I've made only one other journey out into the black, and here I am again on my way out.

CMDR_Vyse · Mar 19, 2016

Still taking baby steps, but I was thinking of going exploring again, and going a little farther than last time. I don't know that I'm ready for a trip to the core yet. I have the spare cash to fit an ASP for deep space, but I haven't done so yet. My last exploration journey was out to EZ Orionis, where I stopped and turned back. That was back in a Cobra MK III. I made a short trip out to Maia to see the black hole there, but that's really it. I saw it, thought it was neat, and turned back.

I think it's time to go a bit farther. I'm going to go see VY Canis Majoris. But first, along the way, I noticed a small planetary nebula that I want to explore. Then, I will go and do a proper sweep of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex; I mean all the nebulas out that way. After that, I go to the big star to see it. After that? I might return. Or I might go on. We'll just have to see.

I'm currently in a DBX. They're cheap to retrofit for exploring, and can get me there no problem. If I come back, I'll get myself in a proper exploring ASP and probably go out on my first truly big exploration journey. I haven't yet decided where.

iain666 · Mar 19, 2016

If you don't want to go too far but do want to see pretty things then this picture might be of help.

SpaceMonkeyz · Mar 19, 2016

CMDR_Vyse said:
Still taking baby steps, but I was thinking of going exploring again, and going a little farther than last time. I don't know that I'm ready for a trip to the core yet. I have the spare cash to fit an ASP for deep space, but I haven't done so yet. My last exploration journey was out to EZ Orionis, where I stopped and turned back. That was back in a Cobra MK III. I made a short trip out to Maia to see the black hole there, but that's really it. I saw it, thought it was neat, and turned back.

I think it's time to go a bit farther. I'm going to go see VY Canis Majoris. But first, along the way, I noticed a small planetary nebula that I want to explore. Then, I will go and do a proper sweep of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex; I mean all the nebulas out that way. After that, I go to the big star to see it. After that? I might return. Or I might go on. We'll just have to see.

I'm currently in a DBX. They're cheap to retrofit for exploring, and can get me there no problem. If I come back, I'll get myself in a proper exploring ASP and probably go out on my first truly big exploration journey. I haven't yet decided where.

I think that is an excellent Idea. I did a similar thing. First trip out of the bubble was to Betelgeuse(500ish ly). Second was to Witch Head Nebula then Rigel and then to Robin's Egg nebula(about 1400 ly one way). Third Trip was to Eta Carinae(7700ly away) Now on my fourth trip a huge jump, catching up to Distant Worlds Expedition(currently I am about 41,000 ly away from the bubble)

I hope you enjoy your exploration trip(s) and don't forget to take pictures of the really cool things you like

Greytest · Mar 19, 2016

My first trip was to NGC 7822 way back in 3300, these super bright stars just atracted me like a mosquito =P
After a long break i now returned to E

Horizons just to realize i just missed DWE, the greatest community based event i ever witnessed, so i rather shortnoticed decided to head out after them.
I became a proud Rock Rat and am currently sitting at WP 21 more than 50.000Ly away from sol, super happy to having joined DWE. =D

Cheers,
CMDR Greytest

Some1else · Mar 19, 2016

Explorer
1. a person or thing that explores.

2. a person who investigates unknown regions:

I think if you'd like to go see pretty places that have been mapped by numerous other commanders, then by all means go to these before mentioned places. However, I would ask if that is really your idea of exploring?

This is something I struggled with when I stared playing. I knew, before I bought the game, I wanted to explore. Once I started playing, my entire goal was to get a ship to go out into the black. I read the forums about Sag A, and all the cool nebula to see. Then one day I was looking a the Sag A "club" list, and was floored by the number of commanders on the list. I realized at that moment that I could not go to places that seemed like every other "explorer" goes to. I prefer to find my own path, and discover new pretty places. This is not trying to make other explores journeys less valued or relevant. This is my personal perspective on exploration. I hope it gives you some ideas.

LLaP

S1E

who? · Mar 19, 2016

Maia in the Pleiades nebula is a beautiful system, and it now has a station so it's a low-risk journey.

If you're a bit unsure about travelling far, can I suggest you do a loop around the bubble instead of an 'away and back' trip. That way, if you run into issues or want to re-outfit, you're never very far from a station. Want a longer trip? Just do a longer radius loop.

CMDR_Vyse · Mar 19, 2016

Well, I'm on my way back.

How do you explorers fight homesickness? I started getting homesick around the time I got to Orion.

I found a few oddities. Unfortunately for some reason taking screenies isn't working. :/ I'd have shared a couple of them with you. One of them being a water world with no atmosphere. The hell?

[VR] optimal_909 · Mar 19, 2016

CMDR_Vyse said:
Well, I'm on my way back.

How do you explorers fight homesickness? I started getting homesick around the time I got to Orion.

I found a few oddities. Unfortunately for some reason taking screenies isn't working. :/ I'd have shared a couple of them with you. One of them being a water world with no atmosphere. The hell?

What homesickness? And I'm at Beagle Point.

Sure, it is a good and exciting to close in the bubble and dock after weeks/months of being out in the black, cash in and upgrade/buy a new ship... but I'll plot my next route even before getting back. I will stay around only to wait for the 'Engineers'.

Some1else · Mar 19, 2016

CMDR_Vyse said:
Well, I'm on my way back.

How do you explorers fight homesickness? I started getting homesick around the time I got to Orion.

I found a few oddities. Unfortunately for some reason taking screenies isn't working. :/ I'd have shared a couple of them with you. One of them being a water world with no atmosphere. The hell?

Find a good location,

And climb a mountain! You might like what you find!

I do it once a day.

LLaP

S1E

Alex Brentnall · Mar 19, 2016

Some of my personal favourites near the bubble:

Vy Canis Majoris
Mintaka
Betelgeuse
Messier 78 Nebula
Spirograph nebula
Ez Orionis
Rigel
Crab Nebula
Bubble nebula

Imo all worth a visit and can all be seen in a weekend if you don't do much else

Or a week or two of casual play.

Scal · Mar 19, 2016

optimal_909 said:
What homesickness? And I'm at Beagle Point.
Sure, it is a good and exciting to close in the bubble and dock after weeks/months of being out in the black, cash in and upgrade/buy a new ship... but I'll plot my next route even before getting back. I will stay around only to wait for the 'Engineers'.

I get homesick. For me, it is part of being an explorer - that feeling that maybe I should just turn round now and go back, thinking about some new ship configuration I would like to try or some exciting event back in the bubble I would love to attend. I am right now sitting at BP thinking.. yeh I got through it. At 45kly I almost self destructed, but I pushed through it, took my time, challenged myself to some tough landings (thinking, maybe I will make a mistake and be sent back to the bubble - I didn't), and now I am here at BP thinking 'I made it' and feeling pretty proud of myself. The view is pretty good from here!

So yes - homesickness is a very real challenge of a long journey. It is not bad or weird to feel homesick, accept that it may happen and be prepared to push through it.

iain666 · Mar 19, 2016

CMDR_Vyse said:
How do you explorers fight homesickness? I started getting homesick around the time I got to Orion.

I don't get homesick. When I was in the bubble at the beginning I did some combat and some trading - mostly to generate credits to buy exploration focussed upgrades. Once I got my Cobra fitted as the explorer I wanted I left...

There's nothing in the bubble I miss so I can't get homesick for it.

[video=youtube;lgGKSjiw0HQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgGKSjiw0HQ[/video]

Allitnil · Mar 19, 2016

I don't get homesick at Beagle Point - it's too close to my home system!

Roqinn · Mar 20, 2016

My first trip out I went to NGC 7822 and scanned just about everything I came across. Then I continued on to the Heart and Soul nebula scanned everything. Then I went back to the bubble where I died. That's when I decided to head to Beagle Point! Now I'm on my way back to the bubble.
My point is that you don't need much experience to head out on a long trip. You just need to will and the credits to outfit a ship!

Allitnill, what is your home system??

Ginrikuzuma · Mar 20, 2016

Roqinn said:
My first trip out I went to NGC 7822 and scanned just about everything I came across. Then I continued on to the Heart and Soul nebula scanned everything. Then I went back to the bubble where I died. That's when I decided to head to Beagle Point! Now I'm on my way back to the bubble.
My point is that you don't need much experience to head out on a long trip. You just need to will and the credits to outfit a ship!

Allitnill, what is your home system??

pretty much summed it up.

On my first journey out in the black. I'm in an exploration anaconda wanted to take it easy not worrying about fuel so aside from an A7 fuel scoop I also got a carrying capacity of about 160T of fuel. So I can barrel through a badlands without much of a worry about lack of fuel.

Went "under" the galaxy on my way to Sag A* got there yesterday morning and I'm almost at a small nebula with a blackhole as its only system in another 8 or so jumps.

Gonna try to make it to Beagle Point before heading back to conclude my first trip.