scanning moons...to do or not to do?

[professorbubba]

apologies in advance if this question was asked before, or discussed ad nauseum. Tried to use search function but couldn't find much.

So as the title states, should moons be scanned or not? Sometimes gas giants have over 5 moons, and you gotta be close enough to scan them which takes considerable amount of time.

 

[varonica]

apologies in advance if this question was asked before, or discussed ad nauseum. Tried to use search function but couldn't find much.

So as the title states, should moons be scanned or not? Sometimes gas giants have over 5 moons, and you gotta be close enough to scan them which takes considerable amount of time.

A) Close orbiting moons of gas giants are where you are most likely to find vulcanism and interesting features

B) You're doing it wrong. Target the closest moon of the gas giant and fly up to scanning range, you will be in range for many of the moons. If you start with the furthest out you will need to move closer each time to scan every moon. That way you can get the primary and at least a good half dozen with no need to move at all, you can then ignore the rest or move the small distance required to scan them, it's usually not much if you start inward working out. We need a proper map is what we need, the view we get at the moment simply doesn't convey enough information.

C) Even so I don't scan every moon, I scan the ones I think will be interesting, vulcanism, unusual colouring, possible terraformable.

D) There is no "right way" to do these things, there's your way and my way and other peoples way, feel free to ignore everything I have posted

The important thing is, have fun out there, if you don't find it fun, don't do it!

 

[iain666]

There is no should or should not.

If you're thinking about landing then you might as well since you're getting close enough anyway. Otherwise it's entirely up to you.

 

[Qohen Leth]

A) Close orbiting moons of gas giants are where you are most likely to find vulcanism

That's how they found Mr. Spock.

 

[SMcA]

apologies in advance if this question was asked before, or discussed ad nauseum. Tried to use search function but couldn't find much.

So as the title states, should moons be scanned or not? Sometimes gas giants have over 5 moons, and you gotta be close enough to scan them which takes considerable amount of time.

Scan as many as you can until you get fed up doing it. Or try the mini game I play; trying to scan as many as possible, without doubling back, in one curve. I do that for planets as well.
Do what you enjoy. There is no "have to's".

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

apologies in advance if this question was asked before, or discussed ad nauseum. Tried to use search function but couldn't find much.

So as the title states, should moons be scanned or not? Sometimes gas giants have over 5 moons, and you gotta be close enough to scan them which takes considerable amount of time.

I only scan moons when I'm hunting for materials beyond the edge otherwise I tend to ignore then, unless it's a system I want to fully tag

 

[Jackie Silver]

I scanned a moon yesterday. After I'd scanned the star I flew 60000 ls to tag the furthest tiniest little iceball orbiting a gas giant. Left the other 90 bodies in the system alone.

 

[FrogsFriend]

I sometimes not only scan those little moons, or lonely icy planets, but fly up close enough to have a look at the surface whether they're landable or not. I just get the feeling that I might be the only player in the lifespan of this game to actually take a look at that particular object.

 

[SMcA]

I scanned a moon yesterday. After I'd scanned the star I flew 60000 ls to tag the furthest tiniest little iceball orbiting a gas giant. Left the other 90 bodies in the system alone.

A meerkat after my own heart.

 

[Saool]

I would say it's entirely situational. I keep a record of every system I have fully scanned and got a first explored on. But I only do that if it is easily done, or there is something special about, or in the system, such as Earth likes, Ammonia worlds, Neutrons, Black Holes, or multiple water worlds for example.

So most of the time, no. But if I want to bag the whole system, yes.

 

[Edelgard von Rhein]

Moons in close orbits can have some very interesting terrain, especially the less common rocky ice worlds. Those can have some very deep canyons and mountains so tall that they almost reach into the orbital cruise zone (in the past some actually did but this is supposed to have been prevented from happening in a recent update). Also, the timing of your visit can be important - look out for landable moons that are eclipsed by their host planet: these can have, temporarily, mist and fog form over craters and canyons, providing both beautiful and eerie scenery.
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In practical terms, icy moons are also the best places to look for some elements useful for either FSD boosting or engineering, especially Arsenic. It can be helpful to find a system containing all the materials needed for FSD boosting and these are known as 'green' systems. Systems containing all elements are quite rare and are known as 'gold' systems.
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Enjoy your explorations and fly safe!