Library Data:Astrography
The science of mapping interstellar space. Basic to any science of mapping is a coordinate system. The scientific system used by the Imperium is fairly technical, and not used by ordinary citizens.[1]
The Library Data uses two notations for showing the location of a world, depending on the context required. The short form a world is referred to by its name then sector and parsec/hex in parentheses. For example Regina (Spinward Marches 1910). The longer form includes the subsector name following the world name. For example Regina/Regina (Spinward Marches 1910) [2]
The system used by the lmperium is based on rings of longitude, rays of latitude, and parsecs. Rays of latitude extend from the galactic core, while concentric rings of longitude are placed at one parsec intervals. By convention, the concentric ring passing through Reference is labelled the 10,000th ring, and is used as a baseline. Similarly, the ray of latitude extending from the center of the Galaxy through Reference designated as the first ray. Measurement is in parsecs, counting in the trailing direction. Computation reveals that the circumference of the 10,000th ring (r=10,000) is 62,832 parsecs. Counting spinward uses a subtraction from 62,833, which is the equivalent of the zero baseline. [3]
This mapping system is highly Imperio-centric, and other systems are used by other peoples and races outside the Imperium. This system has gained wide acceptance, however, among lmperium dominated client-states, human and otherwise. This mapping system breaks down and is prone to error beyond certain limits. It does serve admirably for a band approximately 400 parsecs wide at a longitude of 10,000 parsecs. [3]
See also: Astrogation
- ↑ Loren Wiseman. GURPS Traveller Core Rules (Steve Jackson Games, 1998), 23.
- ↑ Information provided to the library by Thom Jones-Low
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 15.
Other References
- Marc Miller. The Traveller Book (Game Designers Workshop, 1982), 152.
- Marc Miller. Imperial Encyclopedia (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), 19.
- Marc Miller. Marc Miller's Traveller (Imperium Games, 1996), 185.
- Jon F. Zeigler. First In (Steve Jackson Games, 1999), 44.
- Colin Dunn. Library Data (Mongoose Publishing, 2011), 7.