Approach the docking ring

[Dong Quixote]

So I'm trying to dock with my first ship and I just do not understand what it means. It's telling me to "approach the docking ring at less than 100 vrel" but it isn't clear what the docking ring is. I've gotten my little cursor in the center of the screen where the + is, but that didn't give me the clamps alignment button. Where is the actual ring? What am I looking for here?

[NXTtrain]

The navigation console has a second screen. There is a big arrow on the right side of the main interface, and clicking that will show you the docking interface.

[Dong Quixote]

Yeah, I made it to the interface. I think the problem was the tutorial says "within 5km" but you actually have to be really close to the ship to dock. I did manage to get into the ship, only to be stymied by a door that I can't hack (despite the "hack door" option, which doesn't work). I guess I have to power the door or pry it open.

[Rekal]

It's always easiest to show the docking procedure. Here's a time stamp of a streamer docking for the first time on his stream and explaining what is happening: https://youtu.be/YzORsPRZYrk?list=PLHqSuWJSw8SBnP5cn2mXwnCzrf-61uf_7&t=1948

As to your door, you have several options. If you have a cutting tool you can scrap it which destroys the door, or a screw driver / power drill are needed to uninstall it allowing you to take it back to sell or be repurposed. A crowbar only works to pry open a door that is unpowered, unlocked, and undamaged while hacking the lock only works on powered doors.

[Erei]

The big circle is the target docking ring.
The big + is yours.
The goal is to align them both and get close enough. It's strongly advised to drop your speed (so you don't smash into it), but that's up to you if want to turn into red jelly or not.

At the bottom left you have more indication, your lateral relative velocity (should be as close to 0 as possible) and your bearing, which is less useful because your big + is also partly your bearing.


Generally, I tend to fly at 100m/s and start decelerating around 7s. Trying to keep it to 7s. If the ship is heavy/thrusters poor, then I start at 8s.
I aim for just below 20m/s Rvel when it turn green, so I don't smash the target.

The distance to target (to turn green) varies with the target size. A small ship will get green later than Kleg or a big ship. I guess it's calculated from the center of it and no the airlock ?