Fastest way to map a system?

[Stabby_Dave]

Say I'm in a system with 3 stars, each one having multiple planets and moons, and I want to map them all. At the moment, I pick the nearest from the nav panel, map it, then pick the next nearest non-mapped body and map that. Rinse, repeat until they're all done. I don't tend to look at the orrery view.

Does anyone know a more efficient way to map an entire system?

Cheers.

 

[goemon]

orrery would make it easier to guesstimate the shortest way.

for multiple star systems it is often more efficient to start at the outer planet.

a practical approach is also, to just pick always the next from the navpanel, assuming you want to map a whole system.

 

[Vetinari]

NavPanel aint the worst and does keep it fairly economic between bodies if not the whole route.

Yeah, Orrery is your best friend here.

1. Usually start at A1 or nearest A1 moon and generally work out zig-zagging if possible.
2. While flying check Orrerry, looking for shortest route between all A1 moons or A1 - Ax.
3. Look out for crossing back past the star - 1,2,4 may be on 'this side' of the star and the others on the far side. It becomes a judgement call whether quicker to fly to the further away but on this side v flying past the star to the next nearest, knowing you have to come back for this one.
4. Try and route around the star rather than past it eg 1,2,6,5,4,3, may be the order keeping distance from the stars gravity if 3 is on the other side of the star.
5. If A, B, C etc can check where they are compared to your current star. It may be that an odd planet is nearer or 'over that way' so leave that til last.
6. When flying to next Star, B, C, AB etc - pick the closest in NavPanel and repeat.

Try and avoid doubling back but sometimes quicker to double back even across the star. Zig Zag often works better.
If less than 100LS away I dont even check, unless moons.
Can spot the odd one, especially on B & C stars, where 9 & 8 are closer but can see 7 is out on its own and better to divert slightly to that one first with faster SC then do 9 & 8. (in my mind, not sure this actually holds up in science and gravity and time or they both the same)

Orrery looks confusing at first, and some of the planes are 5 dimensional with XB controller but it is the single best feature for planet mapping and routing. Im often muttering while flying 'One, Two, Six, Four, Five, Three, Seven' or similar.

 

[WhoCares]

For the bodies around the main star I usually go by the nav panel.
For bodies around distant secondary stars I use the transit time to check the orrey to come up with a plan. And that plan I usually have forgotten by the time I finally arrive

There is also a case to be made to remember the order in which you scanned the bodies with the FSS, as that usually relates to what Vetinari said, to focus on the bodies on one side instead of criss-crossing past the star.

 

[Stabby_Dave]

Excellent advice. Cheers, all. o7

 

[space voyager]

Agree with others. Orrery is your best way for planning the mapping tour.

 

[CMDR Deano The Imperial]

Say I'm in a system with 3 stars, each one having multiple planets and moons, and I want to map them all. At the moment, I pick the nearest from the nav panel, map it, then pick the next nearest non-mapped body and map that. Rinse, repeat until they're all done. I don't tend to look at the orrery view.

Does anyone know a more efficient way to map an entire system?

Cheers.

I think the quickest way would be to map with a wing mate. You both get the Mapped tag even if you map one half of the bodies in a system and them the other half of the bodies. You just have to be in the same system at the same time.

 

[Vetinari]

How does it work for handing it in?

If the wing splits before handing in? Do both get 100% or what? Who gets 1st Discovered?
If half the wing dies before handing in? Same Qs?
Do all wing have to be in system when its handed in? Say Im still exploring and wing mate jumps to station and hands it in? Is my data now safe, is it lost? Do I get 1st disco for my half?

 

[CMDR Deano The Imperial]

How does it work for handing it in?

If the wing splits before handing in? Do both get 100% or what? Who gets 1st Discovered?
If half the wing dies before handing in? Same Qs?
Do all wing have to be in system when its handed in? Say Im still exploring and wing mate jumps to station and hands it in? Is my data now safe, is it lost? Do I get 1st disco for my half?

Both get 100%.
Both get first mapped tag but whoever did the mapping is at the top of the list in the tag.
You only have to be in same system for mapping. You don't have to be in a wing to hand in data just the mapping.
If you die then you lose your own data and tag. If your wing mate dies then they lose their data and tag, not yours.
You can hand in data alone to get the tag. Same with wing mates.
Your own personal tags are added when you hand in data. Same with wing mates.
If your wing mate jumps to a station and hands in data then they get their tag. You'll get your tag when you hand in data.

But with the first discovered bonus I'm not so sure how that works.

Hope this helps.