The following is one of the more scenic routes travelers can take when heading to the galactic core. Its not the quickest, and will indeed add a few thousand light years on to your journey over the direct route, but its definitely one of the more fun routes to take as you'll pass through a few visually stunning and scientifically interesting points of interest along the way...
Departing from the Frontier, plot a course to the Shapley 1 Wolf-Rayet system, its approximately 1,000 LYs away.
Shapley 1
Embedded within the Fine Ring Nebula, Shapley 1 is probably the closest, and definitely one of the more beautiful Wolf-Rayet systems so far discovered. Once at Shapley 1 your next destination - The Lagoon Nebula -will take you across the Sagittarius Gap. On the near edge of the Sagittarius Gap you may well come across your first travelers hazard, the Aucocks Pocket. This is a band of non-fuealble stars, but its quite easy to avoid as its only around 100 LYs thick... thus plotting a course above of below the band will see you across the Sagittarius Gap with no problems. Star density is such that even a Viper once managed to cross! Once into the Sagittarius arm, star density all the way to the core is no longer an issue.
The Lagoon Nebula
This is one of the more visually stunning nebula so far discovered and well worth a visit. From here you have at least three options. Plot a course slightly northwestward and you will soon reach the Omega Nebula, just a few hundred LYs from the Lagoon Nebula. Or if you prefer, head due north from Lagoon and you'll pass through the PW2010 Super Cluster, alternatively, heading northeastward from the Lagoon will take you to the Cat's Paw nebula, a nice looking and rather dense red/orange nebula embedded in the heart of the Sagittarius arm.
NGC 6357
Whichever direction you took from the above (Omega, PW2010, or Cat's Paw), your next point of interest will be the prominent NGC 6357 nebula and the cluster of young blue stars at its heart. This highly distinctive nebula situated on the near edge of the Norma arm acts as a navigational marker for explorers heading to the galactic core regions. From here we're heading to 'Daughter's Reach' (ELLAIRB UL-N C7-33).
Daughter's Reach
This particular system acts as an interesting waypoint between NGC 6357 and the near edge of the Norma Expanse. The Daughter's Reach system has a non-terraformable Water World with ammonia type atmosphere, and the very planet itself has a Water World Moon that is terraformable, thus the name.
The Norma Southern Gate
From Daughter's Reach you're plotting a route to The Norma Southern Gate (EODGORSTS GO-F D12-37), again another waypoint system, but this one (a white dwarf) marks one of the closest Outer White Dwarf / Neutron Ring points to Sol, 11,500 LYs away. From here its an easy few hundred LYs to the Bleae Aescs Nebula (BLEAE AESCS ZE-A G4).
Bleae Aescs Nebula
Situated right on the near edge of the Norma Expanse, this procedural nebula offers the traveler a nice colorful backdrop in contrast to the vast ocean of stars that lie coreward, beyond the Expanse. From here you're heading northwest across the Expanse towards the Froaks Cloud Nebula (FROARKS AA-A H22).
Froaks Cloud Nebula
This medium sized nebula is very similar to the one you left behind (Bleae Aescs), but it acts as a navigational aid to those heading coreward. A few hundred LYs north you will find one of the largest known star systems, 'Gleeson's Gem' (FROARKS GM-D D12-355).
Gleeson's Gem
Although not visually stunning, Gleeson's Gem contains a staggering 113 stellar bodies! The system is another waypoint on your journey to the core, and from here you're going to head northwest, on a long trek a few thousand LYs across the outer galactic core to the stunning Greae Phio Stellar Forge (GREAE PHIO LS-L C23-221).
The Greae Phio Stellar Forge
This expansive dense cluster of mainly young stars and covering several hundred LYs is embedded within and around the Greae Phio Nebula, and personally speaking, it is by far the most stunning visual feature I've so far encountered throughout the galaxy. Millions of stars light up the sky, and the blueish haze of the nebula make it a place you'll never forget once you've seen it from within. A true gem on the road to the core. From here you're turning northwest and plotting a route to the distant Shrogaei Planetary Nebula (Shrogaei DL-P E5-3604).
The Shrogaei Planetary Nebula
This nebula, situated on the southern edge of the galactic core, can be considered another waypoint and acts as the boundary point of the outer core regions. From here were heading northeast again, across the inner core, to the distant Zunuae Nebula (ZUNUAE HL-Y E6903).
The Great Annihilator
Its a black hole, but despite its name, its harmless!
The Zunuae Nebula
Nicknamed the "Inky Nebula", Zunuae is a small purple nebula situated on the near edge of the galactic bar. This is the last major nebula south of Sag-A*. From here the supermassive black hole at the core of our galaxy is a mere few hundred LYs away. Zunuae acts as your final marker as you now plot the final leg of your journey to Sagittarius A*.
Sagittarius A*
Well done, you made it!
Your waypoints to search for in game are:
Note that some of the distances between these waypoints exceed 1,000 LYs so your route planner won't be able to plot the whole route of that particular leg.
For in-depth maps showing this route, more information, including screenshots and videos of some of the way points mentioned above, visit the galactic mapping thread.
Departing from the Frontier, plot a course to the Shapley 1 Wolf-Rayet system, its approximately 1,000 LYs away.
Shapley 1
Embedded within the Fine Ring Nebula, Shapley 1 is probably the closest, and definitely one of the more beautiful Wolf-Rayet systems so far discovered. Once at Shapley 1 your next destination - The Lagoon Nebula -will take you across the Sagittarius Gap. On the near edge of the Sagittarius Gap you may well come across your first travelers hazard, the Aucocks Pocket. This is a band of non-fuealble stars, but its quite easy to avoid as its only around 100 LYs thick... thus plotting a course above of below the band will see you across the Sagittarius Gap with no problems. Star density is such that even a Viper once managed to cross! Once into the Sagittarius arm, star density all the way to the core is no longer an issue.
The Lagoon Nebula
This is one of the more visually stunning nebula so far discovered and well worth a visit. From here you have at least three options. Plot a course slightly northwestward and you will soon reach the Omega Nebula, just a few hundred LYs from the Lagoon Nebula. Or if you prefer, head due north from Lagoon and you'll pass through the PW2010 Super Cluster, alternatively, heading northeastward from the Lagoon will take you to the Cat's Paw nebula, a nice looking and rather dense red/orange nebula embedded in the heart of the Sagittarius arm.
NGC 6357
Whichever direction you took from the above (Omega, PW2010, or Cat's Paw), your next point of interest will be the prominent NGC 6357 nebula and the cluster of young blue stars at its heart. This highly distinctive nebula situated on the near edge of the Norma arm acts as a navigational marker for explorers heading to the galactic core regions. From here we're heading to 'Daughter's Reach' (ELLAIRB UL-N C7-33).
Daughter's Reach
This particular system acts as an interesting waypoint between NGC 6357 and the near edge of the Norma Expanse. The Daughter's Reach system has a non-terraformable Water World with ammonia type atmosphere, and the very planet itself has a Water World Moon that is terraformable, thus the name.
The Norma Southern Gate
From Daughter's Reach you're plotting a route to The Norma Southern Gate (EODGORSTS GO-F D12-37), again another waypoint system, but this one (a white dwarf) marks one of the closest Outer White Dwarf / Neutron Ring points to Sol, 11,500 LYs away. From here its an easy few hundred LYs to the Bleae Aescs Nebula (BLEAE AESCS ZE-A G4).
Bleae Aescs Nebula
Situated right on the near edge of the Norma Expanse, this procedural nebula offers the traveler a nice colorful backdrop in contrast to the vast ocean of stars that lie coreward, beyond the Expanse. From here you're heading northwest across the Expanse towards the Froaks Cloud Nebula (FROARKS AA-A H22).
Froaks Cloud Nebula
This medium sized nebula is very similar to the one you left behind (Bleae Aescs), but it acts as a navigational aid to those heading coreward. A few hundred LYs north you will find one of the largest known star systems, 'Gleeson's Gem' (FROARKS GM-D D12-355).
Gleeson's Gem
Although not visually stunning, Gleeson's Gem contains a staggering 113 stellar bodies! The system is another waypoint on your journey to the core, and from here you're going to head northwest, on a long trek a few thousand LYs across the outer galactic core to the stunning Greae Phio Stellar Forge (GREAE PHIO LS-L C23-221).
The Greae Phio Stellar Forge
This expansive dense cluster of mainly young stars and covering several hundred LYs is embedded within and around the Greae Phio Nebula, and personally speaking, it is by far the most stunning visual feature I've so far encountered throughout the galaxy. Millions of stars light up the sky, and the blueish haze of the nebula make it a place you'll never forget once you've seen it from within. A true gem on the road to the core. From here you're turning northwest and plotting a route to the distant Shrogaei Planetary Nebula (Shrogaei DL-P E5-3604).
The Shrogaei Planetary Nebula
This nebula, situated on the southern edge of the galactic core, can be considered another waypoint and acts as the boundary point of the outer core regions. From here were heading northeast again, across the inner core, to the distant Zunuae Nebula (ZUNUAE HL-Y E6903).
The Great Annihilator
Its a black hole, but despite its name, its harmless!
The Zunuae Nebula
Nicknamed the "Inky Nebula", Zunuae is a small purple nebula situated on the near edge of the galactic bar. This is the last major nebula south of Sag-A*. From here the supermassive black hole at the core of our galaxy is a mere few hundred LYs away. Zunuae acts as your final marker as you now plot the final leg of your journey to Sagittarius A*.
Sagittarius A*
Well done, you made it!
Your waypoints to search for in game are:
- SHAPLEY 1
- LAGOON NEBULA
- OMEGA NEBULA or PW2010 or CAT'S PAW NEBULA
- NGC 6357
- ELLAIRB UL-N C7-33
- EODGORSTS GO-F D12-37
- BLEAE AESCS ZE-A G4
- FROARKS AA-A H22
- FROARKS GM-D D12-355
- GREAE PHIO LS-L C23-221
- SHROGAEI DL-P E5-3604
- GREAT ANNIHILATOR
- ZUNUAE HL-Y E6903
- SAGITTARIUS A*
Note that some of the distances between these waypoints exceed 1,000 LYs so your route planner won't be able to plot the whole route of that particular leg.
For in-depth maps showing this route, more information, including screenshots and videos of some of the way points mentioned above, visit the galactic mapping thread.
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