Well, I gave it a good go...Honest!

[Alex Brentnall]

+1 to the OP for admitting that you find exploration dull and depressing but not going on to insult those who don't. It's a rarity on the forums these days. Most rants come in the form "x sucks, and if you like x then you're stupid," so kudos for avoiding that.

As I've said elsewhere, for folk who don't get something out of collecting screenshots of nice looking places they'll probably never visit again, exploration really doesn't serve much purpose other than to fill up the blue progress bar and give you a few First Discovered tags. And of course you've hit upon exploration's core problem (pun not intended); the further you go the further you have to get back before you can do anything other than more exploration or CQC. If the bug doesn't bite hard, that realisation will force you to turn back that much quicker.

Exploration really comes into its own with a second account, so you can enjoy the occasional hours of solitude and astrophotography while also maintaining a presence in civilisation. But as buying a second account essentially rewards FD with money for not building multiple commander slots into the game itself, I fully understand why some people -- even those who enjoy exploration -- don't really see it as a viable option.

Said it better than I could ever do.

As above for me it's the putting my mark forever on the game as well as visiting places few dare to travel. There's some awe inspiring sights but as the OP correctly states they are few and far between.

Would recommend OP gets his fill of bubble combat/trade etc and then does a short 1 weekend trip to Barnards loop. Messier 78 Nebula, Vy Canis Majoris, Betelgeuse. Do the whole near the bubble exploration in a weekend, land on some planets, visit Mintaka for the black hole and see what you think after that. Cannot fault OP's reasoning or arguments, as above kudos for giving it a good go but since we don't know where Dantheman went we can't say if it was just a random patch of space or something more interesting

 

[d8veh]

Unfortunately, Dan, you have to get that final badge. It's like a bad itch. You won't be able to relax until you get it. Do what I did. Take a deep breath, a nice cup of tea and a good film or two. Head out to the neutron fields and scan those neutron stars. For me, it took a mere 66 hours divided into two trips of 1000 neutron stars per trip. Don't focus on what you're doing. Instead, focus on that badge. You know you need it.

 

[Hank]

I have not explored since before they released mining drones ... but way back then, I would do low range exploring in an Asp with a Refinery and mining lasers and stop at systems with good metal rich ringed planets and mix some mining with exploring. I would also take lots of pics of rings and fill the hold with good minerals then head home with a fair amount of minerals and discovery data to sell.
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This is not for long range exploring but for short range, like to the Coal Sack and other places of similar distance. It was fun and really broke up the monotony of exploring.
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I've been thinking of trying this again and with the new advances in mining, it might be fun again. Also, I can land on planets now and that would be a cool way to break up the routine of exploring.
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GL and HF

 

[Moonax IRL]

I agree with the op, it can be tough going. FD have created something special in their universe but exploration needs fleshing out. I`m sure it will come in time, walking around your ship will break the monotony along with proper scientific tools,scanning, sample collection and such. EVA and hull repair would be handy. Scientific modules for our ship such as labs and atmospheric scanners even kerbal space has stuff like that happening in game. Really there is a ton of stuff that can be added and there`s a great foundation to build on but its going to take time. I`m halfway to Ranger and elite in trading but I think I might wait til its fleshed out more to have a serious run at it as you want to enjoy the experience rather then just force yourself to grind for rank.

 

[Spacecat]

I've been doing it for around two weeks now. Once you get over the initial boredom and sort of accept it for what it is, it's not as bad. I found once I stopped just trying to hurry and get where I was going, it got a little better. I jump through systems and when I find an interesting one, I scan a few things, maybe take a couple of pictures, and move slowly toward my destination.

 

[deckroid]

So... 33 jumps per 1000ly... I take it you are not stopping to smell the roses. When I get the exploring bug, I go until I find a system all my own. THEN, I explore EVERY star adjacent to it and lo and behold... most just jump n go. all those lovely blue stars are mine... they're all mine... muh-ah... muh-ah... muh-ah hahhahahahhahahahahhahahahah.... pardon me a cruel chuckle.

Ahem... where was I? Oh yes. Also, set a course manually or at least pick a target, like a nebula or the line of blue stars on the way to NGC 6357. There's like 20 of them and they are all really cool (pun not intended). Oh, and having Radio Sidewinder playing adds something special.

But... when I recover my senses and my fingers gets to twitchin' I come back, pick up my other ship and go blast the first Wanted ships I find. Or CZ or whatever. Sometimes I get to trading as well. But one thing that I will NEVER do. EVER again. EVER. Even if I lost it all and started again... I will NEVER again EVER fly a T6. I have spent WAY too much time in that bucket. I would rather fly a washing machine attached to a cargo crate. It would probably fly better than the T6.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Zarlok]

The sights of the Nebula, amazing, knowing the relativistic distances back to the bubble, not knowing whats in the next jump....Exploring is incredible!

 

[Insomnia]

Exploration is about the only thing I enjoy about ED; finding systems that no one has ever been to (or at least not bothered to honk). However if we were to have more interstellar objects and the nebulae would be more awesome to look at, then it would be an even better experience.
Mining, a to b trading, BH, all makes me go absolutely insane.
Fly safe!

 

[Varrag]

Well it's not for everyone, obviously. Most of my time in ED has been spent doing just that, although I can see why people find it dull: it is pretty barebone, but then again - what isn't?

FDEV's decision to postpone or completely abandon their promise to give us alts doesn't help either.

 

[Bieltan]

I usually spend time playing Space Photographer whilst I'm out in the black. I'm going to go and poke around the Formidine Rift soon, not going there for credits, rather to see how far out I can make it, and see if I can stumble across whatever is hidden out there...

As I will have acquired an exploraconda, I suppose Beagle Point may be on the cards soon too. Think I'll wait for Horizons so I can take an SRV with me

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

Decided last night to finally cash in the reward for the last CG at Obsidian Orbital. Rather than jump and refuel every few stars I decided to Eco jump there. It was only 45 jumps and meant the Cobra could make it on just one standard tank and I make money too from the scan data!

Exploration, the real oldest profession in the Galaxy!

 

[Cmdr Cheese Wedge]

Exploring? I'm hunting ghosts.

 

[Certacito]

You all have far more patience than me! I decided to give it a go as I thought I could get some money, my name on some things, see some interesting sights and maybe make Elite. After 1200Ly, I woke up and thought "What the hell are you doing!?" I turned around, sold the ADS and DSS and I will not be doing that dull crap again until either, I am elite in the other 2, it gets improved markedly by some future patch or I am so stultifyingly bored that I would rather do that than just put down the HOTAS for a bit.
TL;DR Exploring is so bleeding dull, I don't have time to waste on it.

 

[Insomnia]

Decided last night to finally cash in the reward for the last CG at Obsidian Orbital. Rather than jump and refuel every few stars I decided to Eco jump there. It was only 45 jumps and meant the Cobra could make it on just one standard tank and I make money too from the scan data!

Exploration, the real oldest profession in the Galaxy!

What's your jump range with the Cobra?

 

[{SAS}Stalker]

You're just weak OP, plow through the boredom until every star merges into one. Look over the fact that when you get to Sag*A it looks exactly like a giant puckered bum hole floating in space mocking the sacrifice that you have made to see it. Cry into your beer at the thought of the return journey where all you have to look forward to is constant interdiction's by inane NPC's demanding cargo that doesn't exist. Take solice in the fact that they lack the dedication you have and long to see the majestic space bum hole.

See the stars, be the stars!

 

[DukeIronHand]

The problem with exploring, for me, is I already know there is really nothing out there except different types and formations of rocks and gas.
No "new life and new civilizations" to discover. Exploring is not too much fun when you can almost guess what you are gonna find even before you "honk" but that's just me.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Ye, it's pretrty terrible. The repetition kills it for me. However, I can go on driving in my buggy and flying across the planet for quite some time or hunt planetary rings.

 

[ZenZak]

At least you can land on planets OP,i got my Elite rank just from flying which isn't everyones cup of tea.I didn't really start enjoying it until I was near the center but by then I had gone through the wall(space madness)lol.

 

[Cosmos]

I recently got back from the DW trip.. I didn't make it past the core but was out exploring for quite some time. All I got was about 33 mil from the trip Its not exactly a great way to make credits.

 

[FiddenUK]

Unfortunately, Dan, you have to get that final badge. It's like a bad itch. You won't be able to relax until you get it. Do what I did. Take a deep breath, a nice cup of tea and a good film or two. Head out to the neutron fields and scan those neutron stars. For me, it took a mere 66 hours divided into two trips of 1000 neutron stars per trip. Don't focus on what you're doing. Instead, focus on that badge. You know you need it.

Exploration does take its toll on you, and does take a long time, but that is just how it is. If you want the badge and want to get it done quickly, above is exactly the way to do it. Personally, I prefer the 'do a long exploration trip, get lots of data, scan each system' method, then 'spend a long time in the bubble and do other things' in between trips to the black. I'm currently ~20k LY out and will stay out here until beta is looming, then hot-foot it back and hope I've got enough for Elite rank. If not, in a few weeks, I'll be back out there to seal the deal.