Newcomer / Intro Exploration question

[c0m4ndo45]

How does the discovery scanner work? activating it with fire group doesn't seem to make any difference (or does it just suck that much?)

How do i find planets n stuff on a system? Must i get the expensive advanced/intermediate scanners to find them?

I only managed to find one on a system i had no data for because i spotted a random fsd wake and flew towards it, the planet only showed up when i was quite close

 

[StephenB]

The basic discovery scanner shows planets/masses up to 500Ls, I believe. Anything more and it won't pick up anything.

When you drop into an undiscovered system look for stars that seem like they are moving separately to the background and fly towards them. Alternatively you can just fly aimlessly/follow AI whilst constantly scanning.

 

[Epicurean Dream]

1. Make sure you have a (basic, intermediate or advanced) Discovery Scanner equipped and assigned to a fire group.
2. Enter unexplored system. See nothing on the radar.
3. Hold your fire button. The D scanner will charge and 'ping' when complete. Any celestial bodies within a 500 LS (not LY) spherical radius around your ship will become found. It will tell you in the top right.
4. Look at your navigation panel, see new objects listed as 'unexplored'. also see them on radar, also note you can target them in space via 'target ahead' key.
5. Target body, point nose at it, fly close enough to begin front scan, ship will scan and eventually object will become 'named' and info about it will be listed on the left target pannel.

You may need to fly about 'pinging' the D-scan to find other celestial bodies that are further than 500LS. Getting a better D-scanner will make this easier.

Alternatively. Dock at station in neighboring system, enter galaxy map and click the 'buy system data' button on star you wish to have system data on. Note, data may not always be available and/or may not be complete. (depends on who's found and sold what data about that system)

 

[c0m4ndo45]

I see, so for 500 Ls+ either get a better scanner or fly around and scan randomly wishing for the best. Thanks!

Also, detailed surface scanner works automatically on target?

 

[Vooyek]

If you have good eyes it doesn't have to be random. When traveling at high speeds you can see "stars" moving against a background. Those are always explorable planets/stars, also a color of a star in system view match it in space. You can also follow NPC ships or FSD wakes, they sometimes travel to distant objects. Randomly scanning is not practical since objects can be 4000Ls or fruther away. Trying to randomly scan it with 500Ls range scanner is near impossible to me.