Still not quite at the pole. Tomorrow for sure. There are no more mountains or gorges to distract me.
Lat: -85.0628
Lon: -121.8722
Meridian - a planetary circumnavigation
- Thread starter Straha Yeagar
- Start date
Still not quite at the pole. Tomorrow for sure. There are no more mountains or gorges to distract me.
Lat: -85.0628
Lon: -121.8722
They should name the new exploration probes straha20s in honour of your achievement.
I've a wee question for you.. It's easy to see where the prime meridian is for tidally locked moons. Where do they decide to draw the prime meridian for spinning moons? Is there some sort of criterion to standardise where it should be, or is it more of a blindfold and dart type of choice?
I've a wee question for you.. It's easy to see where the prime meridian is for tidally locked moons. Where do they decide to draw the prime meridian for spinning moons? Is there some sort of criterion to standardise where it should be, or is it more of a blindfold and dart type of choice?
I'm flattered
Though I'd hope to wait until we see how much people like them first. I don't want to be the name of something people hate [big grin]As far as the prime meridian goes, you're just a step ahead of me, because that is part of the subject of my next, and likely last historical interlude in this chronicle, so stay tuned...
The South Pole
Good stuff, I like the progress map.
Half way! Congratulations, and yeah, love that map - shame it's not possible to turn off the UI elements really.
P.S. did you see Cmdr GreyTest completed a single-sitting circumnavigation on a livestream a few days ago?
P.S. did you see Cmdr GreyTest completed a single-sitting circumnavigation on a livestream a few days ago?
Now that I've hit the halfway point, I have spent a bit of time thinking about the journey so far, what I have liked and disliked, what I would do differently.
When I decided to take on this mission, I spent some time searching for and deciding on a location. Among other things, I wanted to have a full range of conditions, so it had to have certain topological features to explore such as mountains, gorges, craters and plains. I selected a route to maximize my exposure to this diverse terrain. This has also allowed me to work with the surface maps in ways that I would not be able to otherwise. I really enjoy the maps, and I know a lot of those following this enjoy them as well. The drawback to this is that by extensively studying the map before hand, the element of surprise has been diminished somewhat. No real "I wonder what is over that next ridge" or "Hmmm, I wonder what that is over there on the horizon" moments. It's a pretty much unavoidable trade-off.
That said, even with the planning, even knowing what is coming up, actually experiencing it, especially in the context of an extended mission such as this...absolutely thrilling!
That kind of touches on an aspect of this that I never really considered or anticipated beforehand. Prior to this expedition, I had spent a fair bit in my SRV. I had done some canyon running, mountain climbing, speed driving, but the mental and emotional aspects of doing this within the context of a circumnavigation is very different. A real sense of attachment to this moon and this expedition has formed. I think that may also be in large part because I am not rushing to finish a lap, rather taking some time doing this, and actually trying to experience a bit of everything this moon has to offer. I actually feel invested in this mission.
And when Commanders Nick Sticks and Orvidius made the trip here, seeing their ships on approach, watching them touch down, until finally watching their ships lift off and disapper among the million points of light in the sky...it was as if good friends I hadn't seen in a long time had come to visit my home. What an incredible feeling that was.
Another thing I had not really thought about beforehand was the actual sense of exploration, and how it would get me spending time thinking about other explorers in history, the struggles they faced, the things that had to be overcome, especially beyond the obvious such as finding food, and trying not to die. The actual science and discovery, all the little things without which, none of this would be possible.
I think my biggest disappointment so far is the fact that I did select a moon with major volcanism, have driven many hundreds of kilometers through all kinds of different terrain types, and not even a hint of those geysers. I know there are changes coming with the various scanner manufacturers to help detect and pinpoint these locations, and I am very glad for that, unfortunately, I won't be able to make use of them on this mission. I still have half the moon to go, and while I have very low to non-existent expectations in actually finding any, I am still keeping a close eye out over that next ridge, in that next crater.
My plan for second hemisphere is more direct and should go a bit quicker, not only because of the route selected, but also because my driving skills have been improving, and the time spent here has allowed me to develop a feel for driving on this particular moon, and better anticipate how my SRV will handle and react. Best laid plans and all that, but just as my plans for first hemisphere did have a few in the moment diversions, I am sure second hemisphere will see it's share of the same.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to follow my transmissions and reports and sharing this journey with me. I means a lot to me. I hope you will remain with me to the end.
So now...
Onward!
I suspect I speak for many of the members of the Planetary Circumnavigation Club (and certainly for myself) when I say that you are not alone. It's been a long time since I did my own planetary circumnavigation but that little moon has definitely stayed with me and I miss it. For quite some time now I've been thinking of doing another but I haven't quite decided where. I guess I was waiting for the new ice planets but now they've been cancelled another idea has started to take hold ... return to Pleione 3A and circumnavigate it again, this time going North to South rather than East to West.
It's been a real pleasure sir! I've followed every step of every single circumnavigation since I first created the PCC thread. Some have done it quickly, some have taken amazing pictures, some have turned their adventures into gripping fiction. But I don't think anyone has embraced the very essence of the true explorers of old (a wonderful cross of bold adventurer and true scientist) quite as well as your good self. I've absolutely loved the historical information you've shared with us and really admire the effort you've put into planning and mapping your journey. Truly one of my favourite forum threads of recent months.
Bravo and good luck for the rest of your journey.
Last edited:
I think those are just delayed into 2019.
Second hemisphere started today, and boy those latitude and longitude readings in the immediate vicinity the pole bounce around a lot, and trying to drive quickly over rough terrain made it pretty tough to keep to a specific latitude. Also, the flip from the positive longitude to negative caught me off guard for a second
Rather than using the on board compass or turret reticle, I decided to make my own constellation and navigate my away from the pole using the stars.
It is pretty simple and utilitarian, but it leads the way due north, as well as tells me which way I am going longitudinally. I may actually take a day where I turn off my HUD completely and rely on stellar navigation alone.
Once I got the pole sorted, I made some reasonable progress over pretty rolling terrain. I am maintaining course along -17°, second hemisphere continuation of the 163° first hemisphere great circle. Didn't quite make the 10° northward progress I was shooting for but I might be able to make it up tomorrow.
Lat: -82.4264
Lon: -16.6990
In recognition of the Autumnal Equinox
Going from one place to another has always been a critical part of human culture. One might even argue that knowing how to get from one place to another and back again is a defining characteristic of a permanently settled society and a primary driver for scientific development.
From the earliest times, people studies the skies. While much of the observation was done for spiritual and religious reasons, the records kept over long periods of time allowed patterns to emerge, and where there are patterns, there will be people who strive to decipher them, and find their meaning.
Unlike modern research expeditions, most observations in antiquity were made and recorded not by dedicated explorers, but by common travelers and traders. Finding and travelling along efficient routes made good economic sense, but was also a matter of survival, because if one became lost, there was a very real possibility they would never be found. Especially if one was crossing terrain with few or no permanent landmarks such as the ocean, or desert.
Over time, it became known that the sun, moon and stars followed regular and predictable paths through the sky, and those paths varied depending on location and time of year. While measuring devices became more accurate and sophisticated, the issue of standardization of units such as angle and distance remained, making charts, tables, and recordings accurate for only relatively localized areas.
The Equator and Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn were among the first standardized locations because they were easily defined. Regardless of where at along the equator, the sun always passes directly overhead, and the tropics are the furthest north and south that the sun ever goes directly overhead. Those became the first primary reference points for other measurements, and the first reference points that would be recognizable on maps today.
While it is not clear who "the first" was when it comes to using latitude, it is clear that many ancient civilizations used latitudinal measurement for navigation dating back to nearly 1000 BCE. Any discussion of measurement would not be complete without mentioning the work of Hipparchus, for whom the HIP star catalog is credited and named after.
Many other early philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, Ptolemy, Pythagoras, are more widely known than Hipparchus, but an argument could be made that his works were even more important in forming our knowledge of the universe around us. Among his credits, determining lunar anomalies, or non uniform orbital period, the first to determine the size of the sun and moon with relative accuracy, calculating timing of solar eclipses and where they would be visible, built upon Aristarchus' hypothesis, a mathematical demonstration of a heliocentric solar system, the first stellar magnitude scale, and most prolific observational astronomer until the 16th century.
While much of his work was based on earlier Babylonian records and techniques, Hipparchus is credited with being the inventor of trigonometry, without which, well, what we know as science and mathematics would not be possible. Earlier work done by philosophers such as Pythagoras allowed for work with things such as right triangles and circles, but it wasn't until the work of Hipparchus that full use and solution of any triangle, along with the relevant functions was possible.
In addition to things such as Eratosthenes' determination of the Earth's circumference, Hipparchus' techniques and mathematics created the tools and laid the ground work for some of the most significant human discoveries and inventions, including a workable position system of latitude and longitude on the Earth.
For nearly 1600 years, following on the work of Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy, latitude was the primary navigation reference because it was easily defined by spherical geometry, calculated by spherical trigonometry, and measured by the sun and stars. Latitude is just an inherent property of a rotating sphere. Put simply, there was no other way to do it. It just is.
Land based longitude had been used since Ptolemy, though accurate maritime determination of longitude remained elusive for well over a millennium. Unlike latitude where there was an inherent starting point at the equator, all lines parallel with the tropics and polar circles being naturally defined by the sun and tilt of the Earth's axis, longitude remained entirely arbitrary. Not only does the nature of the sphere cause the vertical lines to converge as one moves north and south causing the distance between lines to constantly change, the Earth rotates on its axis, so is not tidally locked to the sun, thus removing a logical fixed reference.
Among other challenges to mapping and navigation, the lack of standardization saw each civilization assigning a domestic meridian based on locations important to them. By the middle of the 1800's, there were nearly 30 accepted domestic meridians in place. Historical locations have included Rhodes, Alexandria, Sri Lanka, Beijing, Kyoto, Ujjan, to name just a few. The first full world maps used the Canary Islands.
Local prime meridians as reference points were more than adequate for local and regional mapping, but once the explosion in maritime navigation and travel with the Age of Discovery began in the 15th century, not only was there a lot of pressure to simply be able to determine longitude, there was also a necessity for a global standard reference meridian.
By the late 1800's the United Kingdom had emerged as the world’s largest colonial and navigational power the world had ever known. Their maps and navigational charts with the Prime Meridian running through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, founded in 1851 by Sir George Airy, had become the defacto standard among merchants, travelers and navies. By 1884 more than two-third of all maritime charts used the Greenwich meridian as the 0 degree reference.
Finally, on October 1, 1884, delegates from 25 nations met in Washington DC for the International Conference held at Washington for the purpose of fixing a prime meridian and a universal day opened thusly,
"It gives me pleasure, in the name of the President of the United States, to welcome you to this Congress, where most of the nations of the earth are represented. You have met to discuss and consider the important question of a prime meridian for all nations"
Raucous debate filled the following month with most attendees championing a meridian through their own countries. In the end though, with a final vote of 22 for, one opposed, and two abstentions, the Prime Meridian was fixed along the Great Circle passing through Greenwich England.
All very interesting stuff.
Something tells me that vote would go differently today
Something tells me that vote would go differently today
All very interesting stuff.
Something tells me that vote would go differently today
It very well might
Just to give some perspective on this though...
Today, we don't even think twice about the Prime Meridian. It is just a fact, almost as if it had just always been there, but we went from not having an official Prime Meridian to landing on the moon in less than 85 years, or only 134 years ago.
I took a well needed day to rest a bit and continue the push back towards the North Pole, where this all began.
I decided to do something a bit different than originally planned. Well. Sort of. The second hemisphere course was originally far more of a straight shot up the meridian that first hemisphere, but my evaluation of my course and methodology of first hemisphere really got me thinking about anticipation, the feeling of wondering what is over the next rise, or just beyond the horizon. I really hadn't revisited my planned course for second hemisphere since originally planning this expedition, so I have decided to take second hemisphere as it comes, and not consult the surface map, in hopes of realizing that feeling of anticipation. The downside is that I am not going to have any more of my normal maps to follow. Instead, I plan on hand mapping things as I go, and posting those drawings periodically.
I got back in the drivers seat today, and made decent headway of around 12 latitudinal degrees, still along the -16° meridian. I am now parked up for the night.
Lat: -69.2187
Lon: -16.3960
Back in the drivers seat, and it was pretty normal rolling terrain, until this popped up on the eastern horizon
So I went over to it...
And climbed it...
Nice paint job! How much is it to get one?
Thanks! Yeah, I kind of like this one. It is the Vibrant Orange in this paint pack. With a whole bunch of flight wear...