How do I explore undiscovered systems?

[Oldmanbill]

I have read many of the guides in the forums and I still can't figure out how I get to unexplored systems. I have done quite a bit of exploration while doing missions but want to go further out. Can anyone point me to a guide for exploration that will get me outside of the bubble with the best exploration setup for my ASP Explorer? For instance, how would I get to the California Nebula? Thanks

 

[dognosh]

To get anywhere you just point and plot.
Bookmark your destination nebula. Then plot a straightish course from your start position to nebula, about 500 to 1000 LYs in length, whatever you prefer, rinse repeat.
Take an ADS and detailed scanner, 1 AFMU, 16 to 32t fuel tank (I take 20t), shields, an SRV or 2, I don't bother with heatsinks (my preference )

 

[Chrystoph]

No offense, but your post lacks a certain amount of information.

First, do you have Horizons?

Second, if you have Horizons, do you want to do surface exploration, or just space?

Third, how capable a pilot are you? By this, I mean, are you accomplished at fuel scooping? How often do you have emergency drops from supercruise?

There is no perfect build for exploring, but here are a pair of Asps that work for basic exploration.

Space Explorer:
https://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/0p0taFflid5snf5------02---3d0s0i-432i2f.AwRj4jTZrI==.Aw18WQ==

Planetary Explorer:
https://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/0p0taFfliddsnf5------02---3d0s0iv6432i2f.AwRj4jRZekg=.Aw18WQ==

Different people will tell you different things about builds, and they are all right and all wrong. It is a personal thing.

As to unexplored territory, pick an objective and go. Eventually, you'll stop finding other people's names.

 

[Deepfriedmal]

I will assume you have Horizons and Galaxy map experience.
With the galaxy map set for showing who controls which system, you can zoom out and see the edges of occupied space... you need to head to the edge and then change the galaxy map to 'star types'. You will need this to plot a course and see which stars you can fuel scoop - if you have not done this before, practice BEFORE you leave... decide on a direction to head in (try not to do the same as everybody else) go at least 400-500 ly in that direction. You should then start to find some unexplored and unclaimed systems.

Mal

 

[DeadMeatGF]

... I still can't figure out how I get to unexplored systems.

The short answer is: keep going!
People are exploring in every direction, you can't second-guess where they'll go, but anything even vaguely close to populated space (I'm about 600LY out, currently) is likely to have been scanned so go far, don't give up, and eventually you'll find one.

 

[Oldmanbill]

I have Horizons but will not be using an SRV on this exploration. I've got my ASP Explorer setup for exploring with a 41.44ly jump range. I discovered that I can plot a route up to 1000ly away. I have selected a system 800ly away and used the automatic plotter to take me there. I can do it fast in 24 jumps or economical in 191 jumps. Do most explorers go the economical way in order to scan the most systems or the fast way? My question now is - Can I plot a route by picking the systems I want to go through one by one and have the galaxy map remember my route? - I know I can pick one and go there and then pick another and go there but can I pick 42 systems manually and create a route that way?

 

[iain666]

Mostly we go fastest - 24 vs 191 to cover 800ly and my current trip is ~260,000ly so that's ~8000 jumps vs ~62,000 jumps to cover the distance I have (actually just shy of 12,000 so far but I'm in a stock Mk III) and I don't think I'm halfway done yet. Doing economical, or just single plotting, to cover a smaller area of interest can be fun, or if you're on a shake down flight and want to go out that 800ly and back then why not? But actually trying to cover serious distance on economic, you'd go mad(der).

Storing manually plotted routes is, alas, not a feature. You can manually work it out and use bookmarks to allow you to travel it easily, but not plot an actual route, alas.

 

[Oldmanbill]

Mostly we go fastest - 24 vs 191 to cover 800ly and my current trip is ~260,000ly so that's ~8000 jumps vs ~62,000 jumps to cover the distance I have (actually just shy of 12,000 so far but I'm in a stock Mk III) and I don't think I'm halfway done yet. Doing economical, or just single plotting, to cover a smaller area of interest can be fun, or if you're on a shake down flight and want to go out that 800ly and back then why not? But actually trying to cover serious distance on economic, you'd go mad(der).

Storing manually plotted routes is, alas, not a feature. You can manually work it out and use bookmarks to allow you to travel it easily, but not plot an actual route, alas.

Thanks - Just the information I needed to start on my journey. Fast will also make it easier for me to be sure there are stars I can refuel at.

 

[Dachand3]

Mostly we go fastest - 24 vs 191 to cover 800ly and my current trip is ~260,000ly so that's ~8000 jumps vs ~62,000 jumps to cover the distance I have (actually just shy of 12,000 so far but I'm in a stock Mk III) and I don't think I'm halfway done yet. Doing economical, or just single plotting, to cover a smaller area of interest can be fun, or if you're on a shake down flight and want to go out that 800ly and back then why not? But actually trying to cover serious distance on economic, you'd go mad(der).

Storing manually plotted routes is, alas, not a feature. You can manually work it out and use bookmarks to allow you to travel it easily, but not plot an actual route, alas.

Mostly what he said. If you want undiscovereds, make a run to the core. Don't bother scanning asteroid clusters and don't let your fuel get too low. Good luck.

 

[Cmdr Frawd Digger]

My first exploration trip out I didn't see an untagged system until I got about 1000ly out. I pretty much chose a random direction (not pointing towards the core). There are billions of unexplored worlds..you just need to keep heading out. Eventually it will be a surprise to find an explored system!

Frawd

 

[Brother Sabathius]

Finding undiscovered systems will also be easier if you don't take the most direct route to tourist hotspots, like the local nebulas. I went out to see the Ghost Of Jupiter nebula (it's a beauty!) and saw plenty of explored systems on the way there. Then I cut across to the Spiral Nebula. Most of the systems between those two were undiscovered.

400 billion systems out there and we haven't explored even 0.01% of them yet.

 

[CMDR IPL Victim]

One word of advice, when checking the system map to see if it is claimed, close the map and reopen it before you get too excited about an unclaimed system. In my last trip to the black, I encountered this bug/glitch where initially, the system would show as untagged. I'd then get really excited about that probable terraform planet just over there, and jump back in the map after scanning it, only to see CMRD Killjoy(tm) had already been there... ^_^

 

[lionhead]

Thanks - Just the information I needed to start on my journey. Fast will also make it easier for me to be sure there are stars I can refuel at.

if you fuel is low, check the galaxy map what the next system is. Make sure its a star you can refeul at. Trust us, otherwise you'll be stuck and have to call the emegency forces(helpful commanders) or self destruct.