-years had been traversed via [[hyperspace]] since ''[[Elite Dangerous]]'' was released.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EliteDangerous/status/969890146970726402 Twitter: Elite Dangerous, 3 Mar 2018]</ref> | * As of March 2, 2018, Commanders discovered 112,863,791 unique [[star system]]s, which is only 0.028% of the systems in the galaxy.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EliteDangerous/status/969618512909078528 Twitter: Elite Dangerous, 2 Mar 2018]</ref> Over 20,262,978,541 light-years had been traversed via [[hyperspace]] since ''[[Elite Dangerous]]'' was released.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EliteDangerous/status/969890146970726402 Twitter: Elite Dangerous, 3 Mar 2018]</ref> | ||
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=== Traffic === | === Traffic === | ||
[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Traffic-Report-April-3303.png|thumb|250px|Galactic Traffic Report April 3303]] | [[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 | [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]]. | ||
=== Circumnavigation of the galaxy === | === Circumnavigation of the galaxy === | ||
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=== Brown dwarf layer === | === Brown dwarf layer === | ||
[[File:Asp-Explorer-and-Brown-Dwarf-space.png|thumb|250px|Asp Explorer and Brown Dwarf]] | [[File:Asp-Explorer-and-Brown-Dwarf-space.png|thumb|250px|Asp Explorer and Brown Dwarf]] | ||
There is a layer of systems throughout the galaxy | There is a layer of systems throughout the galaxy with a very high density of brown dwarf [[stars]]. The layer is located approximately on the galactic plane. This represents a hazard for [[Explorer|explorers]] to navigate, because there are very few [[Fuel Scoop|scoopable]] stars. | ||
== Online == | == Online == | ||
The online galaxy of '''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ | 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. | ||
[[File:Alien-Sinuous-Tuber-2.png|thumb|250px|Sinuous Tubers on a planet]] | [[File:Alien-Sinuous-Tuber-2.png|thumb|250px|[[Sinuous Tuber|Sinuous Tubers]] on a planet]] | ||
The | The developers can seed the galaxy with events. These events are often triggered by player actions. The living and breathing galaxy lets players discover novel and intriguing content long after they started playing. | ||
The game features a shared persistent galaxy server, where macro effects and | The game features a shared persistent galaxy server, where macro effects and events such as economy, society and conflict status are recorded. | ||
[[Powerplay]] is an ongoing battle for interstellar conquest and control in the [[galaxy]]. [[Power]]s are powerful individuals and organizations which players can pledge allegiance to help guide their strategy, and take on special objectives to advance shared goals. Player choices and actions have a direct and visible impact on the balance of galactic power. | [[Powerplay]] is an ongoing battle for interstellar conquest and control in the [[galaxy]]. [[Power]]s are powerful individuals and organizations which players can pledge allegiance to help guide their strategy, and take on special objectives to advance shared goals. Player choices and actions have a direct and visible impact on the balance of galactic power. | ||
The server transparently creates free roaming sessions (instances) when | The server transparently creates free roaming sessions (instances) when players and [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7494 NPCs] meet up within the galaxy based on a perception bubble around you which is defined by your scanner/visual range. Thus those instances are '''not''' a fixed location in space as most other MMOs, but they dynamically move around. The effects of those instances are then stored on the central galaxy server and shared by everybody. | ||
[[File:Anemones-planetary_ring-_SRV-Python.png|thumb|250px|SRV Scarab on a planet with anemones]] | [[File:Anemones-planetary_ring-_SRV-Python.png|thumb|250px|SRV Scarab on a planet with [[Anemone|anemones]]]] | ||
ED features high speed twitch combat and detailed damage models so the aforementioned method is the most reliable way to do it. There can be many sessions within 1 star system. Those sessions can dynamically move around many light years. ED's 1:1 scale Milky Way, means sessions are typically spread out much further. However, the lion's share of player activity is within the [[Core Systems]]. | |||
== Persistent Data == | == Persistent Data == | ||
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* [[Powerplay]] Control/Exploited Systems | * [[Powerplay]] Control/Exploited Systems | ||
* Addition of new [[Community Goals]] | * Addition of new [[Community Goals]] | ||
The update usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes, during | The update usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes, during this time you cannot login to the Milky Way. | ||
== Lore == | == Lore == | ||
[[File:Coriolis-space-station-Titans-Daughter.png|thumb|250px|Coriolis station]] | [[File:Coriolis-space-station-Titans-Daughter.png|thumb|250px|Coriolis station]] | ||
The official [[Elite | The [[lore]] has expanded a lot since ED launched in 2014. Important events are covered by [[GalNet]]. The official [[Elite Dangerous Role Playing Game]] has in-depth lore about the fictional universe. Here's a summary: | ||
''Cheap and faster than light travel has enabled humanity to expand across the stars. They've built colonies, cities, stations and empires. This led to the rise of galactic superpowers: the [[Federation]], [[Empire]] and [[Alliance]]. The galaxy's vast wealth of minerals, water and life-bearing planets makes them wealthier every day. Such wealth of the major [[factions]] attracts [[power|powerful people]] who scheme daily to gain power.''<ref name=":1" /> | ''Cheap and faster than light travel has enabled humanity to expand across the stars. They've built colonies, cities, stations and empires. This led to the rise of galactic superpowers: the [[Federation]], [[Empire]] and [[Alliance]]. The galaxy's vast wealth of minerals, water and life-bearing planets makes them wealthier every day. Such wealth of the major [[factions]] attracts [[power|powerful people]] who scheme daily to gain power.''<ref name=":1" /> | ||
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== Visible Galaxies == | == Visible Galaxies == | ||
[[File:External_Galaxies_Below_Andromeda.png|thumb|250px|Visible Galaxies below Andromeda]] | [[File:External_Galaxies_Below_Andromeda.png|thumb|250px|Visible Galaxies below Andromeda]] | ||
A total of 32 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> | </ref> This table gives an overview of the visible galaxies. | ||
This table gives an overview of visible galaxies. | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" border="1" | {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" border="1" | ||
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|106,000,000 | |106,000,000 | ||
|} | |} | ||
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Taken from Space Engine (not reliable, but probably good estimates) <nowiki>**</nowiki>Almost all distances taken from Wikipedia. A few | <nowiki>*</nowiki>Taken from Space Engine (not reliable, but probably good estimates) <nowiki>**</nowiki>Almost all distances are taken from Wikipedia. A few distances are based on papers or astronomy sites via Wikipedia. Physically paired galaxies<sup>1 </sup>Only one (or neither) of these is correct<sup>2 </sup>Only one (or neither) of these is correct<sup>3 </sup>Only one (or neither) of these is correct. | ||
== Videos == | == Videos == | ||