Faster approach to the station

[askfor]

I have discovered a faster approach to the station. Here is how I do it.

One needs to have shader graphics enabled. Try to visually locate the station while traveling to the planet, but before getting mass locked.
It is nearly impossible without shader graphics. If you manage to spot it before getting locked, change course to the point "X".
Where is point X ? It is on the axis which connects center of the planet and the station. It is placed so that distance between planet and station
is 75% - 80% of the distance between planet and point X. It delays lock until you are very close to the station. Approach to the station is
3 -4 times faster this way, but only if station was spotted early enough.

Perhaps point X should be available from Advance Compass. Then one would not depend on spotting the station from the distance.

I never did it in old Elite because there was no shader graphics.

[another_commander]

Perhaps point X should be available from Advance Compass. Then one would not depend on spotting the station from the distance.

You do not have to depend on visually identifying the station location if you have the Advanced Compass anyway. Just select the "N" indicator in the compass and that's the station's navigation buoy. Centering on that gets you straight to the station. As you then approach you can adjust as required to change your heading so that it point to point "X".

[askfor]

I don't have compass yet.

[stranger]

I am also using old good Eyeball Mk I device to lock station, but pointing heading directly to station and sometimes above it, not to nav beacon. Reason is simple: if you are closing with station from upper side, you don't waste time for premature mass-locking in planet gravity well. Station altitude is exactly border of planet mass-locking.

[askfor]

That is exactly what am I talking about. Eyeball device does not work well without shaders, right .
I tried to avoid word "above", because there s no up and down in space.

It works great with ACS, because you can plan your route as soon as you arrive in the system. This is
such a relief, reduces idle time to almost nothing. It should be documented somewhere so that people don't need to reinvent the wheel.

[stranger]

I tried to avoid word "above", because there s no up and down in space.

Thinks if you are in planet proximity (altitude <= planet radius), planet will be good reference point per se. UP - direction from planet. DOWN - to planet. It will not be confusing in such situation.
Moreover, you need some reference points in any case

[ffutures]

Way I find easiest - come in with the station to the left and the beacon (and planet) to the right, keeping an eye on the radar display and aiming for a point midway between the station and beacon. when you seem to be on the line between the beacon and station stop and turn the ship to point at the station. Usually you will be more or less lined up. You can do this VERY fast with fuel injectors.