What is the best way navigate from start A to star B?

[Esdigal]

Hi, I'm currenctly something like 150 light years from sol. I'd like to get to Sol as quickly as possible, how can I do this?

Currently, I just look at the galaxy map, and if it's roughly in the direction of sol, I jump to it but this is very tedious and time consuming, I think I'm making too many useless jumps this way... I don't think this is the way to do it but I can't find any explanations of how to do it better.

It makes sense to me that you should be able to map a path like this from star A to star B:
Star 1: A
Star 2: B
Max jump distance: 13ly
fuel method: scooping
Min fuel before scoop: 1 bar (I want to scoop fuel, not visit a station every time.)

Since the distances between stars are known, and it's also known whether you can scoop from a star or not, it should not be too difficult to find this path with A* algorithm, altough it might get a bit expensive if the stars are too far apart.

But otherwise, what methods do you use to find the fastest path between two Stars that are far apart?

 

[Bruce Warren]

Go to galaxy map, click on the destination system and see if a yellow lined route appears, If it doesn't check the range of your FSD. If it's too wimpy reduce ship's weight. we all know you can dump the guns and even the shields if necessary but even the discovery scanner weighs a couple of tons, If you can afford it and like the A Team you can find them get a better grade of FSD,

I'm not sure if there's a limit on the auto-routing thing or not but I've had it plot routes of a dozen or so jumps before now. If it's too far for the system to calculate a route all the way, try selecting a destination a bit closer and see if it'll do it. There are two option on the route planner. the default is to use more jumps and conserve fuel, but if you set it the other way it'll use fewer jumps but longer ones limited by your ship's current range.

Make a note of the systems you have to pass through because the route will disappear when you select your first destination.

 

[buellpilot]

I'm not sure if there's a limit on the auto-routing thing.

There is a limit it certainly didn't plot yellow routes for me on my 120ly journey to Sol.

The easiest way i found to do this is go to the galaxy map and in this scenario set Sol as your destiantion, the map will scroll in a straight line to Sol.
Without changing anything scroll back to your start point and you will see the yellow lines that plot a potential route towards your destinantion.
Rhyme of the first 3 or 4 and comit them to memory and then make those 4 jumps one after another, then repeat the process.

Also be sure to check 'fastest route' in the naviagtion options.

I know lots of people would like to see a multi-hop route planner (and it would be handy) but I do also like being forced to memorise the routes, it is a bit like the market prices argument where people want a computer to do all the work. But for us older Elite players memorizing 2 or 3 things for a few minutes is like brain training for our failing memory, it is good for you. Elite exercises your brain

 

[Arkku]

I just work my way in the general direction until I'm close enough for the route to show. Maybe not the fastest way to get there, but less time spent in galaxy map.

 

[ElleShaped]

This is my route-planning method, which I've used on something like 300ly of total travel and it has been getting better as I go:

1. Choose a (final) destination; if it is very far( like 100ly or more) from your starting point, 'set destination' to it

2. Using the 'navigation' pane, recenter the map on where you are now, rotate the map until you can see the orange wedge of your final destination

3. Make sure the map is set to 'fastest' rather than 'most efficient' if you are planning a long trip, because 'most efficient' to somewhere two jumps out is different from the same to somewhere twenty jumps out

4. Plan ahead a route in the general direction of your destination, taking into account the networks of routes you can see - where there are no routes you -might- be able t ogo, depending on your ship and your navigation, but it'll give you a good idea so you don't fly blindly into a cul-de-sac

5. Write down the next ten or so systems in the route in a notebook

6. Fly!

 

[Esdigal]

The navigation isn't working for long distances, the yellow line isn't being drawn. Also for shorter paths, I'm afraid of running out of fuel if the shortest path sends me trough stars I can't scoop from. I can't save the path either, I have to check the path every time I jump.

I'm assuming this will be improved in the future, but I guess there are other priorities right now.

 

[General Specific]

its not very 33 century is it!

I would like to see a system that shows you the route, whatever the distance and based on the max jump range you select, all you need to do is refuel along the way, orient on the next system and go.