Maybe, I should get there tonight, I covered most of the distance last night. Stars are getting a bit spread out though as I'm getting into the dark bit between spiral arms, hope it's reachable in a cobra. Maybe I should have kept my T6 as it had a longer range
Exploring.. For fun (definately not for Profit!) Trifid Nebula and back..
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Maybe, I should get there tonight, I covered most of the distance last night. Stars are getting a bit spread out though as I'm getting into the dark bit between spiral arms, hope it's reachable in a cobra. Maybe I should have kept my T6 as it had a longer range
If the Pillars Of Creation are anything like as impressive as the Hubble photo it will be well worth it.
Great trip!
I just started my first real exploration trip after a practice run 1000ly straight up and back. I'm headed for Bernard's loop as it's the most prominent thing in the sky since I started playing. I'm aiming for the witch head nebula first, then after Bernard I'll visit some of the outlying nebulas and head for the heart and soul nebula. I can't play 7 hours a day so it will be a long time. I'm done with the trading part anyway and hopefully by the time I get back you can turn in exploration data in bulk. Turning in the data from my 2k ly trip already took way too long.
It shouldn't be too bad with my 36ly capable Asp. It seems the fastest way to plan is simply noting down the target coordinates and check the grid if you're going the right way. 3 jumps ahead is about the max the route planner will do for my ship. It worked a bit better in the low density area 1000ly up, so currently I'm headed mostly down to get under the galactic plane.
I just started my first real exploration trip after a practice run 1000ly straight up and back. I'm headed for Bernard's loop as it's the most prominent thing in the sky since I started playing. I'm aiming for the witch head nebula first, then after Bernard I'll visit some of the outlying nebulas and head for the heart and soul nebula. I can't play 7 hours a day so it will be a long time. I'm done with the trading part anyway and hopefully by the time I get back you can turn in exploration data in bulk. Turning in the data from my 2k ly trip already took way too long.
It shouldn't be too bad with my 36ly capable Asp. It seems the fastest way to plan is simply noting down the target coordinates and check the grid if you're going the right way. 3 jumps ahead is about the max the route planner will do for my ship. It worked a bit better in the low density area 1000ly up, so currently I'm headed mostly down to get under the galactic plane.
Not sure i can get there, stars are ~20LY apart here, I'm struggling to find a route. Might need to come back with a 30LY range ship
Repped. Awesome.
I love the sight seeing. No one forces exploring on anyoneand 2.5 million isn't terrible when you're having fun anyway. The game isn't all about cash!
And when you're 2000 LY from home there is nothing to spend it on anyway!
I love exploring. It's by far my favourite thing in the game. I know that, for a lot of people, it offers nothing but a few screenshot opportunities but it throws my imagination into overdrive.
it has it's boring moments; of course it does. I have never played a game where I don't get bored at some point. But you know, you go through a dozen systems with nothing in them but red dwarfs and a few dead, rocky or icy worlds, and then your next jump takes you to something you've never seen before. For me, that moment is worth everything.
noob question but how do you plan these huge journeys? I find my range is limited to 100ly or so, why i cant pick something like Saggitarius A* (25000ly) and just fly there.
any help appreciated just got my cobra with A frame shift drive and fancy taking a big trip to the galactic centre.
any help appreciated just got my cobra with A frame shift drive and fancy taking a big trip to the galactic centre.
Well, personally, I usually have an end point in mind. I usually set the route planner for stages, ending in an interesting looking system before setting it again. I've found you can get up to about 124 LY with the planner (I'm certain I've seen 138 on one occasion as well...it definitely varies) so it pays to have a set of highlights in mind. I also write down the system I am heading as the final destination of that leg. I find that helps.
The built-in route planner is like that. Just plot a route as far as you can (and the longer you wait on the galaxy map screen, the further it will plot), fly there, repeat.
Harbinger
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I tried to get to the NGC 7822 Nebula following a trip to the North America & Pelican Nebulae about 2 weeks ago. The bright line of O class stars draws you in like a moth to the flame from thousands of light years away. At the time I was in a Cobra with all A class gear, military armour, weapons and other gear increasing my mass to the point that the best I could manage was a jump range of 20-21 LY. As you've now noticed the stars are very thin when you approach that nebula and I was unable to complete my own journey there so if you have a lesser jump range I'm afraid you're not likely to find a route either.
I did mean to go back in my exploration Asp which had up to a 36 LY range but I kinda got distracted and instead headed out to the Eagle Nebula. I've since returned after scanning a large quantity of massive column of F class stars out there. My trip to and from the Eagle nebula netted me around 6.5m credits and took maybe 4-5 hours to sell. (They really need a sell all option
)I think I can get there now, my Cobra is similar to yours, It's a bit of a tortuous route, but I've gone down below it and it will now plot a horrendous zig zag route back up to it
I tried to go straight to it first but that's a dead end
I'm 149 LY away, but I think my route is about 500
I tried to go straight to it first but that's a dead end
I'm 149 LY away, but I think my route is about 500
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Harbinger
Volunteer Moderator
The distance of the planner improves with lower star density so it is helpful if you head to the top/bottom of the galactic plane where the spiderweb will generate much longer routes faster.
Ah! I thought something had changed in 1.04 but that makes total sense.
I love these threads about the far exploration trips and I can't wait to do this myself. I have a cobra right now that I was planning on equipping for exploration as soon as I had the money... but I'm debating if I should wait until I have cash for the asp instead because it has such a nice jump range... the cobra is very limited even with a B class FSD and I don't anticipate it being THAT much better when I get upgraded to an A class. Would you all suggest sticking with the cobra or waiting for an asp? I probably need to get up to about 9M or so credits (just a wild guess) to buy and equip the asp.. and I haven't even got 1M yet.
How do you all know all these nebulae and sites to see? There aren't many I know by name. I would love to see the Pillars of Creation... the Keplar planets that have recently been in the media... any of the cool nebulae... and some of the random undiscoved places that FD is sure to have hidden out there.
How do you all know all these nebulae and sites to see? There aren't many I know by name. I would love to see the Pillars of Creation... the Keplar planets that have recently been in the media... any of the cool nebulae... and some of the random undiscoved places that FD is sure to have hidden out there.
I just looked for them in the galaxy map, although I spotted NGC 7822 from 1800 LY away, and figured if I can see it from there it must be pretty good. I'll start a thread and post some pics when I've explored it
I'm looking forward to seeing how much paint is left on my cobra, wear and tear is a badge of honour for the long distance explorer
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Made it, 3 Black Holes in the first system
I'm gonna exit now and explore it tomorrow. It's been a bit of a marathon to get here, and a bit frustrating trying to cross the void
I'm looking forward to seeing how much paint is left on my cobra, wear and tear is a badge of honour for the long distance explorer
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Made it, 3 Black Holes in the first system
I'm gonna exit now and explore it tomorrow. It's been a bit of a marathon to get here, and a bit frustrating trying to cross the void
You don't necessarily need an asp, Cobra is fine until you try and cross the dark areas between Spiral Arms. Mine currently has a range of 21.32LY with an A class drive. I could have (should have!) got it longer by getting rid of weight, it still has weapons in the small hardpoints and military grade armor. Lakon T6 is not bad if you put best FSD in it. I had one that would go 30LY, I used to go to the Horsehead nebula then sold it and spent the money upgrading my Cobra. Hauler and Adder also have good range
I find it easier to write down the grid coordinates of my destination and check the grid to plan the stages. Typing in the name, zooming out, find the general direction of travel gets tedious. Much easier to have a general vector in mind and work in that direction. I'm currently heading for 360,-400,-700 aka the Witch head nebula to continue to Bernard's loop with an ultimate goal of the heart and soul nebula.
For exploring on the cheap I recommend using a hauler. You can get up to 30ly jumps with one. If you have the funds a weight optimized Asp Explorer will get you 36ly per jump for a bit over 14 million.
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