16/11/23
Got first discovery on an AW

5/12/23
Got first discovery on a system where planets 4-7 were all eccentric.
Got first discovery on all planets in a system with 13 terrestrial planets (7 landable), and a moon with 50 geo signs.

I reached the system containing Prasinos Soul.
After examining the green gas giant, I landed on its first moon.
I visited two areas on the moon.
In in the first I found lots of bronzite chondrite.
In the second I found a data point with 4,722c worth of intel for the Empire.

My next target is the high mass HIP 11150 system, stopping at several E mass blue stars along the way, including HD 16159.
The first on my list was a mere five jumps away with two others nearby.

I used a neutron jump and 4 regular jumps to get here from the Phroi Phoe planetary nebula.

According to both map and codex I was the first to visit here so I must be the only legacy player to have visited this system, it's pretty cool to see my name in the codex.

I'm guessing this planet is some sort of glitch though, because on the map it appears to be a gas giant with ammonia based life but the codex reports it as a green gas giant with water based life.
Perhaps there is a difference in what the codex perceives to be a GGG and what actually generates as a GGG.

When I went to the planet itself there was not a bit of green in sight. This must be some sort of codex error, I am disappointed that I didn't get to see another GGG, but at least I didn't go too far off my route for this.

I dropped by some carbon dioxide geo signs to get the codex entry for CO2 ice geysers, the site was quite inactive so I left soon.
I visited the first moon around a purple class I GG to visit some nitrogen geo signs. Spent ages sliding around in the rough, slippery terrain of an icy canyon to get the entry for nitrogen ice geysers.
While on the way back I got stuck in the bottom of an icy crevasse, and got trapped. After what must have been an hour of Sisyphean struggling I finally got out and back to my ship.

After getting back I plotted a route to Trifid of the North Nebula, 1,195Ly away. I noticed an F mass star along the route so I plotted to that one; 1,004Ly, 31 jumps.

I found an icy body with an orbit that was perpendicular to the stellar plane.

Found an ELW and an AW in a different system.

Found methane ice fumaroles for the codex.

The F mass star had two B class stars, star A was more massive than the most massive B class giant I've found but it still appears to be a regular B class star.

I reached Trifid of the North after some time travelling. It's a type 1 (bell) nebula, the same type as the not too far away Thor's Helmet as well as Witch Head and Iris. There are no inhabited systems nearby but I did visit a bark mounds site near the nebula. There are no stars in the nebula itself but due to a nearby telescopic anomaly (a line of stars pointed towards earth, of higher density than surrounding procedurally generated stars) there are plenty of stars nearby to view it from.

My next target is the Prasinos Soul green gas giant in Slegi sector. It is 959Ly away, and the route is 34 jumps.

While en route to the nebula I found two extremely close stars, a F/G binary pair.
Star B moved 0.01Ls towards me every 20 seconds, not too fast but noticeable.
There was several non notable HMCWs around star C.
System name is Gludgaa TI-K d8-22.

In one system I launched myself out of one water ice geyser and got bounced into a second. I then shot my SRV a kilometre or two into the air with a strong geyser, I compromised the chassis integrity on landing but it was worth it for the cool footage. I'm not sure if chassis integrity repairs itself like chassis health when you re dock the SRV.

I finally found an ELW in Sanguineous Rim and got the codex entry for it, not first discovery unfortunately.

I reached the Phroi Phoe RZ-O e6-3 system which is a neutron star in a type 7 (oblong) planetary nebula. The nebula was incredibly faint and only provided a barely noticeable blue glow, not nearly as cool as Spirograph Nebula, another type 7.

Next time I will be using the neutron star here to get a boost on my route to a green gas giant which does not appear to have a name in Ploi Thua sector, 281Ly away.

27/10/23
I identified two neutron stars along my route in Qiedau sector.
Flew over 444kLs out to find some crystalline shards in a crater on a rocky moon. I climbed the central peak in the middle of the crater while I was out there, I estimate it to have been about 1km of a climb.

30/10/23
I jumped from one neutron star to the other (which was a very rapid pulsar), then onto two E mass B class star systems, unfortunately there was nothing of interest in either B class system.
Reached my first waypoint, a G mass system with 3 K class stars and a water world.
Got first discovery on an ammonia world in Qiedau MZ-M d8-42.
Re-entered Elysian Shore.
Got first discovery on a binary pair of water worlds.

1/11/23
Got first discovery on multiple water worlds.
Discovered landable ringed HMCW.
Discovered two blue class I gas giants, a GG with just over 16,000km radius, and indications of water and carbon dioxide geysers. I crashed into the ultra wide (5,000,000km radius) B ring around planet AB5 while heading in to investigate the geysers on two of the shepherd moons between the A and B rings. To make matters worse I accidentally deployed one of my heatsinks while in the ring.

2/11/23
Got first discovery on a G class system with 4 ringed HMCWs (3 landable), a trinary group of WW (1 terraformable), and a ringed Y class star with 3 landable rocky bodies (1 with iron lava spouts) and a class I GG orbiting it in Pyult DX-A d1-17. The iron lava spouts were partially in a small canyon which looked quite cool.

3/11/23
Re-entered Sanguineous Rim.
Discovered an icy moon around a GG with water life that had ammonia magma and bio signs. It was over 343kLs away from the main star but I found crystalline shards and ammonia ice fumaroles when I got there. System was a G class system named Phroi Phoe BF-T c6-1.

8/11/23
Visited the 5 Emperors PoI which had 5 non landable HMCWs orbiting a common barycentre in M36 Sector RI-T c3-5.
Just 3 jumps away was NGC 1960 SAB 20, one of the stars of the Messier 36 open star cluster (aka NGC 1960 or Pinwheel Cluster). This system had a B class giant, neutron star and normal B class star. It also had roseum bioluminescent anemones on planet C1 which were very beautiful.

Next Waypoints
Having now crossed the Perseus Arm, my next target is the Phroi Phoe RZ-O e6-3 planetary nebula which is a type 7 (oblong) nebula, after that is a green gas giant in Ploi Thua AY-T b3-0, after that it's on to Trifid of the North Nebula a type 1 (bell) nebula, then Prasinos Soul green gas giant, then HIP 11150 a high mass B star, then Little Dumbbell Nebula which is a type 6 (ghost) nebula, then HD 12302 another high mass B star, then IC 289 planetary nebula which is a type 4 (explosion) nebula, then eventually on to Flaming Star Nebula which is a type 1 (bell) nebula with a nearby asteroid base named Flaming Star Logistics Centre.

I'm overjoyed at finally reaching civilization again, the peace of mind knowing that all my cartographics is secure is great.

I got first discovery on:
Slyaips MB-P c8-0, Slyaips TC-N c9-0, Schadgae SO-Z c13-0, Schadgae CR-U c16-0, Schadgae HX-S c17-0, Schadgae ND-R c18-0, Schadgae TJ-P c19-0, Schadgae HS-I c23-0, Pheia Aewsy IK-A d3, Schadgae DB-F d11-7, Schadgae MN-B d13-7, Schadgae OI-K d8-9, Cyoidai RE-M c9-1, Schadgae LY-G c24-1, Cyoidai QO-M c9-1, Pheia Aewsy XQ-X c1-1, Pheia Aewsy JK-A d18, Schadgae AG-W c15-2, Schadgae LD-Y c28-2, Slyaips TC-C b19-0, Slyaips YY-P b25-0, Schadgae UO-I d9-0.

This totals to 41.6mil in cartographic data with another 102,500 credits in codex discoveries. This has brought my bank balance to over 100mil, by the time I get back I should have more than enough money to buy and outfit a krait phantom.

My next target is a nearby helium rich gas giant for the codex.
After that the journey home will properly begin, my first waypoint is a K class system in Hypuae Ain sector with a mass code of G, I don't know what I'll find there but there must be some big stars.
After that is a T Tauri star with a G mass.
After that is the NGC 1960 star cluster, there is reportedly a type of bioluminescent anemones there that I have not encountered yet.
Next is another T Tauri system with a mass code of G, in Slegao sector.
Then it's on to Trifid of the North Nebula, an uninhabited type 1 (bell) nebula according to my nebula classification system.
Then it's on to the Prasinos Soul green gas giant in Slegi sector.
Next is HIP 11150, a high mass B star in Oochoss sector.
Next up is the Little Dumbbell Planetary Nebula, a type 6 (ghost) nebula.
Next is HD 12302, another high mass B star in Oochoss sector.
Next is the IC 289 Planetary Nebula which is a type 4 (explosion) nebula.
Then its back to civilization with Flaming Star Nebula, an inhabited type 1 (cone) nebula, home to Flaming Star Logistics Depot.
Next is HD 34467, a carbon star in Outopps sector.
Next is two nearby systems in Outotz sector, home to solid mineral spheres and three kinds of metallic crystals respectively.
Then it's on to HD 49368, an S class star in Outotz sector.
Next it's on to the Keck Binary Pulsar, back in the Inner Orion Spur and well above Barnard's Loop, by going here I will also be avoiding the locked zone.
From here I can drop back down to the Witch Head Nebula, an inhabited type 1 (cone) nebula.
From there I can complete my original goal of touring the stars of Orion by visiting Alnitak and Saiph.
From there I will visit a PoI known as Witch's Pools.
My last waypoint will be Radioactive Green, a green gas giant above the bubble in Col 285 sector.

Yesterday I got first discovery on an F class system with a gas giant with water life that had 3 mountainous moons that I unfortunately couldn't climb without my SRV. The system also had a ringed water world.

Today I got first discovery on a cool A class system (Schadgae UO-I D9-0) but compromised my hull integrity while flying too close to the massive rings around planet 8. I'll have to wait to get back to Station X to repair that.

I also made it to Great Orme's Flowers today. It was almost 200kLs away from the main star so it took a while to get there but the views were amazing.

From there I plotted a route to Station X, 1,140Ly away. 36 jumps until I can sell all this valuable cartographic data including more first discovered systems than I'd ever encountered before leaving Station X.

Even though I said I would make another entry when I got to Great Orme's Flowers I am making one sooner.

I have reached the Schadgae TK-U b30-0 system. This system is not only halfway to my destination, but also the point where the Kepler's Crest, Sanguineous Rim, and Elysian Shore regions meet, forming a tripoint.
There's not much here but this marks my exit from Kepler's Crest, I don't plan on returning to this region for a long time.

I got first discovery on several systems on the way here, including one with a terraformable water world which I also mapped.

From here I am setting my route to avoid M class stars once again. I no longer need them as star density is high enough here as I make my way back into the Perseus Arm.
There is 31 jumps remaining to Great Orme's Flowers, my next update will actually be there.

It's been a while. Over this time I have traversed the Perseus Fade and reached the green gas giant known as Dreamer Blush.
Heres a recap of some important events.

21/8/2023
Discovered the wreckage of an SRV on a rocky moon of a water world in Slyaips LZ-E d12-5. The wreck was surrounded by canisters of of cargo such as jadeite and semiconductors. Cause of destruction not apparent.
Found a water giant.
Entered the Elysian Shore region.

6/9/23
Found a 100% metal world.

10/9/23
Found two moons orbiting a common barycentre with one orbit entirely within the other. Found a ringed icy body around a ringed gas giant.
Entered the Kepler's Crest region.

12/9/23
Got first discovery on an ammonia world and an earthlike in the same system. The system was a previously undiscovered K class star and it also had a HMCW with an eccentric orbit that was over 9,200Ls out, 8,000Ls further than the second furthest planet.
I visited and mapped both the ELW and AW.

19/9/23
Auto route plotting began to break down around the border between Hypoe Hypue sector and Gongae sector.
Found a system with 2 AW and a terraformable WW.
Found a WW orbiting an L class brown dwarf.
Using 1 basic FSD boost and some careful route planning I made it to the system containing Dreamer Blush.
I explored the system a bit and went to one of Dreamer Blush's moons. There I climbed a mountain in my SRV and got some great views but unfortunately I went a bit too fast down the mountain and lost control of my SRV. The ensuing crash compromised the chassis integrity, destroying my SRV. I'll have to restock in Station X on the way back.

This brings us back to the present; I am on my way out of Gongae sector, headed towards a green gas giant named Great Orme's Flowers near Crab Nebula.
From there I will visit another green gas giant called Prasinos Soul and Trifid of the North Nebula in Sanguineous Rim, the Little Dumbbell Nebula in Elysian Shore, IC 289, Keck Binary Pulsar, HD 49368, a PoI named Witch's Pools and a green gas giant named Radioactive Green in Inner Orion Spur.
I will be back when I reach Great Orme's Flowers.

After getting back from a three week trip out of the country I was ready once again to get back on elite and finally reach Crab Nebula.

The last leg of the journey wasn't too eventful.

I found an A class system with a terraformable water world and two very small gas giants with water life.

Over tbw course of my journey the Crab Nebula went from a small green smudge to a proper view of the nebula and the Pulsar with it.
The number of stars noticeably decreased as I could now see into the blackness of the Perseus Fade and out beyond the Outer Arm, into intergalactic space.

I found another system that seemed oddly quiet. It was an A class system with 4 grey, landable, HMCWs; one of which had a grey, landable, rocky moon.
The exception to the quietness was the furthest planet: a HMCW with a carbon dioxide atmosphere with small amounts of sulphur dioxide, enough of an atmosphere to hear the wind while using the FSS.

Three moons in one system had geo signs, two water geysers and one water magma. I decided to drop by to investigate.
I landed on the first moon and scanned the water ice geysers there. I launched myself a short distance into the sky with a few of them. There seemed to be some sort of extremely tenuous atmosphere here as the sky was rather hazy, although there was no atmosphere listed for this planet.
I skipped the second moon as it would surely be a repeat of the first. I couldn't land at the landing site on the third moon but I scanned the site as water ice fumaroles from my ship. I stopped just above the canyon they were in to get some pictures, then continued on.

I got some great views of the Crab Nebula as I approached it. The Crab Pulsar did not rotate as fast as other pulsars that I had seen online. Also in the Crab Pulsar system was a HMCW, a class IV gas giant, multiple red and brown dwarves and one fleet carrier, the C.S.H Wanderlust. Although I could've landed here to refuel and sell cartographic data, I decided to head to Station X to avoid tariffs and just so I could see it too.

I found that the system containing station X had nothing other than two T-Tauri stars and an asteroid belt each. Station X was located in the asteroid belt around star B.
Looking outwards from the galactic core was desolate with extremely sparse stars. When I am heading out towards the green gas giant out here I will have to pass through this desolate region.
Station X is an extraction station operated by the 41st Expeditionary Legion, an independent group. The Crab Operations Syndicate also exist in this station, but apparently hold little to no control.

I made almost 7 mil in cartographics but got no first discoveries (probably due to this location's popularity), and redeemed 50,000 in codex discoveries.

My next target, Dreamer's Blush, was over 2,320Ly away. I tried to plot a route there but failed. I added M type stars back into the mix and tried again. This time route plotting succeeded, it was zig zagging and roundabout in some parts towards the end which was sure to put extra distance on me but it got me where I wanted to go so its all good.
The route was 104 jumps, something which would for sure take a while, but hopefully the neutron jump at the start would give me a little headstart on this vast journey into the hazards of the Perseus Fade.
This route would also briefly bring me into Elysian Shore and would end in Kepler's Crest. By the time I entered Kepler's Crest I would truly be on the edge of the galaxy as I began to enter the Outer Arm Vacuus, a truly barren region with extremely low star density, situated right on the edge of intergalactic space, from here I would be able to stare into the void.

But all that will come later, the Crab Expedition will continue on another day.

I am developing a system to categorise nebulae based on visual appearance.
The upcoming Monkey Head Nebula is a type 1 nebula; this type of nebula is the same as Witch Head Nebula, Iris Nebula, Struve's Lost Nebula or any of the other nebulae that look the same as these. I have found that it is one of the most common types of nebula in the galaxy.

It was 14 jumps to the Monkey Head Nebula from my current position.

I found a binary K/M system with a distant third star.

I realised that my recent data hand in at Beta Site had earned me the rank of Pioneer.

Monkey Head was massive and quite awe inspiring when I got up close.

My target system at the end of the route had a very close A/K binary pair with an F class star about 930Ls out, there was also a class G almost 270kLs out.

From here I plotted a course to Crab Pulsar, 1,144Ly, 35 jumps away.

Crab Nebula was still only a small smudge in the distance.

I end today's journey with 25 jumps left to go to Crab Nebula.