My first deep space exploration, route question.

[Numenor1379]

First time heading out into the black. I decided my initial destination would be Eta Carina and that was quite a sight. I am currently pushing past it on a roughly NE heading and about to enter Centarus Reach.

From here I am debating a couple of routes and would like some seasoned explorers input.

My first thought was to head towards Beagle Point following the Saggitarius-Carina arm, it seems this is a relatively unexplored area and I have seen some fairly interesting nebula/neutron star combos which could be quite cool. It also would let me avoid The Abyss on the way to Beagle.

Secondly I could go north and then loop into Sag A* and from there head to Beagle, but that would put me into far more traveled areas.

My last idea was to follow the Scutum-Centaurus Arm on a more direct line to Beagle, perhaps scouting the rift between it and the Carina Arm.

Thoughts/Opinions?

My max jump is a bit above 52ly on fumes.

 

[iain666]

At 52ly the Abyss won't really be a problem to navigate, and the core is so dense with stars that even though it's well travelled you'll still rarely see tags unless you're within a handful of systems of an obvious point of interest.

Up the Scutum Cenaturus arm (and gap between it an Sag-Car) is probably less travelled than Sag-Car or through the core to get to Beagle Point, so why not?