Yawn...what am I doing?
Dec. 5th, 2025 10:57 pmI just realized that I have eight or nine different star mapping projects on the go with various members of the Tranquility Press gang.
All this has been building up over the last five years, partly to cope with other stuff and partly for fun and research giggles (which have been plentiful).
More as I think it over.
All this has been building up over the last five years, partly to cope with other stuff and partly for fun and research giggles (which have been plentiful).
More as I think it over.
Checking In - 30 Sept. 2025
Sep. 30th, 2025 10:07 pmNo word on the skills tests from Sunday yet. I'm expecting that tomorrow.
My visit with Mom was shorter than I'd planned, because of chores and a newish job lead I needed to look into.
One of my map projects' requirements was something different than what I expected, and the news has come as both a relief and an entertaining challenge.
My visit with Mom was shorter than I'd planned, because of chores and a newish job lead I needed to look into.
One of my map projects' requirements was something different than what I expected, and the news has come as both a relief and an entertaining challenge.
Star Trek Mapping: A Question of Rotarran
Aug. 20th, 2025 07:56 pmA StarTrek StarCharts/StellarCartography question:
I suspect that HD 29172 used to be the preferred host star for Rotarran, thanks to the Hipparcos Mission data. Gaia Mission seems to have corrected the location of that star from 204 ly from Sol to 521 ly, though.
Granted that the shows as broadcast from 2017 are mostly sticking with the XY placements of known stars as published back in 2002. That's an editorial decision I mostly accept.
Here's some of the candidates I'm looking at, encircled for your review and discussion. Among them, HD 17224 is an A0V, and the thing that gives me pause about that star is that it's over 300 ly "below" Z=0.
I'm looking for opinions, rather than definitive answers here.

I suspect that HD 29172 used to be the preferred host star for Rotarran, thanks to the Hipparcos Mission data. Gaia Mission seems to have corrected the location of that star from 204 ly from Sol to 521 ly, though.
Granted that the shows as broadcast from 2017 are mostly sticking with the XY placements of known stars as published back in 2002. That's an editorial decision I mostly accept.
Here's some of the candidates I'm looking at, encircled for your review and discussion. Among them, HD 17224 is an A0V, and the thing that gives me pause about that star is that it's over 300 ly "below" Z=0.
I'm looking for opinions, rather than definitive answers here.

Star Trek Mapping: Confirming a Binary?
Aug. 18th, 2025 08:18 pmI'm wondering about two stars, WT 767 and 768, both in Indus (I believe, after checking Gaia Sky), and it looks to me as if they're barely a light-year from each other. If I'm correct, they might be a candidate as "host" stars for Sullivan's Planet from "The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail".
In which case, maybe HD 205156 can serve as "Helicon"?
I'm also asking my WT 767+768 question on the Celestia Discord server.
In which case, maybe HD 205156 can serve as "Helicon"?
I'm also asking my WT 767+768 question on the Celestia Discord server.
Checking In - 16 August 2025
Aug. 16th, 2025 12:58 pmChores.
That's my word for today.
Bedding-laundry, shopping, computer-mouse replacement, new colour-pencils for Mom, and if I can push myself the rest of the way, new storage bins to keep the basement reorg process going. Not sure that last item is going to be doable with today's local weather. Hot and humid.
Talked with the writer of San Francisco 2161 last night about proposed maps for his now-finished Trek-inspired fanfic project about the negotiations to co-found the Federation. What maps should there be attached, what forms they should take, that sort of thing.
I'm also toying with an idea for a prose fanfic project of my own centred on one of the participants in that story and a prequel, In the Raptor's Claws about the Coaltion-Romulan War that preceded the Federation. Specifically Nathan Samuels, whom Enterprise-watchers may remember as portrayed by Harry Groener. Not sure if this is going to go anywhere beyond maybe a couple of paragraphs before getting derailed by a job offer or loss of housing or whatever.
We'll see.
That's my word for today.
Bedding-laundry, shopping, computer-mouse replacement, new colour-pencils for Mom, and if I can push myself the rest of the way, new storage bins to keep the basement reorg process going. Not sure that last item is going to be doable with today's local weather. Hot and humid.
Talked with the writer of San Francisco 2161 last night about proposed maps for his now-finished Trek-inspired fanfic project about the negotiations to co-found the Federation. What maps should there be attached, what forms they should take, that sort of thing.
I'm also toying with an idea for a prose fanfic project of my own centred on one of the participants in that story and a prequel, In the Raptor's Claws about the Coaltion-Romulan War that preceded the Federation. Specifically Nathan Samuels, whom Enterprise-watchers may remember as portrayed by Harry Groener. Not sure if this is going to go anywhere beyond maybe a couple of paragraphs before getting derailed by a job offer or loss of housing or whatever.
We'll see.
Do the Epsilon stations have to be located in actual star systems? Or can they be "freestanding"?
(Also wondering if "Epsilon" stations imply the existence of series of stations designated "Alpha" through "Delta".)
Yeah, this is tied to the Edge of Midnight map projects.
(Also wondering if "Epsilon" stations imply the existence of series of stations designated "Alpha" through "Delta".)
Yeah, this is tied to the Edge of Midnight map projects.
This system's about 34 light-years away.
This paper argues for five:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09343
This one argues for six:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.06413
If I understand what I'm reading correctly.
For Trek purposes? Romulan territory until the supernova that burns Romulus and Remus is my guess.
http://hygmap.space/index.php?select_star=853855&select_center=1&u=ly
For Marvel, DC, Honorverse, Babylon 5, Galaxy Quest, Alien, Traveller, or anything else? I dunno yet. (Well, maybe Solarian League for the Honorverse? Do I want to keep caring about that anymore?)
This paper argues for five:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09343
This one argues for six:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.06413
If I understand what I'm reading correctly.
For Trek purposes? Romulan territory until the supernova that burns Romulus and Remus is my guess.
http://hygmap.space/index.php?select_star=853855&select_center=1&u=ly
For Marvel, DC, Honorverse, Babylon 5, Galaxy Quest, Alien, Traveller, or anything else? I dunno yet. (Well, maybe Solarian League for the Honorverse? Do I want to keep caring about that anymore?)
Star Trek Mapping: Harmonizing the Maps
Jul. 12th, 2025 09:14 amWorking on multiple maps of the same region of #StarTrek 's version of our galaxy is fun. It's also research-intensive and time-consuming, especially where keeping the various maps consistent with each other is concerned.
From last night's progress to such ends in support of several Tranquility Press fanfic projects...

From last night's progress to such ends in support of several Tranquility Press fanfic projects...

Star Trek Mapping: The Two Axolotls
Jun. 22nd, 2025 10:23 amEntertaining accident: Decades ago, when Masao Okazaki was putting his Starfleet Museum site together, he assigned the name "Axolotl" to a planet orbiting Gliese 767A.
In 2019, the IAU and Mexico named the star HD 224693 "Axólotl" as part of that year's Name ExoWorlds event.
We have precedent in Star Trek for this sort of thing, thankfully, so I'm not worrying over it.
In 2019, the IAU and Mexico named the star HD 224693 "Axólotl" as part of that year's Name ExoWorlds event.
We have precedent in Star Trek for this sort of thing, thankfully, so I'm not worrying over it.
I found out today - or was reminded today, I'm not entirely sure as I've downloaded resources from the IAU on the subject of star names in the past year and then neglected to review them carefully - that in 2015, a star in Monoceros - HD 45652 - was named "Lusitânia", in connection with their Name ExoWorlds programme. The one known planet orbiting it is named "Viriato". For the purposes of the projects I'm working on with the Tranquility Press fanfic gang, it's in Klingon space as of 2240-2410.
I love that this astronomical naming process is picking up speed in my lifetime!
I love that this astronomical naming process is picking up speed in my lifetime!
Works in progress, all, uploaded to DeviantArt a night or two ago:
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Dominion-War-Base-Map-28-March-2025-1176423191
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Coreward-From-the-Izar-Zakdorn-Line-28-Mar-2025-1176427032
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Taurus-Reach-And-Beyond-28-Mar-2025-A-1176436890
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Edge-of-Midnight-Disputed-Zone-28-Mar-2025-A-1176439292
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/RomulanZoneBaseMap-28Mar2025-A-1176456387
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Dominion-War-Base-Map-28-March-2025-1176423191
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Coreward-From-the-Izar-Zakdorn-Line-28-Mar-2025-1176427032
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Taurus-Reach-And-Beyond-28-Mar-2025-A-1176436890
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/Edge-of-Midnight-Disputed-Zone-28-Mar-2025-A-1176439292
https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/RomulanZoneBaseMap-28Mar2025-A-1176456387

