Forum:SH Archive/Interpreting The Essential Atlas

I think we need to reach some community consensus around how to interpret The Essential Atlas.

The planet Aaron illustrates some of the ambiguity the Atlas has created. It appeared in one source prior to its inclusion in the Atlas appendix, which was set during the period of the Galactic Civil War. When I originally wrote the article, I included information on where it was located - based on the Atlas - but not on the 'history' prior to this. Other users have now |added information on when it was discovered, its allegiance in the New Sith Wars, Clone Wars, and Galactic Civil War, all based on interpretations of Atlas maps. Is this legitimiate? (I'm using it because it is a GAN I wrote, but I don't want to fault the users who added the extra info.)

My position is that we should not extrapolate backwards, before their first appearance in canon, but that it is more legitimate to extrapolate forward. In other words, we only know the Aaron was inhabited around the GCW but not how far before this. Therefore, none of this earlier info should be added. I anticipate this will mostly affect planet articles (in particular minor worlds only in the Appendix), and potentially species articles (where it is there homeworld concerned), but not necessarily sector articles, as the more general information is more specific to their subject matter.

Specific issues:
 * How to interpret the Galactic Explorations map?
 * How to interpret the Galactic Population map? (Some few planets are specifically marked, most are not)
 * How to interpret other historical maps for worlds not marked on the maps?
 * Does it differ for information historically "before" the worlds other appearance or information historically "after" their appearance??

--Eyrezer 00:00, December 26, 2009 (UTC)