Wild Space-Unknown Regions

So I have a question that's been confusing me for a little bit, even more since Outbound Flight. It seems that every book refers to have to go through Wild Space to get to the Unknown Regions. It's mentioned in Outbound Flight too, if I can remember correctly. I could be wrong I guess, but that's just what it seems to me. Please tell me if I am just misreading, or if I am right, and if there is any retcons or anything. Thanks

 

Before the galaxy was fully detailed, the two weren't on the other side of the galaxy.

Largely, "Wild Space" just refers to the unexplored frontier between the UR and the KR.

 

OBF was going all over the galaxy beofre they entered the UR, so it shouldn't be like it's heading directly from OR-WS-UR.

And every map I've seen seems to show Wild Space as being essentially the name of one of the spiral arms.

 

Those maps aren't accurate. Wild Space is the space between the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions-- and the Unknown Regions themselves aren't that chunk of the Galaxy just north of the Core either. They're most likely the diffuse cloud of stars beyond the Rim proper and above and below the Galactic plane.

 

The FH trilogy, particularly Remnant, seems to suggest that the Unknown Regions do contain at least part of the galactic disk, and reaches relatively (key word: relatively) close to the Core, as opposed to being ONLY the halo of stars above and/or below the galactic disk.

My own little pet theory/interpretation of the UR/WS discrepancy: The halo of stars in a spiral galaxy typically spread out two to three times the diameter of the disk, both above and below the galactic "core". These stars are father apart, and there is less matter out in these regions. In Star Wars terms, that would make travel through these halos simple and fast, compared to the numerous multiple jumps and complex precise calculations needed to travel around, say, the Inner Rim. The one defining feature of Wild Space is that it is very far away from the Core. Hence, I'd believe that the majority of WS is in these enormous but mostly empty halos.

The Unknown Regions, on the other hand, is notable as being particularly difficult to travel through, even with proper charts (which are rare, because most governments don't want to take the trouble of sending ships out to actually plot those routes) No clear reason for this is given, but I have long believed (and I think that there might be some basis for this somewhere) that some or most of the hyperspace disturbances in the UR are caused by Dark Matter. This would imply that the Unknown Regions are concentrated along the edge of the galactic disk. Also, the UR is smaller than the known regions. I'd therefore be inclined to say that the UR generally does not include the enormous halo(s).

Of course, the UR and WS could include some of both. I don't believe that the galaxy is a nice orderly set of gradually expanding circles, each within the other, with the UR on the farthest edge, WS just inside that, and the Deep Core at the center. Not only is that a bit illogical, considering in-universe stories, as well as descriptions of the UR, the Chiss Ascendancy, and other factors, but it also is often suggested that characters can fly directly from the Outer or Mid Rim straight into the UR, and fairly easily at that. Wild Space, however, is always described as far away, to the point that the Empire often doesn't bother to collect taxes or deal with unruly systems because they are so far out there. WS probably does come between the Known Regions and the UR in some places, but otherwise, I'd say that it is the far away regions where characters don't want to go (ie the Halos)

 

Wild Space isn't a spiral arm. On the NJO maps it is marked by sparkles, and it's all around the Rim. On my galaxy map Wild Space is a bit darker than the Outer Rim:
[image=http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/200/gmapnew8rh.jpg]

"See the sparkly parts of the NJO maps for the areas considered Wild Space. It's on every outer edge of the Outer Rim. Opposite of Nirauan is just where the Region label happened to be placed on the map." Tasty Taste

And yes, Unknown Regions is within the galactic disk. Maybe it's illogical. Maybe it's unrealistic. But it is canon.

 

Good reasons, in-universe if not out-of-universe, for the placement of the Unknown Regions are given in the NEC. Simply that for different reasons there are great difficulties in finding fast and stable hyperspace routes through it. That is why it's largely unknown, not because it's neccesarily remote from the core. That is where Wild Space enters the picture, the remote, bady charted and sparsly populated areas that few care about.


/Charlii

 

I do find it a bit strange that Csilla is three or four times closer to Coruscant than the Corporate Sector is.

 

With our extremely limited knowledge about how hyperspace works I have no issues with such things...


/Charlii

 

Ah, now I understand, thanks a lot!

 

the Unknown Regions themselves aren't that chunk of the Galaxy just north of the Core either.

No, you're right. They're the chunk of the galaxy just west of the Core. Galactic North is to the right side of the page on most maps.

Oh, but apparently not on the one linked to on this page. Very nice, and right-side-up.

And yes, Unknown Regions is within the galactic disk.

It's not only within the galactic disk, it's like a quarter to a third of the entirety of the galactic disk. The galaxy isn't fully explored.

 

The reason it is not explored is because there is a number of large Black holes blocking the way to the UR, espically in the Core area near Coruscant. I read that somewhere but can't remember the source. Hopefully someone will.

 

I think that's what the New Essential Chronology said.

 

So the unknown regions havent been explored but wild space is explored just wild and hard to travel in? Is that the difference or am I not understanding, which is probably the case.

 

For the most part you're correct. Wild Space exists on the outer regions of what could be legitimately called "explored space," while the Unknown Regions are what lie beyond.

 

I nowadays take the UR to be that larger dwarf galaxy (to be very super dense) seen on the Jedi Archive map in AotC, and the surrounding halo.

 

The captain was a man and they never ask for directions.

Yeah, yet more lame "continuity". WEG had Wild Space past the outer rim since the late 80's. why hog it into the Unknown Regions?

 

And yes, Unknown Regions is within the galactic disk.

It's not only within the galactic disk, it's like a quarter to a third of the entirety of the galactic disk. The galaxy isn't fully explored.[/quote]

"If an item does not appear on our records, it does not exist."

 

Why can't Wild Space be everything bordering the GFFA proper and everything else outside?