The Galactic Mapping Project & Historical Archive of Exploration

[Old Duck]

Please note that from May 1st 2022 the Galactic Mapping Project will enter Maintenance Mode. Thus no new entries submitted after that date will be added to the community maps.

We feel as though this project has come to the end of its relevance in Elite Dangerous. The project is over 7 years old at the time of this post, and unless there's some radically new content and unique POIs added to Elite Dangerous by the developers, there remains little incentive to continue the project as it was originally intended. We feel the GMP (like the Distant Worlds expeditions which were retired last month), are products of their time and have had their day.

Of course this may change depending on where Elite Dangerous goes during the Odyssey season, and beyond, and whether the galaxy (which at this point is now old and well traveled) gets an overhaul and an injection of new phenomena, explorable environments, or even new entire regions (unlikely but we live in hope). If that ever happens, and if it reawakens the teams passion once more, then a decision to bring the project out of maintenance mode may be revisited.

In the mean time we will honour the promise made to the DSSA initiative two years ago, and that is to continue to add new DSSA deployments that submit their info to the thread, as well as upgrade DSSA POI submissions that qualify for Historical POI status as and when the 2-year anniversary of their deployments is reached. And as always we'll continue to fix links, grammar issues, and add screenshots to existing GMP POI entries if and when people bring them to the teams attention.

For those wishing to share their screenshots and discoveries (on the understanding that they will no longer be added to the community maps), you are of course still welcome to post them to this thread (which will remain open indefinitely as it hosts a lot of archived historical information, not just GMP stuff!), alternatively there is always the Explorers Photography thread, and The Great Big Odyssey Screenshots thread to post them to.

At the end of this year we hope to produce a .pdf booklet with a selection of the best POI entries, maps, and regional descriptions that have been submitted and collated by the GMP going back 7 years to the earliest days of Elite Dangerous. This would be a downloadble memento for those interested, with the possibility it'll become available in printed form too at some point.

---

Finally, I want to share a message posted to the GMP team recently when this decision was reached. From Corbin Moran, one of the original members of the GMP team and co-creator of the high-definition galaxy map that the GMP, EDSM, and pretty much all third party mapping apps use to this day;

"For me personally it has been an awesome experience to be part of a player driven project that has been enriching the play experience of so many others. I am really, really proud of what we have achieved regarding both the quality of the project, the maps, the writing, the interface, etc - but also the quantity of the staggering number of entries processed and numbers of players engaged with the GMP in various ways. The GMP together with EDSM became a galactic GPS - and for many players it served as a focal point for shared storytelling and community expeditions." - Corbin Moran, April 4th 2022.

We echo those sentiments wholeheartedly.

On behalf of the GMP team, past and present, we want to thank everyone who has supported and contributed to the project since it began back on February 19th 2015. Its been a wonderful project to be a part of and see it grow into what it became.

-Erimus Kamzel (Founder), Corbin Moran (High-def map creator), Anthor (EDSM), Andrew Gaspurr (data entry), Heavy Johnson (data entry), Kazahnn Drahnn (data entry), Jon Burnage (data entry), Baxder (data entry), Orvidius (EDastro).

o7.

I'm just seeing this news today thanks to Obsidian Ant. I really enjoyed your Galaxy Mapping Program, and it played a key role in helping me carve out my own little private "bubble" in deep space. You guys and gals rock! Many thanks for your hard work over the years. o7 all, you will be missed!

 

[LCU No Fool Like One]

IRAS 21565-3937

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

The text needs a bit of an update. Also it should probably have a link to Heavy Johnston's original post https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threa...ve-of-exploration.116450/page-96#post-5726922

Also I would like permission to add this to the Galactic Exploration Catalog https://edastro.com/poi/

Nicknamed the Spare-tyre nebula, IC 5148 is a planetary nebula located around 1 degree west of Lambda Gruis in the constellation of Grus (The Crane). It was discovered by Australian amateur astronomer Walter Gale in 1894. Around 3000 light-years distant, it is expanding at a rate of 50 kilometres a second, one of the fastest of all planetary nebulae.

The IC 5148 planetary nebula is centered on the IRAS 21565-3937 system, located almost 2400 light years below the galactic plane. This distant system is currently unreachable by the FSD technology of ordinary ships. However, in June 3305 the system was visited by the Canonn megaship the Gnosis during Operation Cabin Fever (source). Since the advent of Fleet Carriers the system is no longer unreachable.

 

[Richard Fluiraniz M]

IRAS 21565-3937

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

The text needs a bit of an update. Also it should probably have a link to Heavy Johnston's original post https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threa...ve-of-exploration.116450/page-96#post-5726922

Also I would like permission to add this to the Galactic Exploration Catalog https://edastro.com/poi/

Thats such a sexy looking catalog you have over there sir.

 

[Diostar50]

Source: https://youtu.be/VXXpsRTgnj4

That's a very nostalgic look back at exploration there from Obsidian Ant. He's highlighted some great memories there and made nice sentiments about Elite and the impact some community initiatives have had on it.

It makes a change from some of the negativity some influencers have put out there in recent times. I'm very much hoping the upcoming Frontier livestream has something for exploration though, otherwise I can see another batch of vids citing doom -and probably rightly so if all frontiers focus moving forward ends up being about Thargoid pew pew.

Fingers crossed exploration is on their list!

 

[Whitmann]

Wish I'd seen this when it was announced. I'm sure I left some nebulae out there unnamed...

Thank you for such a brilliant project. I'm immensely proud to have been/be part of the exploration family, and this pride does a pretty good job of overwriting the disappointment I feel in Frontier for utterly failing to make use of their own player base in multiple ways.

heads out once more

 

[Hedy]

I'll add my thanks to the GMP and all involved in the endeavour. You managed to take a part of the game sadly neglected by frontier and turn it into something unique and memorable.

 

[verthel]

Thank you for choosing the system I proposed just before the end of your activities :
Phoo Chreou YA-E d12-86 (Twins near the Rings).

 

[The Reverend]

I'll add my thanks to the GMP and all involved in the endeavour. You managed to take a part of the game sadly neglected by frontier and turn it into something unique and memorable.

I echo these sentiments. When I look back on Elite it was always the community events and projects like this one that were the best thing about the whole game. Frontier provided the bare minimum, but it was the players that created the best content. The mapping project is the prime example, showcasing the best of what this community once produced - and hopefully will continue to, albeit it in maintenance mode.

Kudos to all the explorers that mapped the galaxy and shared their discoveries, and to those that created the epic expeditions based off mapping project POIs. Sadly I doubt we'll see the likes of them again.

 

[xSpartan086]

This is my Carrier info post, o7

Carrier:
Carrier Name:	DSSA Shield of Meridia
Registration:	T1Y-T2F
Carrier Class:	Victory Class
Designated Region:	Perseus Arm
System:	Whanu KU-V b17-0
Commission Date (date signed up to the DSSA):	March 16th, 3308
Carrier Construction Date:	June 9th, 3306
Construction Location:	Jaques Station, Colonia
Maiden Jump(s):	Katuri for refueling, March 18th, 3308 Ascella for Carrier Administration, March 20th, 3308 Whanu KU-V b17-0 for maiden voyage/deployment, March 22nd, 3308
In-service Date (date the vessel began its DSSA service):	March 25th, 3308
Services Available:	Repair, Refuel, Armory, Shipyard, Outfitting, Universal Cartographics, Redemption Offices, Vista Genomics, Pioneer Supplies, Bar
Tariff % Set:	0%
Commodities Bought/Sold on Carrier:	- Meta Alloys, Thargoid Hearts
Nearest Tritium Hotspot:	Whanu KU-V b17-0, planet 1 (Carrier is orbiting said hotspot)
	Whanu KU-V b17-0 is a haven for explorers who are far off of the beaten path, probably wondering why they are even there in the first place. It houses the DSSA Sword of Meridia, as well as a Tritium overlap and multiple Void Opal overlaps, a ringed landable planet, and enough materials present on landable planets for basic and standard FSD injections. Nearby Whanu VW-R b19-0 has all the materials for basic, standard and premium FSD injections.
Screenshots:

Updated info, as I've now swapped carriers, would be greatly appreciated if my POI got updated

 

[Commander William Diffin]

It makes a change from some of the negativity some influencers have put out there in recent times. I'm very much hoping the upcoming Frontier livestream has something for exploration though, otherwise I can see another batch of vids citing doom -and probably rightly so if all frontiers focus moving forward ends up being about Thargoid pew pew.

Fingers crossed exploration is on their list!

Yes, you have to say that don't you.

 

[robbyp]

Cmdr Orvidius, of EDAstro fame, has set up a new wonderful system. This effort may have seen its day end, but exploration will continue.

 

[Rock-Hermit]

Wish I'd seen this when it was announced. I'm sure I left some nebulae out there unnamed...

Thank you for such a brilliant project. I'm immensely proud to have been/be part of the exploration family, and this pride does a pretty good job of overwriting the disappointment I feel in Frontier for utterly failing to make use of their own player base in multiple ways.

heads out once more

Are you sure there's still some unnamed nebulae out there? I thought all the major ones would've been named years ago

I remember the first time I saw that video - it literally gave me goosebumbs and I was SO PROUD that the project I was a part of got featured like that

To me the GMP brought a new creative dimension to the game - and the joy of building something together as a team and a community.
Thank you to all in the community who participated, contributed, engaged with, and promoted the GMP over the years.
Thank you to everyone on the team for contributing your skills and effort - working with you has has been inspiring and fun and something I cherish!

I feel a special shoutout is due to Anthor and the EDSM team for providing the GMP with the interactive platform that really helped the project take off.

And finally a very special thanks to Erimus:
You have a gift for inspiring others and for making projects come to life. I believe a great part of that gift is the generosity and courage it takes to share ownership.

Very well put Corbin. I assume its Corbin Moran from the 1st Great Expedition and Sag-Carnia arm expedition? That's a blast from the past! Glad you're still around

 

[HeIlrider]

Are you sure there's still some unnamed nebulae out there? I thought all the major ones would've been named years ago

They aren't.
When I submitted one of them it was 1 of..5? 6? unnamed nebulas. And I'm talking about regular nebulas, not planetary.

 

[Woeful Joker]

Wish to add DSSA# 159 "The Late Show" to the Galactic Map please. Thanks.

DSSA Live Network Tracker

docs.google.com

DSSA #159 The Late Show - Operation Guardian's Squire

DSSA #159 "The Late Show" arrived today at it's system Byae Aowsy GR-N d6-52 called Guardian of the Twins! The guardian is an Earth like planet, with rings, found in very close proximity to 2 Class 3 Gas Giants that orbit around each other. DSSA The Late Show being the Earth like planet's...

forums.frontier.co.uk

 

[Rollo]

I, Cmdr Rollo Rhadium hereby announces the retirement of the DSSA #30 with s.nr 41.01.001 out in the remote wilderness of the Kepler's Crest region. June 30th is the last day of the two year commitment that started with Cmdr DreadTom's DSSA Reginleif and now finalized with my own DSSA Right Ascension.

Grateful greetings to all passers-by explorers that have kindly contributed to the upkeep by selling explo-data. The DSSA Right Ascension will set sails for the "Bubble-surroundings" around early July, if anyone wishes a ride back one can wager a ship bay with common amenities (and no really reliable arrival-date, one must add).

I also wish to express my gratitude towards the fine and extraordinary people of GMP and the DSSA organisers. Thank you for making Elite that much better and interesting!

 

[CMDR Atavist]

Please add DSSA#161 "DSSA Tiamat" to the Galactic Map. Thanks!
DSSA Network Tracker - Google Drive

 

[LCU No Fool Like One]

Please could you change the links on the following from https://ruins.canonn.technology to https://canonn.fyi/guardiansheet

https://www.edsm.net/en/system/id/6379187/name/Synuefe+XR-H+d11-102

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

Also could you change https://map.canonn.technology/us/ to https://map.canonn.tech/ts-msg_3305survey.html for the following:

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

Finally could you change https://map.canonn.technology/bm-data.html to https://map.canonn.tech/tb-data.html here:

EDSM - Elite Dangerous Star Map

The Galactic Positioning System of Elite: Dangerous at your service.

www.edsm.net

 

[AndrewA]

I have question. Is presence some spreadsheet or some database with POI described in this thread?

 

[Diostar50]

I have question. Is presence some spreadsheet or some database with POI described in this thread?

There's no spreadsheet or database thats public as far as I know, but it you wanted such a thing I'm sure Anthor who runs EDSM that hosts the GMP would be able to produce one.

 

[marx]

I have question. Is presence some spreadsheet or some database with POI described in this thread?

Sure thing, and you have two choices. Which one is better depends on what exactly you plan to use the data for: are you looking for system names and locations, or are you looking for the GMP entries' text?

If you're looking for more data, but not the GMP text, then EDAstro has in CSV format the combined data used by the interactive galaxy map, at https://edastro.com/mapcharts/files/edsmPOI.csv. It has many more locations beyond the GMP entries, such as the GEC entries, all the known nebulae, all of the STAR and DSSA carriers, recently updated carriers, most NSP locations (via the Canonn Challenge points), deep space stations and megaships.

If you're looking for the GMP entries' text, then the GMP data can be downloaded in JSON format from https://www.edsm.net/en/galactic-mapping/json-edd.