= Video Postcard =
Here's a little "postcard" from some of the video footage I took... Apologies for the odd stutter, my video card is getting a tad old 
I recommend turning up the volume and watch it in 1080p on a PC!
I recommend turning up the volume and watch it in 1080p on a PC!
Note: This video will not play on a mobile device, or if you are in Germany! Sorry! It's because of the backing track I used...
If you simply cannot watch the above version (on a PC) for some reason, here's an alternative with free music from youtube which therefore has no limitations on access - [click]
= Introduction =
In late December I was ready to take a break from the game. However, one thing that did appeal to me was the amazing “Distant Worlds” community voyage being planned to start mid-January. But on inspecting this venture, I simply feared I wouldn't managed to keep my interest levels high enough to keep going for months… Not wishing to undertake something I doubted I could complete (and give the organisers yet more work) I decided instead to undertake my own mission, one I felt I could do at my own pace, and one hopefully no one else had considered:-
The Distant Disc - The goal simply being to travel to the most distant (outer most) system(s) in the Milky Way, and try, with the new FSD injections, to reach ones even more remote from the core.
With some help from the community, I set my target as the region around ANGOSK DL-P D5-0, 45058LY from the galactic core (Sag A).
Using the Galactic Map, I could see some systems further out from it, which would certainly have been unreachable previously, but which could hopefully be reached with the aid of FSD Injections. However, this was difficult to judge of course because the Galactic Map does not allow you to measure the distance between two arbitrary systems, so everything was guess work.
Ultimately, I could see in fact there was a single all important jump to take me beyond ANGOSK DL-P D5-0, and it would be about 80LY, and I’d simply have to go there hoping it was less… not more…
= Preparation =
Before setting off, I gave myself the task of collecting materials for the mission, primarily for FSD injections. This took a number of weeks in total, as I wanted to ensure I had more than I needed, not less. By the end of the process I had filled my 300 slots with materials to permit the following:-
FSD Injection
+25% = 23 (one for an emergency)
+50% = 18
+100% = 19 (one for an emergency)
SRV REPAIR = 2
SRV REFUEL = 5
AFMU REFILL = 1 (I had four AMFU units, but you never know!)
Note: The FSD Injections would give me (with full fuel) the following potential ranges 47.825, 57.39 and 76.52 light years.
= The Journey =
On January the 11th, I set off in my Anaconda, so trimmed back for jump range, no boost was even available. I’d have preferred to only have taken one SRV, but a bug resulting in SRVs spontaneously exploding (yes it happened to me!) meant I had to incur the extra weight of taking two.
What follows is the account/log I kept during the trip. I thought it might interest some folks if only to impart some of the atmosphere and details of it…
11-Jan
Although I should be heading mainly due south, the Heart and Soul Nebulas are not too far off my route, so they provide a good initial destination.
NGC 7822 is looking interesting from a distance, but alas it’s too far off my path.
Finished (3.5kLY from Sol / -2380,218,-2600)
12-Jan
Enroute, an interesting formation starts to appear, a large formation/cluster of Type O stars.
Finished (7kLY from Sol / -5030,146,-4960)
13-Jan
With only 500LY left to the Heart Nebula it’s a simple task of travelling through both the Heart and Soul nebulas, enjoying the views, before turning south for the long trip to the southern reaches of the Milky Way, some 7000ly off.
Finished (8kLY from Sol / -4730,-2,-6400)
16-Jan
While heading south I encounter some patches of dwarf (unscoopable) stars, and some less populated areas, means plotting routes more carefully.
Finished (9.8kLY from Sol / -4100,20,-8940)
17-Jan
Still heading south, I again encountered some periodic patches of dwarfs, and less populated areas, again meaning plotting routes more carefully. The Galactic Map’s route planner is certainly not happy plotting longer routes at times under these conditions.
Finished (11.2kLY from Sol / -3480, -21, -10680)
18-Jan
Finally now approaching the lower reaches of the Milky Way, so I change my route from South to South-East towards the Outer Arm.
Finished (13kLY from Sol / 38.7kLY from Sag A / -2700, 11, -12660)
19-Jan
Now seemingly being in the Outer Arm, I change my path basically east ready for my 24kLY trip along it.
Finished (13.1kLY from Sol / 39kLY from Sag A / 1960, 20, -13000)
20-Jan
Travelling due east, with small interruptions from patches of non-scoopables. I still take the time to explore the odd interesting system though.
Finished (14.7kLY from Sol | 39.5kLY from Sag A | 6830, -2, -12980)
21-Jan
Heading due east. Mainly trouble free apart from the odd patch of non-scoopables.
Finished (16kLY from Sol / 39.9kLY from Sag A / 9440, 0, -12860)
22-Jan
Heading due east for a change. Encountered a nice Earth-Like at least to break up the travel (at Splierg UJ-I d9-2 4).
Finished (17.9kLY from Sol / 40.9kLY from Sag A / 12280, -21, -13080)
23-Jan
The journey is interrupted by a large empty area so needed to detour south to navigate around it.
Of interest, the entire disc of galaxy is now remote enough to basically fit into my field of view.
Finished (21.4kLY from Sol / 43.4kLY from Sag A / 15780, -23, -14490)
24-Jan
Another area of empty space today meant another detour of several hundred light years, but nothing too bad. The journey other wise continues on east.
Finished (21.7kLY from Sol / 43.2kLY from Sag A / 16610, -1, -14020)
25-Jan
While heading east, the stars are thinning out as it appears I’m reaching the southern most edge of the Outer Arm. My path now changes accordingly to head slowly back towards the core while traveling east, to keep within the arm.
As I finish today’s travel, with only about 3000LY left to go to my destination, I go into the Galaxy Map, and allow myself to check my path to it, seeing that hopefully most of the journey there should prove straight forwards.
However, in doing this, I also do a rough check of the distance from ANGOSK DL-P D5-0 to the next star out. Something I’ve not done since being in the “bubble”.
Being more in line with them both, I’m shocked to see how large the jump is. It’s quite possible the jump may prove too long for me to make, even with a 100% FSD injection!
Although there’s other stars around this area, which FSD injections may allow me to launch out from to distances further away from the galactic core than ANGOSK DL-P D5-0, it dawns on me, there’s the real risk than in a few days I will find I cannot get to a more remote system after all, and this entire journey would have been for nothing…
Finished (23.7kLY from Sol / 44kLY from Sag A / -19370, -28, -13590)
26-Jan
The number of stars are beginning to thin out to such an extent I’m being force back north towards the core even more as I continue to travel east.
I finish today’s journey with just 1kLY to go. How difficult will the final leg prove to be? Will the stars thin out so much I’ll be forced to travel back and forth to find a viable path, or even need to use a few 25% FSD Injections?
Finished (24.9kLY from Sol / 44.4kLY from Sag A / 21170, -24, -13170)
27-Jan
As I continue to get closer and closer to ANGOSK DL-P D5-0, I can see in the Galaxy Map the final few hundred light years might prove tricky, so I pick a logical spot close to my goal, and head off.
As if a sign of good fortune, I soon find an Earth-Like world (Ooscs Aewsy XD-K d8-0), and yet another in the very next system too (Eol Hypue TZ-M D8-6), 44538.96LY from Sag A. I must check if that’s a record!
When I finish my route, I take a careful look at the Galaxy Map and can see a route through to ANGOSK DL-P D5-0… Plot it, and I finally arrive!
I scan and am rewarded with map of the system and a reminder it was discovered by CMDR ALLITNIL.
More importantly, at long last, I can finally see the actual distance of the next jump to ANGOSK EL-P D5-0, the system I’ve pinned all my hopes on for weeks. With relief I see it’s as I estimated, less than 80LY away, at around 73.8. However, I also note the next jump on may actually be nearing 80LY, so I jump away from ANGOSK DL-P D5-0 and back again so as to arrive with little more than a 1/3rd of a tank of fuel. Ie: From ANGOSK EL-P D5-0 I may be required to do a low fuel jump to ensure maximum jump range.
I double check the star type of ANGOSK EL-P D5-0, and triple check… Yes! It’s still a type F star... I check my fuel again - I’m not entirely happy to jump with well under half a tank of fuel with my first 100% FSD injection, but I plot my route, apply a 100% FSD Injection and launch off into the unknown…
At this point I also started drawing up a simple map to keep my sanity and ensure I kept track of my route back out of the area, and to ensure I did not use too many FSD Injections such that I could not leave it. It may be useful to right-click and open this in a new window if only to look at it along side my continued account…
ANGOSK EL-P D5-0 (45094LY Sag A)
I’m greeted with the sight of a scoopable star (one of four), and more importantly, after an Advanced Discovery Scan, the fact that the system has not been discovered. My journey appears to hopefully have not been in vain.
I’m 45094.32LY from the core! In all probability, no one has ever been this far out!
Before exploring the system in full, I go into the Galaxy Map to see where I can reach. As I suspected ANGOSK FL-8 DS-1 is over 78LY away, and will require me to make the jump low on fuel even with the aid of a 100% FSD injection. I’m nervous about the idea of jumping into the unknown, very low on fuel, especially as I’m uncertain if the Fuel Rats frequent this neighbourhood!
But with relief I see a far shorter option is actually available, EOLLS HYPAI WA-U D4-0 at 69LY away, and is in a direction more away from the core too.
So I set about exploring ANGOSK EL-P D5-0, especially all the planets around the forth star, finding an interesting gas giant with ammonia-based life.
Before leaving, I take a moment to repair my ship. Most modules are low 90% health, and my hull is at 95%.
I repair what I can… Fill half up with fuel just in case I need to make low fuel jumps ahead, double check the star type of EOLLS HYPA WA-U D4-0 (a type F), and off I go again…
EOLLS HYPA WA-U D4-0 (45159LY Sag A)
I’m greeted by another wonderful scoopable star, but alas that’s all. A single star. But at least I’m comforted that it’s not been discovered.
45159.16LY from the core! I’ve just broken my own record!
I look at the Galaxy Map and see I have four paths open to me. Most interestingly, I see one path is an alternate, and thankfully shorter route leading to ANGOSK FL-P DS-1 (63.4LY), and an even a short route via another nearby star to it, ANGOSK FL-P DS-0 (56.26LY). These give me an alternative to jumping there on fumes (from ANGOSK EL-P D5-0)! That’s far more appealing!
As those routes will take me back closer to the core, instead of further out, I make a note of them with the plan of possibly utilising them on my return leg.
The other route that takes me further away from the core is to ANGOSK BF-R D4-0, 53.66LY away.
I check my fuel, as always, double check the destination star type (G), and make use of my first 50% FSD Injection.
ANGOSK BF-R D4-0 (45207LY Sag A)
Proving to be little more than a trinary system, I quickly scan the system and then look at the Galaxy Map to see what options are open to me.
Two alternatives present themselves with jumps to ANGOSK AF-R D4-1 (38.7LY) and ANGOSK XY-S D3-0 (43.88LY). I can see the latter will be the route most likely to get me the furthest from the core, so after double checking its star type (F), I apply my first use of a 25% FSD injection and hyperspace.
ANGOSK XY-S D3-0 (45233LY Sag A)
Unfortunately the system proves to just be a rather uninteresting binary system. And after looking at the Galaxy Map, it appears to be the furthest I can reach. But this does mean the system suddenly becomes a lot more interesting!
This is potentially not only the furthest anyone has ever been away from the Galactic Core, it may just prove to be the furthest anyone may ever get from the Core (assuming ships with significantly longer jump ranges do not become available – I won’t put money on that though ).
).
Ahead, there is little more than inky blackness (is that realistic?). Behind, the entire galaxy can fit within my FOV…
Weeks of preparing… Weeks of traveling… Mission accomplished! 45232.52LY from Sag A…
Not wishing to rush things, or worse still make a mistake, I call it a day.
Tomorrow I’ll be back tracking and heading off down the other paths I noted. I don’t believe any of them will get me beyond this distance from the core… but I may have overlooked something. We’ll see…
28-Jan
I admire the view again from possibly the most distant location from the Core yet visited, and then using another of my 25% FSD Injections return back to ANGOSK BF-R D4-0, and then head straight off to ANGOSK AF-R D4-1 (38.72LY).
ANGOSK AF-R D4-1 (45193LY Sag A)
Alas, proving to be little more than a binary star system, I look at the Galaxy Map to see what is now accessible.
Two new systems are available. ANGOSK AF-R D4-0, heading back towards the core and offering possible an alternative route back to EOLLS HYPAI WA-U D4-0, and more interestingly ANGOSK YJ-R D4-0, which looks like it may offer a subsequent jump to another system potentially even further than yesterday’s 42232.52LY.
I use a 100% FSD injection and set off on the 64.51LY jump to ANGOSK YJ-R D4-0.
ANGOSK YJ-R D4-0 (45181LY Sag A)
At last! Planets again! The system proves to be a trinary star system with some nice planets around the third star. Before exploring I quickly check my Galaxy Map, and see my guess was right. One of the three systems open to me is a jump further out from the core onto ANGOSK UD-T, 61.36LY away. Could that system prove to be the furthest from the core yet? Time will tell, but I need to explore this system first of all.
I take the time to land on some of the more interesting looking planets, before finally using another 100% FSD boost to jump to ANGOSK UD-T D3-0.
ANGOSK UD-T D3-0 (45227LY Sag A)
As soon as I arrive I look at my distance from the core! Damn! 6LY short of yesterday’s record, and the system is a dead end with no where further to jump onto.
That’s a shame! But on the upside there’s planets, and some look interesting! I head off to explore.
Not one, but two Water Worlds, both with has carbon based life, one of which is also terraformable! A possible future quiet holiday retreat maybe?
And there’s a gas giant with ammonia based life? The furthest life yet discovered from the core?
I finish the day at a nice ringed ice world, coming out of super cruise to fly by its asteroids… at a very very very safe distance!
29-Jan
Taking a last look around the system, and double checking my fuel level, with no where left to go I jump back to ANGOSK YJ-R D4-0.
There are two other systems I could venture to, ANGOSK WO-R D4-0 and ANGOSK DQ-P D5-0, but these are both back towards the core, and seen to offer no paths to systems further out. As they will use up potentially valuable 100% FSD Injections, I instead decide to head back to ANGOSK AF-R D4-1.
I then decide to take an alternative route back to EOLLS HYPAI WA-U D4-0 via ANGOSK AF-R D4-0.
ANGOSK AF-R D4-0 (45170LY Sag A)
Unfortunately the system proves to be little more than the 5 stars I could see listed on the Galaxy Map. But I do now see a nice short jump to ANGOSK ZE-R D4-1 I hadn’t noticed before.
I scan the 5 stars and jump to ANGOSK ZE-R D4-1 (27.48LY).
ANGOSK ZE-R D4-1 (45156LY Sag A)
I’m rewards by a nice system with 8 planets and 2 moons. One of the planets is a Water World with carbon based life and a terra forming candidate.
There is a jump available to ANGOSK YE-R D4-0 (71.72LY), but I don’t deem it worthwhile using a 100% FSD.
So back to ANGOSK AF-R D4-0, and then back to EOLLS HYPAI WA-U D4-0.
From here, I can not go to ANGOSK FL-P D5-0 (56.26LY) which I noted a few days ago on the way through.
ANGOSK FL-P D5-0 (45139LY Sag A)
I’m rewarded with 8 planets and a moon. I scan the system, and call it a day.
30-Jan
I start the day with the short jump to ANGOSK FL-P DS-1 (10.71LY), possibly the last new system I’ll visit in this area.
ANGOSK FL-P D5-1 (45129LY Sag A)
At least the system has planets, 5 of them, 4 of which are high metal content.
There’s also a couple of long jumps available back towards the core, but I’m not interested in these.
So back to ANGOSK FL-P D5-0, as we’re heading out of this area now, and potentially home!
Back to EOLLS HYPAI WA-U D4-0 and back to ANGOSK EL-S DS-0.
Rather than leaving the way I entered, through ANGOSK DL-P D5-0, I instead decide to exit via ANGOSK HR-N D6-0 (75.38LY).
ANGOSK HR-N D6-0 (45021LY Sag A)
I’m greeted by the fact the system was discovered by CMDR ALLITNIL, just like ANGOSK DL-P D5-0
I spend a few hours attempting to find alternative paths to systems more remote along the arm in each direction (east and west), but seeing nothing of interest, I finally turn west and begin the long journey home, finishing 3000LY from ANGOSK DL-P D5-0, 23.1kLY from Sol.
31-Jan -> 6-Feb
Paranoid about the premise that at this moment there is actually another CMDR who has discovered the same systems as me, and is at this very moment also travelling back to the bubble, I manage to travel all the way back in about a week. Even with a PC deciding to randomly reboot more and more frequently not helping the matter! Grrr!
I arrive at Makarov Hub (HIP 27155) on Saturday the 6th of February, and after performing an ultra careful docking manoeuvre, spend half an hour selling my data…
= Epilogue =
Distance traveled: Approx 75kLY.
Potential records/points of interest
- Most distant system discovered (from Galactic Core): ANGOSK XY-S D3-0 (45232.52LY)
- Most distant water world discovered (from Galactic Core): ANGOSK UD-T D3-0 6 & 7 (45226.83LY)
- Most distant terraformable world discovered (from Galactic Core): ANGOSK UD-T D3-0 7 (45226.83LY)
- Most distant life discovered (from Galactic Core): ANGOSK UD-T D3-0 7 & 8 (45226.83LY)
- Most distance landing/SRV trip (from Galactic Core): ANGOSK UD-T D3-0 (45226.83LY)
- ...and obviously the most remote stars/planets of various types...
EDIT: A couple of stand alone videos from the trip featuring asteroid belts...
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