Need tips for flying around a planet

[willderyes]

Invariably my destination always seems to be on the other side of the planet. I try to use Supercruise but I either over shoot miles out into space or crash into the planet. It would be nice if you could just go into an automatic orbit until you're over your target. Any tips, hints or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[DeathRow]

the super cruise assist computer thing has an automatic orbit function. It doesnt try to align with any stations, but maybe if you orbit for a few hours you'll get lucky

[DYSEQTA]

I started trying to describe the process and came to the conclusion pretty quickly that this is something that needs to be visually demonstrated to be useful so I would suggest YouTube and a search for how to land at an odyssey base or something like that.

However, that said one thing that may not be obvious is actual orbital flight. Once you are in Orbital Cruise if you put your nose between +/- 5 degrees (blue zone) you will enter an optimised flight mode where your FSD will sound like it's going to die but you will go very fast around the planet. So you can use this to get very quickly between multiple bases on a planet for instance.

[Sighman]

When you arrive in a system, note the orbit lines. Now head 30-45 degrees up and out. Fly a big arc to your target, and arrive at the planet from above the orbital plane. No matter where the orbiting station is, you'll be able to fly straight to it.

Ground ports are slightly different, as they can appear anywhere on the surface. If the circle is dotted as you approach, give the planet a WIDE berth and only descend when the target is in sight.

[Holeypaladin]

Are you trying to land on the surface or on a station that happens to be blocked by the planet?

For landing on planets, I recommend no more than 50% throttle, approaching at an angle no greater than 60 degrees. Sometimes you'll have to cut throttle even further, but usually not.

For stations, just approach from above or below the ecliptic. Planet won't be in the way at all when you do this.

Also, supercruise assist is pretty useful. It can put you in orbit and regulate approach speeds.

[loandreu]

My advice here, something that has made my life easier when orbiting a planet, is to rotate your view by 90 degrees from the vertical, so your target is on one of your sides. Side view tends to be wider, so you are able to better track your target visually as you orbit around the planet from a safe distance. Once you reach a certain approach angle to the target (something between 30 and 45 degrees is good,) you start the final descent. I will try to share a video of this some day :) Hope it helps!

[jimbalayajones]

Make sure you have your station or landfall targeted...Approach your target directly...At 7 seconds out, drop to 75% throttle (keybind it)...This is the fastest I have found that will not cause you to overspeed...I do not use supercruise assist because I find it unnecessary...For a station...As you approach, if a broken circle appears, it means your station is on the other side of the body it orbits...Alter your approach to the side...I opt to the right as I am right handed and it seems more natural, but you can go either way...Sometimes it also just depends which way your circle leans, but usually you are far enough out that it does not matter...Put your circle directly on and in the middle of your HUD side bracket...Either works, but I usually run in Scan Mode till I need to switch to Combat Mode...Arc with the circle till it turns solid...Continue for a few seconds to bring the station out from the planet and then resume your direct approach...When you get the indication that you can safely drop from supercruise, do so with your supercruise key (Keybind supercruise and system jump seperately)...You will find yourself about 9 kilometers from the station...Request landing clearance at 7.5 kilometers out and either fly it in yourself (everyone should know how to do a manual landing) or activate auto-docking by dropping your throttle to zero (you must have an auto-docking or advanced auto-docking module)...There is more finesse to this process like station approach speed and lining yourself up in supercruise so you are always pointed at the station opening (for the big stations) when you drop but you will learn that as you go...This is the basics and will get you in/on the station...If you are being pursued...Well, that is a whole different ball of yarn...Ask that question later...For a landfall...As you approach, if a broken circle appears, it means your landfall is on the other side of the planet/moon...Treat your body like a dinner plate...Orient the broken circle towards the top of the plate and keep it in view as you arc around the plate...Do this well out from the body so you do not begin the descent procedure...When a solid circle appears, continue your arc till it is about one inch off the top of your plate (this should keep you above the 'too steep angle indication'...Ideally you want it just above that but you can fine tune it as you go)...Directly approach the solid circle and drop your throttle to zero...Wait for slow down and then alternate between zero and 75% to speed up the approach...Don't hold it at 75% for too long or you will approach too fast...When your HUD indication for landing approach is about an eighth of an inch above the bottom line (this is your glide point indicator) drop your throttle to zero and make sure you are directly in the center of the circle...I have found that zero throttle gives you the smoothest glide...When you enter glide, I suggest you just let the ship glide...Controller input will be translated much more unforgiving in glide and it will be like correcting a car with a loose steering wheel...Hit the T key when in range and target your landfall more directly...You will usually drop out of glide within 7.5 kilometers at which point you request landing clearance...Again, take it in yourself or your auto-docking will take over because you are already at zero throttle...Again, these are the basics and will get you on the ground...There is more finesse but again, you will fine tune that as you go...Sometimes you are too far out and then you throttle up and continue the approach...Sometimes you approach too fast and botch the glide...Then you are really far out...Boost it in or go back up and approach again...Sometimes the gravity is high (you will usually only find that on bodies where you want to land on the surface as opposed to a station...Most station landfalls have 1G or less, but I have not been to all the bodies in ED...Be mindful of that...Heavy ships do not bounce well)...This is all stuff to learn as you go...Just get it in/on the station or on the ground to begin with...Then polish it as you go...

[Kobs]

I always lock supercruise on the star of the system (or the nav beacon) and once it starts you unlock the star and go where ever you want. You have plenty of time to lock on your primary target once you go around the planet

[Planewalker]

When timer on the reticle says: 0.07 = set 75% throttle.

IT is why they say "Follow the greens, stay in the blue and remember your limpets!"

Getting outside the elliptical plane and circumventing gravity wells cuts down on travel time.