So what is the difference between Stellar Cartography and Astrometrics anyway?

[bryce]

In Voyager, the Astrometrics lab was used in kinda the same way as Stellar Cartography was used in Generations.

But I imagine Voyager (being originally a science vessel) had a Stellar Cartography lab, but needed the Borg-enhanced Astrometrics as well, so they can't be completely interchangeable. Even if they have over-lapping capacities.

I am guessing the difference has something to do with the name. Cartography means mapping, so SE is mainly to do with mapping stellar systems. Mapping the galaxy.

But metrics means, if I am not mistaken, to measure something...so Astrometrics is more to do with the study of the galaxy and the objects in it and scanning and studying all of those pesky spacial anomalies that Stellar Cartography may or may not have on their charts.

I would assume that any science vessels would have both Astrometrics and Stellar Cartography departments...departments that *should* work together, but probably have a bit or a rivalry as well. Maybe an unspoken competition to prove to the captain that one dept. is more useful than the other at charting spacial anomalies or something.

I really did like the idea in the Titan books of having Stellar Cartography being a kind of holodeck. It would be a better way to visualize the relationships between stellar objects in 3 dimensional space if you could *project* them in 3D. And an version of that tech exists in the Disc era, even if the Disco version is more an "augmented reality", rather than the holodeck's full-on "virtual reality".

 

[NCC-73515]

There are several stellar cartography labs on the D, Nella Daren worked in a smaller one (also seen in Force of Nature). The one on the E is simpler as well, maybe only Galaxy class ships get a big galaxy room

 

[Christopher]

Astrometrics (more properly called astrometry) is the measurement of the positions and movements of stars and celestial bodies. Cartography is the making of maps. You use the former as a source of data for the latter, but astrometric data can also be used in other fields like astrophysics and stellar dynamics. Astrometry is how you gather the raw data; cartography is just one of the things you can do with that information.

To put it another way, the astrometrics lab would be part of the science department, while stellar cartography is more connected to navigation. Although the shows/films seem to treat the two as interchangeable, e.g. having Data use the stellar cartography lab to do scientific research.

 

[Saturn0660]

Stellar Cartography: The mapping of stars.
Astrometrics: Where those star are.

 

[Timo]

Also, in Star Trek specifically:

- Astrometrics: a facility.
- Stellar Cartography: a department, no doubt with multiple facilities (some of which may be simply labeled "Stellar Cartography"). Also a discipline.

None of the dialogue suggests that Astrometrics would be a department or a discipline to be studied. It's a location, a lab and a tool for a purpose. Conversely, Stellar Cartography is considered a location twice: in GEN, where Picard asks Data to join him there, and in "Realm of Fear", where it's a deck label. That doesn't yet make it a VOY-style facility specifically, though - on the big ship, we see at least two distinct spaces that are part of Stellar Cartography, and neither is indicated to be Stellar Cartography in its entirety.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Maurice]

Budget.

 

[CaryMGVR]

There's no difference.
Starfleet calls it: "Stellar Cartography", so that's what it is.

Voyager's "Astrometric Lab" [which I like MUCH better, btw]
was named when she was very far away from Starfleet Command HQ
So, not knowing the official designation, her crew named it, instead.

 

[Henoch]

TOS had a Astro Sciences Department (Sulu headed it in WNMHGB).

 

[Deks]

There's no difference.
Starfleet calls it: "Stellar Cartography", so that's what it is.

Voyager's "Astrometric Lab" [which I like MUCH better, btw]
was named when she was very far away from Starfleet Command HQ
So, not knowing the official designation, her crew named it, instead.

I would imagine that an Astrometrics lab can perform similar functions like Stellar Cartography, but it makes use of a hybrid of SF and Borg technology and other equipment which would be a lot more sophisticated and provides more detailed analysis in general - aka, a more functional tool perhaps compared to cartography?

VOY did have stellar cartography (it was mentioned in dialogue multiple times throughout the series - and I think the Delaney sisters were working there) but its mention and use seems to have waned since the Astrometrics Lab came into the scene.

At any rate, VOY did launch with an Astrometrics Lab but in 'Revulsion' episode, it was stated by Chakotay that it hadn't been upgraded since VOY left spacedock - which by that time would have been 3 years and a month (approximately).

 

[publiusr]

Cartography for location of stars alone.

Astrometrics for field gradients?

 

[Jedi Marso]

The two functions would have to be closely linked because starcharts would be dynamic in nature, given that the stars all orbit the center of the galaxy at various velocities and move at various velocities in relation to one another. The starchart you use today will be different than the one you use next week or month. Astrogation charts are living documents.

 

[Sirion]

Astrometry would serve to update star maps in a similar way to how weather stations update data in meteorological simulations to predict the weather.

Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that deals with accurately measuring and analyzing the position and motion of celestial objects, such as stars, planets, asteroids, and comets. By obtaining precise data on the position and motion of these objects in the sky, star maps can be updated and improved, which are graphical representations of the distribution of stars in the night sky.

Analogously, weather stations collect atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, etc., to feed into meteorological simulations. These simulations use mathematical models to predict future weather and climate in a specific region.

Just as the information collected by weather stations is crucial to improving the accuracy of weather predictions, astrometry provides crucial data to update and enhance star maps, helping the astronomical community to have a more accurate and up-to-date view of the night sky and its stellar content.

 

[mithril]

i generally figured that the reason that it was called Astrometrics in VOY was just that 7of9 insisted that it be called such, and the terms are in fact effectively synonymous.

 

[Christopher]

i generally figured that the reason that it was called Astrometrics in VOY was just that 7of9 insisted that it be called such, and the terms are in fact effectively synonymous.

No; as Sirion and I have both pointed out, they aren't synonymous, just related. Astrometry is the science of gathering data about the positions and movements of celestial objects; stellar cartography is the creation of maps and navigational references based on that data. Cartography is simply one of the things you can do with astrometric data. Astrometry is the pure science, cartography is the application of its findings for navigational purposes.

 

[Ithekro]

So basically Janeway was skipping the middleman and would just go to Seven to see the data points and line a course from there. After they settled a bit I would gather Stellar Cartography was making charts for Starfleet once they got home, and Tom would use those to navigate, unless they were getting Borg augmented updates the entire time, so Tom's charts wouldn't have even gone through Cartography yet.

 

[Christopher]

So basically Janeway was skipping the middleman and would just go to Seven to see the data points and line a course from there.

I think the idea is that the Astrometrics lab was used for more than just mapmaking. Really, the Stellar Cartography scene in Generations should logically have been in an Astrometrics lab, given the work Data was doing. I think they just used that label for it as a holdover from "Lessons."

 

[DonIago]

Stellar Cartography had the big pretty mapping room and Picard was in the mood for some astral sightseeing that day.