GURPS Space sector maps ?

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Personally I prefer the node/tramline style of star map with lines drawn between circles representing the points of interest with distance numbers on the lines if needed. True three-dimensional map quickly get incomprehensible.

The problem with node/tramline maps is when the PCs want to take an unmapped route...

[JimSam]

If we just had that 3D mapping system those bad guy insects in one of the Star Wars movies had. If it ever got built, it would probably take up lots of electricity to run it.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

The problem with node/tramline maps is when the PCs want to take an unmapped route...

Not really a problem. They just take extra time to get there and maybe briefly pass by a garbage system.

[Agemegos]

On the subject of "if only", I'd like to be able to afford a stellarium and a house with room to keep it in.

[JimSam]

A 'what if' for me would be a habitat on Earth's moon such that the sun would be blocked most of the time and I had a nice sized reflector telescope. Not too big, 30 inch mirror would be fine.

As for my site: 3 planet maps, one partial sub-sector, one sector map, and some other bits and pieces. No planet details as of yet.

[sjard]

Originally Posted by JimSam

A 'what if' for me would be a habitat on Earth's moon such that the sun would be blocked most of the time and I had a nice sized reflector telescope. Not too big, 30 inch mirror would be fine.

I think the best you could hope for is about two weeks of the sun mostly blocked with a few days of totally blocked for the moon each month. A full day/night cycle on the moon is roughly 30 days (29.5 days or something like that).

[dcarson]

Originally Posted by sjard

I think the best you could hope for is about two weeks of the sun mostly blocked with a few days of totally blocked for the moon each month. A full day/night cycle on the moon is roughly 30 days (29.5 days or something like that).

There are craters at the poles with the bottoms in permanent shadow. Currently being eyed as a source of ice to provide volatiles.

[sjard]

Originally Posted by dcarson

There are craters at the poles with the bottoms in permanent shadow. Currently being eyed as a source of ice to provide volatiles.

Fair enough. I haven't done a lot of looking into the moon in a long time.

[JimSam]

I've added 3 solar system maps using a HighSpace template.

This is it for me posting about this. I don't want to clog the forums up talking about me, me, and me.

[ericbsmith]

Originally Posted by sjard

I think the best you could hope for is about two weeks of the sun mostly blocked with a few days of totally blocked for the moon each month. A full day/night cycle on the moon is roughly 30 days (29.5 days or something like that).

Even skipping the previously mentioned polar craters, you could get away with a large shader dome and you should be able to get at least 21-22 days of good viewing; maybe 24 or so. Without an atmosphere sunlight is not scattered, so all you need to do is shade the telescope and point the lens at something that isn't the sun. Even a spot a few degrees off from the sun should be doable, if you can trust your shader dome and tracking system enough that it won't lock up and accidentally point you at the sun due to a breakdown.

One of the holy grail sites for a lunar observatory is actually the far side of the moon. It would be a massive boon for radio astronomy since the entire moon would be blocking all the stray radio signals from the Earth, giving the clearest view available.