The Galaxy
From Encyclopedia Hiigara
The Galaxy is the place that the Homeworld Saga takes place. The galaxy itself is known to be a spiral galaxy. The galaxy, also known as M51 in our universe, is about 76,000 lightyears in diameter, relatively small for a galaxy in comparison with the Milky Way. However, in spite of its size, the galaxy has supported several powerful empires such as the Progenitors, the Hiigaran Empire, or the Taiidan Empire.
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[edit] Known Maps
There have been many maps of the galaxy but in particular one stands out. Shortly before the Homeworld War a map of the galaxy found by Kushan race inside the ruins of the Khar-Toba, a prison ship converted into a city following its crash upon Kharak. This map, etched upon a stone from the Angel Moon would be used later by the Kushan to find their way back to Hiigara.
[edit] Galaxy Regions
[edit] Galactic Core
Center of the Galaxy, within was a cluster of black holes, known as Balcora, where the Progenitor warship Sajuuk was located.
[edit] Inner Rim
The Inner Rim was the region closest to the Galactic Core. Later, it became a center of conflict between various factions including the Taiidan Empire and the Hiigaran Empire as well as the Vaygr under Makaan.
[edit] Mid Rim
An area of the galaxy located between the Inner Rim and the Outer Rim, notable for Mid Rim Dustbank. The majority of the Great Wastelands lay here.
[edit] The Great Wastelands
The Great Wastelands was a large mineral-rich region of the galaxy located to the west of the Core and which overlapped both the Mid Rim and Outer Rim. During the Homeworld War it was a prominent battleground. The Great Nebula lay here.
[edit] Outer Rim
One of the largest regions of the galaxy. The Exile homeworld of Kharak lay there.
[edit] Vaygr Reaches
The Vaygr Reaches were located at the eastern end of the galaxy. Vay, homeworld of the Vaygr, was located here.
[edit] Companion Galaxy
A dwarf galaxy located a short distance outside of the central galaxy, connected through a thin trail of stars. Little is known about this companion, as it appears to have taken no part in any of the major events of the galaxy. However, in the Homeworld 3 Sands of Time mod, this galaxy is known as the Titan-Galaxy, inhabited by the successor Progenitor race known as the Titan-Naam - Kiith Somtaaw that have migrated to the Naggrok galaxy after unpopularity in the Diaimid & after the finding of a megalithic derelict.
[edit] behind the Scenes
- Don't be tricked into thinking that the M51 Group is just a Jump Gates stroll away, lets say that one stick is the Milky Way Group while the other is the M51 group. Grab a stick and go out for a walk & get another person to hold the stick stationary. In the relation to meters of these 2 sticks then you would have to walk for days to make it up in meters. Some people actually think that the Progenitors originated from Earth, if they did then it must of been a triumph to create a Galaxy Jumping system.
- However, that does not mean that its Group is relatively far away, this Group is known as the M51 Group, which is 31 Mly away from our Local Group. M51 is made up of M51B (NGC 5195), NGC 5023, NGC 5229, the Sunflower Galaxy (M63, another major galaxy in the group), UGC 8313, UGC 8331 and yours only, the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51A) or also known as M51.
- It was recorded in June 27th 2004, an amateur German astrologist found SN 2005cs, 15"West & 67.3"South of the Nucleus of M51 as it was at mag 13.5, this was a Type II Supernova at the analysis of its spectrum - is this the beginnings of the Garden of Kadesh (the Great Nebula). If so then it must of taken millions of year for it to form, possibly pointing out that the Progenitors arrived after the formation was complete, this may also give proof to the theory that they came from the Milky Way (Earth).
- The dust bank you see in Mission 13 of Homeworld 2 surrounding the Eye of Sajuuk is actually real, these are 2 dust banks that surround the black hole nucleus of M51.
- In Mission 14 of Homeworld 2 (Eye of Sajuuk) & in the cut scene you see 3 black hole serving as the nucleus rather than 1, if so then that means that the M51 galaxy is made up of 3 separate galaxies that are still in the process of merging. The Dwarf Companion Galaxy is an example of of this fist stage - when a galaxy enters the gravitational pull of a far more stronger galaxy, this is kind of like tectonic plate but in space.
