kahea na hoku i ka poe koa i ka aina hou

[iquetzal]

Any decent map of the milky way galaxy is accurate only from earth's unique position within it. As your distance from earth increases by light years, the galactic map based upon the paths light took to reach earth becomes progressively and randomly more imprecise. This is not due to trivial projection effects of your new position. Every star in the galaxy distorts the path of light of everything along its line of sight. This is how Einstein was proved correct. It also results in the foam of spactime defined by the paths light takes through the galaxy to reach your new position being fundamentally different in a way that cannot be corrected computationally. For sure a good map of the galaxy will still bear a strong resemblance to what is seen from any place within it, but its accuracy will no longer be sufficient for navigation purposes. At interstellar distances, errors of mere seconds of arc will result in a spacecraft arriving at vast, empty voids if navigation is based course vectors derived from point locations in a database. I do not deny the utility of a galactic database, I'm saying that an accurate galactic database based upon stellar positions in earth's sky does not solve the navigation problem because it will not be accurate anywhere else but earth. In fact, a galactic database based upon absolute galactic coordinates is computationally impossible in principle. But that is just me and my opinion and I have been called crazy. Anyway, an interstellar navigation methodology sufficient to rendezvous with an extrasolar planet is a profoundly deep problem that no one is anywhere near solving. In my opinion, Polynesian Wayfinding can evolve into such a methodology by merging with contemporary astronomy. We need to take our cultural blinders off when seeking out solutions to insolvable problems. I'll shut up now. This is why I don't get invited to parties.