Noob question: what defines 'the bubble'?

khooke · Mar 18, 2016

I've heard/read posts referring to 'the bubble' of explored/known systems, but does this exist anywhere on a map so we can visualize what it looks like, or it just a subjective term to describe 'the extent of explored systems'?

Just curious. I'd like to be able to see/visualize the extent of how far the bubble stretches - are there any 3d mapping sites online that show the bubble?

Thanks!

Katejina · Mar 18, 2016

I like to think of it as the blob of Powers-represented space. But I believe it is generally expressed as any populated system, not necessarily discovered.

deathmagnet · Mar 18, 2016

The Bubble is populated space.

osser · Mar 18, 2016

occupied space. You can pull up power play in the galaxy map and see the extent of the bubble.

CMDR Murf · Mar 18, 2016

Switch your galaxy map to powerplay, the bulk of the bubble will be highlighted in the colors of each power. There's also systems outside that have stations and colonies. After about 500ly from Sol you wont find many signs of human life, this would be the outer edges. After about 1000ly from Sol you're out in "the black".

There isn't really a solid border, just a big transition.

who? · Mar 18, 2016

It's not very tightly defined. It does mean the populated systems, but most would include the non-populated systems that lie between them as well.

Jielle · Mar 18, 2016

I'd say all the systems in the sphere of influence of all the powers as materialized through the galmap.

Wedgetail · Mar 19, 2016

Unfortunately, no one can be *told* what the bubble is. You have to see it for yourself

Finwen · Mar 19, 2016

You can see the bubble in the 3d star map in EDDiscovery. Above is a screenshot on the "bubble" that looks more like a lightbulb i think.

Blue stars are populate systems and the reddots are system i have visited.

Here is the last relese of EDDiscovery https://github.com/EDDiscovery/EDDiscovery/releases/tag/Release_2.7.6
Download and install the exe-file.

Press the button star map and you will see allot of stars. you can zoom and move around and get a little feel of the bubble that way.

Whiterose · Mar 19, 2016

To an explorer it generally means anywhere where there is a station, as in going back to the bubble for repairs, which tends to mean as stated above populated space.

Sugarat · Mar 19, 2016

If you de-select all star types in the galaxy map except for white dwarfs then type SOL into the search bar, zooming out will give you a fair representation of the bubble..

.. and while I am at it.. can anyone explain why there is a concentration of white dwarfs in and around the bubble..?

CMDR Murf · Mar 19, 2016

Sugarat said:
If you de-select all star types in the galaxy map except for white dwarfs then type SOL into the search bar, zooming out will give you a fair representation of the bubble..

.. and while I am at it.. can anyone explain why there is a concentration of white dwarfs in and around the bubble..?

To catch out newbies lol

Always wondered it myself. Went quite a long distance towards the core before finding a single one on my Sag A trip.

xondk · Mar 20, 2016

khooke said:
I've heard/read posts referring to 'the bubble' of explored/known systems, but does this exist anywhere on a map so we can visualize what it looks like, or it just a subjective term to describe 'the extent of explored systems'?

Just curious. I'd like to be able to see/visualize the extent of how far the bubble stretches - are there any 3d mapping sites online that show the bubble?

Thanks!

If you enable the filters on the galaxy map and set it to alliances, then it will show you empire/fed/alliance/indep space, follow it around you'll notice it forms a bubble.

Traveller_GG · Mar 20, 2016

All you need to do to understand what is meant by "the bubble" is to give it its full name: The bubble of Human Civilisation (or the bubble of humanity)

SMcA · Mar 20, 2016

khooke said:
I've heard/read posts referring to 'the bubble' of explored/known systems, but does this exist anywhere on a map so we can visualize what it looks like, or it just a subjective term to describe 'the extent of explored systems'?

Just curious. I'd like to be able to see/visualize the extent of how far the bubble stretches - are there any 3d mapping sites online that show the bubble?

Thanks!

Originally, in the Beta or it might have been Alpha, the only access we had was in a sphere centred on Eranin, Asellus Primus, Dahan etc. That was the Bubble. Later it was expanded /lengthened to become the Pill.
Now it is the term for human occupied space.