Scanning and first discovered.

I have just watched a very interesting Youtube video on exploration and one of the topics was scanning. It stated that an advanced discovery scanner was required to qualify any scans with a 'first discovered' tag and your CMDR name added to the discovery. After returning from a Sag A trip just after Christmas and handing in cartographic data I had a few first discovered bodies. However I was only equipped with an intermediate discovery scanner as it was all I could afford at that time. So can first discovered be done with an intermediate scanner or was I dreaming things.
 
First discovery can be done with the basic scanner, even the DSS is not required for that.

Intermediate and advanced just have longer ranges for the initial honk, and the DSS gets you a better payout.
 
To clarify, ADS just tells you what's in a system, it does not give you tags, only a surface scan does that, whether it's a level 2 or 3 scan (with / without the detailed surface scanner installed). One additional criteria for getting tags is to be the first to actually sell the data, you don't get tags at the moment of scanning.
 
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Basic Discovery Scanner: finds bodies within 500 ls
Intermediate Discovery Scanner: finds bodies within IIRC 2,000 ls
Advanced Discovery Scanner: finds all bodies inside a system

All of them do what is called a level 1 scan, which won't be sufficient to get a body tagged for 'first discovered'

For a level 2 scan, you have to target the body and get close enough so that the ship's scanner will start up and get more detailed information on that body.

For a level 3 scan, do the same as for a level 2 scan, but you need a Detailed Surface Scanner fitted.

Both level 2 and level 3 scans will yield the data you need to get the 'first discovered' bonus. In order to actually get the bonus (and your name on the body), you'll have to be the first to sell the level 2/level 3 scan data. Which is why a lot of explorers, when posting pictures of their more unusual discoveries, cut or otherwise delete the system's name/location.
 
It's also worth noting that a level 2 scan (without a DSS) will have some planetary data missing if you look at the planet on the system map. In terms of gameplay, that only translates to a decreased payout.
 
It's also worth noting that a level 2 scan (without a DSS) will have some planetary data missing if you look at the planet on the system map. In terms of gameplay, that only translates to a decreased payout.

Indeed, without the DSS it won't tell you the gravity amongst other things in the system map. So if you are thinking of landing, you'll only find out the gravity when you enter orbital cruise.
 
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