“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?” – Jalaluddin Rumi, Poet

26.8.yc119 J212302 < E-C00293 < E-R00029

J103242 III

Exploration. Exploring: to traverse for the purpose of discovery. Discovering: gain sight or knowledge of something previously unseen or unknown. Are we, as New Eden capsuleers, explorers? There are a total of 8,035 systems in the New Eden cluster. 5,201 Known space systems (K-Space), 2,604 Wormhole space systems (W-Space), and 230 unreachable Jove space systems. With the exception of Jove space, capsuleers routinely visit each and every one of these known systems that were previously discovered long ago. No new insights, no new knowledge, the same old suns day in and day out.

J164147 XI

Our current level and access to ship and gate technology doesn’t allow us to reach the nearby Jove systems, let alone expand beyond our current accessible known systems. So, no, we’re not explorers, not truly at least according to the definition. The age of exploration is long past until a new age can begin when advances in tech open the gates to systems beyond our current reach. Then, there will be another great rush to explore.

Yet, I still call myself an explorer of New Eden. Why? Simply because, even though there are no new unseen or unknown systems to reach, for those that I’ve not visited yet, they are unknown and unseen by me. Exploration in New Eden is a journey into one’s self, very much a personal endeavor, as it stands today. The thrill of seeing a new sun I’ve not seen before, still conveys the same feelings of awe and grandness as the new first one I visited in my home system of Saisio when I began.

J212302 VI

Today, I’ve just completed my 900th W-Space system which means I’m now one third complete with wormhole space, just over 34%. That brings my total systems explored, which includes K-Space, to 6,104 or 76% of all of New Eden. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of my journey so far is not the number of systems I’ve visited, but the fact I’ve not lost a ship as of yet.
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Fly clever, seek and find what’s previously unknown and unseen by you, but most importantly, be true to your explorer’s heart.

J160459 II