Log Update (5,227 hours) - 6,064 scans in 306 systems.
17 May 2020Evolution
It's been 44 hours since my last update. Since the last log and after leaving the Witch Head Nebula, I took 35 jumps to the Orion and Running man Nebula.
When I arrived at the Orion Trapezium star cluster, I decided to scan a fair few systems towards the outside, before heading to the Orion Nebula Tourist Centre in PMD2009 48 for an overnight rest at the asteroid base.
The next day, I travelled away from the region to be clear of the permit locked systems and be able to plot a course more efficiently. Once clear and unlike my previous efforts of using economical routes (up until leaving the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex), I mostly used fastest jump routes to see a larger variety of locations. I set a loose course for the Cat Paw Nebula 6,000lY away in the next galactic spiral arm. My cat Maia was pleased with the choice!
Firstly, I went to see the Chameleon Nebula which is underneath the better known Coalsack Nebula. It's a very dark and small Nebula which hasn't got any stars within it but I managed to capture a few images, like this one for the log:
44 jumps were taken by this point and remaining after that were 103 jumps covering 5,1415LY. At 60 jumps in / 43 jumps away, I saw a strange group of stars in the NGC 6231 sector that were bright like the core of our galaxy. They were just under 500 light years away so I travelled 8 jumps to have a look. Upon arriving, there were 10 stars in a system which is quite rare so near to the bubble. Here's a high metal planet from the system:
Here's its twin, a lava world over 750Ls from the star.
Another 3 systems were visited and I continued in that direction to visit the NGC 6188 Nebula which was 620LY away and 10 jumps.
4 systems were visited in the nebula and I was very surprised to hear the ship computer telling me that the system was populated. I docked at Morgan's Rock and sold lots of data, then settled down for the night to have a comfortable rest in the asteroid base. Whilst at the base, I did some calculations with the 121 jumps since leaving The Orion Nebula. Based on the lower scan average estimate, I was 24% closer towards the next INARA Explorer Award.
Having a break to think over the next phase, I decided whilst visiting more nebulae, that I'd visit asteroid bases and I'd also disable my FSD booster to visit more systems. I then plotted a course again to the Cat's Paw Nebula which was only 1,615LY away / 31 jumps.
8 systems were visited in the Cat's Paw nebula. Here's a biological site I discovered in the last system, overlooking the nebula:
From there, I went to visit Attenborough's Watch in the Lagoon Nebula, which was 29 jumps away. It was very late when I arrived so I didn't take the time to sell Exploration data, but booked a room first and got some rest. The next day, I sold the data and visited 3 systems before heading off to the Trifid Nebula, 14 jumps away.
I took a slight detour, meaning 19 jumps were covered before I reached the Trifid Sector IR-W D1-52.
The exploration data was sold at Observation Post Epsilon and a course was set through the nebula, covering 13 economical jumps. During these jumps, I also visited a Viride Lagrange Cloud with Rubicundum Collared Pods and Flavum Metallic Crystals:
19 jumps away was the next stop at the Omega Mining Operation station in the Omega Sector VE-Q B5-15 where I sold data and settled down for the night.
The following day, I visited 10 systems in the area and 5 more jumps below the nebula to be more clear of previous commander's travel routes. The next destination was the Eagle Sector IR-W d1-105 which was 38 jumps away. On route, I discovered a Notable Stellar Phenomena containing a Proto-Lagrange cloud with Purpureum Metallic Crystals:
For the final part of the Award progress, I arrived in the Eagle Nebula and docked at the Eagle Sector Secure Facility. 11 more systems were travelled through in the Nebula to visit a Megaship:
Plus, Eagles Landing Planetary base on a very misty planet:
The total scans come to 6,064 in 306 systems - meaning a higher than expected average of 19.8 per system.
Like all the systems before, I handed in enough scan data to get allied with the controlling faction and finally, the award was unlocked! o7
I now need to decide whether to visit Colonia, fly home and then to Colonia, fly around the Galaxy, go to Beagle Point or Sag A again... Decisions, decisions.
Thanks for having a read though. Fly safe and stay safe.