Second anniversary trip post!

Finally picking things back up and completed the "northwestern" leg of the journey. The way back from the edge I took a path across the gap that was too sparse to auto-plot all at once but not sparse enough to discover any new systems. Too lazy to venture out with FSD boosts. Once I crossed the gap I went back to my usual z-level and got back on track. Not much exciting since.

I did finally retire my very old Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for being too off-center and jittery to correct for. Now using a TM Airbus sidestick.

It's nice avoiding nebulae so I can see them progressing against the galactic core as I progress. Looking it up in the 3D map in EDDiscovery, I noticed I also passed just abreast of a Taen cube. I'm amazed at the drive of other explorers.

Still a long ways to go, but the end is in sight.

After a long hiatus, I picked up and swung through Luna's Shadow, then headed north by north-east towards the galactic rim. The abyss started quite suddenly, and I was forced to fly close to the galactic plane. Still found some great systems until I got into the popular zone towards the edge.

Stopped by the Treehouse, Beagle Point, and Salome's Reach, and I will hit Podar soon to round out the galaxy's edge POIs.

The Reach took a couple of FSD injections but I had plenty of material for tier 1s and 2s.

This took more than 8 months and 1600 jumps and I'm only halfway. Time to return home. Again, counter-clockwise via the middle arm.

With a big gap between Circinus Pulsar and Hawking's Nebula, I decided to go below the galactic plane and seek out new neutron stars and black holes (for the badges, admittedly). Very much wish I had remembered to swap out the cargo bay for an AMFU before departing so I could charge off some of them.

After reaching Hawking's Nebula, I took some time to research the reason I took this direction, which was the gap in visits to the north-eastern part of this middle arm. After looking at the "state of the galaxy" traffic map and figuring out how to use EDDiscovery's 3D map, I decided my next leg will be to stay below the galactic plane but to avoid the Flying Flea Nebula (since nearly every path through this sector converges there), sticking to the inside part of the arm. I will continue towards Luna's Shadow on this path.

Two clips: A very energetic pulsar and Black hole passing over Hawking's Nebula

Crossed the Centarus Reach and Hawking's Gap without seeing too much of note. But now I'm taking a break at the Circinus Pulsar and this system is just wild. Besides the titular pulsar there is a small black hole. Both of these orbit in a wide circle. In the middle of the circle are child systems of mostly stars, one of which is a high-metal-content world with a surface pressure of 15 million atmospheres, and another of of which is an L-type star with a system of metal-rich bodies. I've landed on one to write this entry and pick up some Yttrium.

Clip of the pulsar

Successfully reached Eta Carina! I've managed to not run into any moons this time around, so I will add a major extension to my journey. I intend to do a counter-clockwise circle of the middle region of the galaxy. So the next leg of my trip will be to the Eock Bluae (Hawking's?) nebula, crossing Hawking's Gap through the Skaudia systems. After that I will follow the arm to Luna's Shadow, and consider shifting out to Beagle Point or another distant landmark.

With a new guardian FSD booster and a half-engineered FSD, my DBX can no jump about 60LY with a full fuel tank. I don't feel like hunting down transports for more components, so why not use it? Initially out to Eta Carina, and if I haven't run into anything (like last time), I'll continue to the next arm and move counter-clockwise around, possibly all the way to beagle point?

Since I was still near to the Heart and Soul Nebulae, I took a cruise through them then barreled back home. Made it with no further damage.

I collided with a moon. Down to 17% hull. And over 5000 LY from a station.