All Things Vilani Thread

[McPerth]

Don't need beacon sats I think, should be able to shoot position with radio/light noisy regular variable stars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cepheid_variable

Their regular transmissions have been going all along, require no setup and would be measured as a matter of course from each new system.

I suspect one could get a precise clock time out of them as well, another key tool in navigation.

Sure, not needed, but probably convenient as it easies it.

What you tell about is probably what scouts use, but, even if not needed, those beacons are useful for comercial ships, probably more used to "civilized" space with this kind of facilities.

 

[Whipsnade]

Within a couple of generations, if the 1stI needed to curtail troublesome exploration, it could vanish from their collective common cultural/technical knowledge but still be in the Book of Secret Stuff.

Still in the Book of Secret Stuff but somehow not used during the war? Sure.

You're right about no need for a beacon though. There are plenty of unique astronomical objects which can be used for navigation fixes.