I have tried to reimplement the Elite trading part in Javascript(back when I was learning the language, I need a 'practical project') but I've found the galaxy

I have tried to reimplement the Elite trading part in Javascript(back when I was learning the language, I need a 'practical project') but I've found the galaxy generation code to be inscrutable. One can implement line by line, but I haven't found an explanation for all the byte manipulation and magic numbers that are used. EDIT: found this in the comments " Function and description taken from elite new kind sources. " Huh. Maybe I should look into that (and "oolite" as well).