The Celestial Map is here to help explain the shape of the known universe, how each of the galaxies connect to each other and how each galaxy is constructed.
Burrowing through the Universe[]
“The AE Universe is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I know it may seem a long way to the chemist, but compared to the universe that is just peanuts” ~ Butchered from 'The Hitchickers Guide to the Galaxy
A typical galaxy
[*In Coords B--:--:--:--*] The top level of each server is the Universe. Each server is a universe in themselves and these contain large numbers of galaxies. How many exactly depends on the population of players on each server and when the population grows enough a new set of 10 galaxies are added to the mix. For the example below we are going to use the beta server when it had 50 galaxies. (Image above)
[*In Coords -31:--:--:--*] The next level is the Galaxy. Each galaxy is made up of 100 sectors. These sectors are each numbered on a grid and the population (in systems / planets) decreases as you pull out from the centre. Outer systems are popular for Guild Jump Gate hubs as there are so few other players in the same sector removing the fear of other players Scanners picking up incoming fleets. (Image Right Top)
A typical region
[*In Coords ---:63:--:--*] The next level down is the Region (also known as the sector). Each region contains a large collection of systems, how many depending on how close you are to the centre of the galaxy. For example B31:55 could have 100 different systems, each with their own planets while B31:02 will have no systems at all. Regions are also the grid 'Fog of War' in AE goes by. If you do not have a ship or base in a region you will not be able to see any of the planets or bases in the region. The only exception being if a Guild member has a ship or base in the system, then you can see that system, and that system alone. (image Right Middle)
[*In Coords ---:--:38:--*] The final level is the System. Each system contains multiple Astros, most of which can be colonised. There are different types of Astros, each with their own advantages and
disadvantages to your development.
The typical system
Systems can also contain gas
giants and asteroid belts which are not coloniseable and you are not able to move your ships onto. (image Right Bottom)
[*In Coords ---:--:--:12*] This level is the identifier for your Planet itself.
The Shape of the Universe[]
The universe in AE is not as simple as 00-69, it is not linear. Each galaxy cluster (00-09,10-19) is linear however how the different clusters link varies. Similarly we do no have all the x9 galaxies linking to the x0 galaxies either. The universe has a starting point and an ending point.
A gateway galaxy is the galaxy that allows you to fly into another cluster, and thus prevents you from flying from, say 67 to 43 directly. To do that you would need to fly to the 6x cluster gateway to the 4x cluster gateway and then onto 43.
The 00-09 galaxies are the beginning cluster, with the 09 galaxy being the gateway to the rest of the universe. Similarly the highest numerical cluster, in Ceti for example 60-69 are the ending galaxies. C60 is the gateway to the rest of the universe in this cluster. For the other clusters however there are two gateway galaxies per cluster. These gateways are x0 and x9. The x9 clusters can link to any higher-numbered x0 galaxy. Similarly the x0 gateways can link to any lower-numbered x9 galaxies. So for example, 39 and 40 are linked but 49 and 30 are not. The bottom (00) and top (x9) galaxy are therefore not linked at all. The image below shows how this works in Ceti.
The distance between galaxies is very important for ship travel because the distance tells you how long it is going to take for the ships to arrive. In addition the distance between bases is used as one of the stats in calculating the amount of credits you gain from Trade Routes.
When jumping from one cluster to another there is a distance of 2000 which is crossed. This does not change from cluster to cluster. Inside the cluster however it is 1800 LY from end to end. This is the distance from x0 to x9. Each galaxy is 100 in distance from one side to the other, and 100 distance between each region. This means that the maximum amount of distance from one galaxy to another in the AE Universe is 5600.
Inside a system, the distance between rings (C##:##:##:R#) is 0.2. The distance between any two astros in the same system, but in different rings, is 0.2 times the difference in ring coordinate (C10:10:10:21 to C10:10:10:51 would be 0.4) The distance between any two astros in the same ring is 0.1.
An Alternate Diagram[]
If you find the horseshoe shaped diagram confusing consider this layout:
Each line is a Galaxy Cluster. The center section is the Galaxies, the arrows indicate cluster links.
CLUSTER LINKS.............................GALAXIES WITHIN CLUSTERS...........................CLUSTER LINKS
..................................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................. 00--01--02--03--04--05--06--07--08--09==========>10, 20, 30, 40, 50
.......................09 <========== 10--11--12--13--14--15--16--17--18--19==========>20, 30, 40, 50
................ 09, 19 <========== 20--21--22--23--24--25--26--27--28--29==========>30, 40, 50
.......... 09, 19, 29 <========== 30--31--32--33--34--35--36--37--38--39==========>40, 50
.....09, 19, 29, 39 <========== 40--41--42--43--44--45--46--47--48--49==========>50
09, 19, 29, 39, 49 <========== 50--51--52--53--54--55--56--57--58--59
==========> is a 2000 LY cluster/cluster connection
-- is a 200 LY galaxy/galaxy connection
Note that galaxies 00 and 69 do not have a cluster connection. This makes them the most remote galaxies in the universe, but they are still only 5,600 LY from their furthest neighbors.
Server Galaxy Count[]
Not all servers have the same number of galaxies. For example:
Bravo Server = B00 - B39
Lyra Server = L00 - L59
Myra Server = M00 - M59
Omega Server = O00 - O69
Some servers have expanded after some time, with the addition of another cluster or two.
Theory of trade routes[]
Lets see 2 examples: G32-G48 trade route has 5000 distance while G32 and G50 which for 1st look would be further from each other, only has distance of 3400. Why is this?
In each cluster (GX0-GX9) there is 10 galaxy, and 9 rout between the neighbour galaxies. Each rout 100 light year. But in an trade route you have to pay the back and forth way. so its 9*100*2 = 1800 lightyear
(Maybe) the same goes between clusters 2*1000 = 2000 lightyear
G32-G48: these clusters are connected on the peeks of G39-G40 thats a 1 time 2000 lightyear
plus:
G32-G39 is G30-G39's 1800 minus 2*2*100 =1400
G40-G48 is G40-G49's 1800 minus 1*2*100 = 1600
Sum:
2000+1400+1600=5000
G32-G50: connceted on the peeks of G39-G50: 1*2000 lightyear
G32-G39 is 1400 like above
1400+2000=3400