2.5 Astrogation Maps

The large central illustration on chart A is astrogation map #1, an overall view of the UFP from the direction of galactic north and showing the stars projected onto the XY plane. A reference grid dividing the Federation into units of ten parsecs square is provided, as is a radial gridwork in units of 10 grads (1/40 of a circle). This map shows the location of most of the inhabited star systems and interesting objects in the Federation, as well as major outposts, buoys, and star bases (it should be noted that some star bases are “eclipsed” by others, and in such cases the base with the highest Z-axis coordinate is shown). Regions where the UFP border is in contact with other political units, such as the Klingon and Romulan empires and the Tholian Assembly, are noted, as are some of the civilizations bordering the Federation.

Map #1 gives the coordinates of any star in only two of three directions, the X and Y coordinates; for the Z-axis coordinate, a second map is required, and this is astrogation map #2, located in the center of chart B. It is also a planar projection of the stars in the UFP, but this time onto the X-Z plane. The reference gridwork is the same as in map #1.

On the left side of chart B are two additional maps, #3 and #4. These are enlarged views of the most densely populated region of the Federation, a sphere 45 parsecs in radius and centered on Sol. Historically, this region is the oldest part of the Federation, and contains its five founding star systems. These two maps are keyed to the small circles on astrogation maps #1 and #2.

Chart B also illustrates some of the spacecraft, buoys and other objects commonly encountered in Federation space. Space vessels of all types, classes, and origins, Federation and alien, are illustrated, and familiarization drawings for most of these spacecraft are widely available as well. Interested readers are referred to any standard reference handbook such as Mandel’s Fighting Starships (TM:305953). Detailed information on the various buoys and navigation beacons is given in section 3.4 and following.

Enlarged maps of a typical quadrant, Quadrant 3 South, have been provided to illustrate the normal patrol route of a Constitution class starship, in this case the U. S. S. Enterprise (NCC-1701). A view of this quadrant in the XY plane is shown in astrogation map #5 on chart C, and a small orientation drawing shows the overall division into sectors. Sector boundaries and the numbers of representative sectors have been included, along with the usual locator grid in units of 10 parsecs. As with the main maps, an additional view, astrogation map #6 on chart D, is needed to provide Z-axis coordinates. The normal patrol route of the Enterprise is indicated on map #5, although the actual route of the Enterprise’s travels over any length of time is likely to be very different; special missions and emergencies frequently make it necessary for starships to divert from their patrol routes, and even to leave their assigned quadrants altogether.

Also shown on these maps are some of the less-frequented star systems in this quadrant. The lower part of chart C contains maps of regions that are not part of the UFP: the Romulan Neutral Zone and the home systems of the Klingon Empire. These maps are keyed to the small rectangles on astrogation map #1. Many different types of star systems are contained within the borders of the UFP, and to give the reader some idea of this variety, several noteworthy systems are illustrated on charts C and D. The heavily populated Rigel system, a binary system composed of two blue-white giants, is of interest in that it supports so many inhabitable planets—most systems have only one or two planets habitable under Class M requirements. On the left side of chart D are illustrated some of the more important or interesting planets in and near the UFP. All the planets are illustrated in approximately the same scale, and if the planet has any natural satellites they are shown to scale.