The Star Map & Quantum Travel for Beginners⌗

Once you’ve mastered the basics of piloting, it’s time to learn how to navigate the universe. The Star Map is your primary tool for quantum travel, which is essential for getting around, completing the many missions and generally having fun!

The key steps behind quantum travel are:

  1. Accessing your Star Map
  2. Understanding the Star Map Interface
  3. Finding your destination
  4. Setting your destination
  5. Preparing for quantum travel
  6. Initiating quantum travel

Accessing Your Star Map⌗

The easiest way to open your Star Map is by pressing F2. Alternatively, you can open your Mobiglas (F1), then click on the “Star Map” (the globe-like icon) at the bottom. Once open, you’ll see a representation of the star system you’re currently in, with the camera focussed in on your current location

Understanding the Star Map Interface⌗

You’ll see a green marker that represents your current location / ship. The map will focus in on your current location when opened.

You can zoom and pan around the map using the following controls:

  • Click and hold your left mouse button and drag your mouse to rotate around the map.
  • Click and hold your right mouse button and drag your mouse to pan the map.
  • Use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

You can see planets, moons, asteroid belts and space stations. Planets typically have 6 Orbital Markers (OM) positioned at the main poles around the planet. The OMs are useful for quick traversal around a planet allowing you to get closer to planet surface locations or to re-position if your quantum jump is blocked (more on this below)

Finding Your Destination: Points of Interest (POIs)⌗

There are plenty of POIs you need to navigate to and there are a couple of methods for finding them.

You can click on a planet or moon, it will highlight. Then, on the left side of your screen, some further information such as jurisdiction, description, etc.

Alternatively on the left side of the Star Map, you’ll see a search bar. This is your best friend for finding specific locations:

  • Type in the name of a city, a space station (like “Port Tressler” or “Everus Harbor”), or even a specific moon. As you type, suggestions will pop up.
  • Click on the correct suggestion, and the map will automatically center on that location.

In this example I’m at Arccop and I want to travel to Lyria, so I located it and clicked on it.

Open the map
Open the map

Setting Your Destination⌗

Once you’ve found your desired location , you need to set it as your quantum travel destination.

Click the Route button with the desired location highlighted. You’ll now see an orange line be drawn between your current location and the destination. This indicates the quantum travel route!

Route to destination
Route to destination

If you cannot route and see an error such as “no route available” this is typically cause by a couple of factors:

  1. You are not currently inside a space ship
  2. Your route is blocked by a planet, moon or space station. In this case you need to first QT to a location that is not blocked. Typically I would route to an OM (orbital marker) first, then try setting my destination again.

Preparing for Quantum Travel⌗

Now that your destination is set, it’s time to engage the quantum drive! Press F2 again to close your Star Map.

In order to quantum travel to need to select the correct master mode. Hold and release B to change mode. Cycle through the master modes until you get to Nav (you should see this somewhere on your flight HUD). Once you are in Nav you need to switch the operator mode. Do do this click the middle mouse button to cycle through operator modes until you get to QT

Since you have set a route most of the other navigation markers will be removed and you should only see a marker for your destination. Move you ship around (pitch + yaw) until you see a marker with an arrow next to it. In the example below you can see my marker is a green circle and I need to navigate upwards and to my right as directed by the arrow to locate the quantum marker

Locate the quantum marker
Locate the quantum marker

Point your crosshair’s at the navigation marker and your quantum drive should begin to calibrate. Once calibration has completed you should see a status of ready.

Initiating Quantum Travel⌗

Once fully calibrated hold your left mouse button and Your ship will burst forward into quantum travel, taking you to your chosen destination!

Spooling the drive
Spooling the drive

Important Tips for Quantum Travel⌗

  • Clear Line of Sight: Always make sure you have a clear line of sight to your target before attempting to quantum travel. If you’re too close to a planet, moon, or station, you might not be able to spool up.
  • Quantum Fuel: Keep an eye on your quantum fuel! You’ll see a fuel gauge on your HUD. If you run out, you’ll be stranded in space! You can refuel at space stations.
  • Jump Points vs. Quantum Travel: Don’t confuse Quantum Travel with “Jump Points.” Jump points are for traveling between star systems (currently Stanton and Pyro). Quantum Travel is for traveling within a single star system.