To Boldly Go

“The passing stars light the way. The future’s here today.” – Shiny Toy Guns, Rocketship

31.12.yc111 The Forge, Anttanen Constellation, Unpas

Happy New Year!

This last week has been a mixed bag of laughs. I found myself deep in low security space with 3 systems left to explore at a time when I needed to get back to base and plug in some new learning skills. So, in my haste to explore and get out of low security as well as return to base, I realized once I got back, I missed planet 7 in the Fuskunen system. At least I thought it was Fuskunen 7. Frustrated with myself and somewhat laughing, I realized I would have to return to low security space. So, I plugged in my next skills (Focus, Clarity and Presence) and thought about how to proceed.

Coming out, I had managed to evade a gate camp which I knew going back in, I would not be able to do effectively. Checking with Aura, I plotted a backdoor entry to Fuskunen. It would be only two jumps in from high security instead of the 6 which would have been much closer. As it was, to get the fewer jumps in I would have to travel 28 jumps out of my way. Ah well, better safe than sorry. Upon arrival and snapping another shot, I realized it wasn’t 7 that I had missed. I had mislabeled the image as 6 when it should have been 7. So, I had to warp again, get the correct shot to correct my error. I won’t be making that mistake twice, as I’m sure I’ll be too busy making new mistakes instead. Got the image of Fuskunen 6 and got out then 28 jumps back. Whew!

Monthly Stats

Time has flown -no pun intended- Has it really been a month? So, how am I doing so far? Let’s see …

Regions: 0/31 (0.00%)
Constellations: 10/368 (2.72%)
Systems: 70/2,573 (2.72%)

Ships Lost: 0
Pods Lost: 0

At this rate, if I’m able to maintain this pace, it will take about 3 years to explore what I’m calling phase I …

Hmm, ok, let’s not think about that too much!

Here’s some images from the last two weeks.

Sakkikainen VI, Moon 1, Lai Dai Corp Factory

Liekuri VII, Josameto Gate 

Olo III, Moon 1, Sukuuvestaa Corp Warehouse

 Nuken VIII, Moon 7, Lai Dai Corp Research Center

Shihuken VIII, Tuuriainas Gate

 .

OOC:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

 - The Moody Blues, 22,000 Days

18.12.yc111 The Forge, Okkelen Constellation, Friggi

Another week down, day by day, and so far I’ve explored a total of 32 systems across 4+ constellations. It truly feels like it will take 22,000 days to complete this journey. Actually, it should take far less, but it sounds more dramatic that way. Of course there are moments of pure boredom. During those times I read about others and their experiences as a capsuleer. It’s interesting reading from some very interesting folks. From miners to traders and other explorers who’ve taken on the challenges of wormhole space. Then there are those unsavory characters … the pirates.

Now what’s interesting about those that call themselves pirates is, they’re a mixed breed. Some provide insightful tips into how to survive in the universe that is New Eden. Others simply like to gloat about their exploits and even provide the logs so you can listen in on their cruelty and the pitiful cries of those that they’ve destroyed. From these folks and others that I’ve read, I’ve seen the best and the worst in sentient beings.

During my exploration this week I caught of glimpse of one of these pirate characters. It was in the Ihakana, a low security system. Just where you would expect to find one. As always, I checked the locals to see what I might be getting into and found there were a fair number of pilots in the system, but none of which seemed to be unruly. At least from their security standings. So, going about my astrophotography of the system, it was when I finished up that I noticed him. A red indicator showed up on his pilot profile alerting me to the fact to be extra cautious with this individual.

Having finished up, I made for a local station to rest and resupply. Setting out the next day, again I checked local and all was well. So, not seeing the before mentioned individual, I prepared for launch. It was when I started to undock that he came up on my locals list. Now that was interesting. It seemed he came out of nowhere. Too late to stop the procedure, I felt the chances of him waiting just outside of the station were slim, after all it was a big system. However, that was not the case, there he was and a shiver went down my spine. Fortunately, my ship was able to align and warp out to the gate in a timely manner. Nothing was said between us or in local. The silence was eerie and only added to the uneasy feeling.

Reflecting upon the encounter, I really can’t say that he had ill intentions or not towards me. It did seem odd, however, that one moment he wasn’t there, then the next he was and just outside where I was at. I do wonder if I had been singled out and sought after or if it was just co-incidence. Ah well, my journey has taken me far from there and perhaps I’ll never know. One thing is for certain, you have to stay on guard at all times and not let the boredom make you do clumsy things.

Following are some of this week’s astrophotography highlights. Don’t forget to check out the link on the right for all of my pictures so far. Thanks for reading!

Mastakomon XI

Uchoshi I, Concord Bureau

Wirashoda VII. Moon 1

Friggi I, Amazing Canyon

Friggi VII, Moon 12, Lai Dai Corp Factory

.

“I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise, we climbed aboard their starship, we headed for the skies.” – Styx, Come Sail Away

11.12.yc111 The Forge, Orpana Constellation, Eruka

Since my last update, I’ve explored an additional 16 systems. Which brings me to a total of 23 systems across 3+ constellations. Then I look ed at my percentage complete and I had to laugh at myself. Not even 1 percent. What have I gotten myself into? Ah well, the journey so far has been fun and some of the sights have been amazing.

My initial training track still has me building up my learning skills which will be the foundation. Starting out it seemed I was making great progress on my skills, but then I hit one of those big ones and it feels as if the galaxy stopped. Been feeling that way for a what seems like a week now learning Logic five.

Other news, this last weeks exploration found me crossing into low security systems for the first time. I’m not sure that I had any expectations going in, other than to be a bit more careful. I actually have found them to be fairly empty so far. Very quiet too. Maybe too quiet.

The ship is holding up well. I took a few pictures including it. On that note, I wanted to thank Warbz for the Photobucket suggestion. I’m using it for all my astrophotography so far. What’s interesting is I’ve just now hit 1% usage on Photobucket and 0.89% systems explored. Hmmm . . . I’ll worry about that later I suppose. See Astrophotography under links for all of my photos so far.

Following are some of my favorites from this last week.

Vattuolen XI, Soshin Gate

Hentogaira IV, Prompt Delivery Storage

Eruka VII

Kiainta V

“Sometimes there’s a part of me has to turn from here and go. Running like a child from these warm stars, down the seven bridges road.” – Steve Young, Seven Bridges Road as performed by Ricochet

4.12.yc111 The Forge, Okomon Constellation, Uoyonen System

Seven systems explored now and that finishes up my home constellation. I wonder when I’ll make it back here again as the road will be a long one. A journey that I’m sure will take years. I’ve not even said goodbye to the family. They don’t even know that I’ve become a pod pilot. They simply wouldn’t understand. I’ll take comfort in the stars and my fellow pod pilots, as only they can understand.

I’ve not decided how I’m going to do this just yet. My storage limitations will make this a challenge. I’d love nothing more than to post a picture of each planet, but I know that is not realistic. Perhaps there is a gallery site I can publish a photo album. I’ll put that on my to do list. If another fellow pilot knows of a site, please share. For now, I will try and post a few interesting photos from each constellation. I’ll try to do at least one from each system, but no promises.

There were a few interesting planet types I had not seen as of yet. So here they are.

Abagawa I, Lava

Gekutami III, Barren

Hampinen V, Hurricane in the southern hemisphere

Hurtoken II, Plasma

Jakanerva III, Water World

Uoyonen IX, Perkone Warehouse

.

“Blast off time I’m pleased to say. Write a letter, be home soon.

 Busy lassooing the moon.” – Adam Ant, Apollo 9

1.12.yc111 The Forge, Okomon Constellation, Saisio System

Launch Day – System Survey

Well, this is it. Beginning the long journey of exploring New Eden, one system at a time. My training plan continues. Still at about half way down the list which is not based on time, but rather skill levels. Timewise, I’ve not figured it out as it doesn’t really matter for my exploration goal anyway. Starting in my home system of Saisio, here we go . . .

First Impressions . . . Breath taking. Simply beautiful. I was amazed by the shear size of some of them. Then to journey out to one of the moons and take in the sight of the planet from there . . . speechless.

Things to note. Well, I double checked my pre-launch survey and I’m convinced there must have been some sort of malfunction, either in the database, navigation or maybe an ocular implant identification issue, but it seems that Saisio VI and Saisio VII have changed. Pre-launch system survey showed Saisio VI was a planet type solid. Now, however, it is a type gas. As for Saisio VII, pre-launch it was a type gas and now it is a type temperate. Either the two planets have swapped in space or some other anomaly is at work here. See the images below and the previous pod log for comparision.

Now, on to the pictures. Most of these I had to shrink so they would fit. In other words, the planets be big!

Saisio II, Planet Type Gas

Saisio III, Planet Type Temperate

Saisio VI, Planet Type Gas

Saisio VII, Planet Type Temperate

Saisio IX, Planet Type Ice

 Other interesting shots …

Saisio IV, Moon 1

Saisio VII, Moon 1

.