Scanning

Scanning is the primary method of finding objects and locations in space.

Finding things with scanning

This table shows the type of scanning you are most likely to use when looking for specific results.

To find this item	Use this kind of scanner
Names of objects within 14AU of your ship	Overview, D-scan, Map
Locations or coordinates of objects	Probe
Asteroid belt	Overview, D-scan, Map
Asteroid size and composition	Survey
Ice belt	Overview, D-scan, Map
Ice size and composition	Survey
Gas cloud	Overview, D-scan, Map
Moon mining	Probe
Wormhole	Probe
Player piloted ships	Combat Probe

Overview, Map and Directional Scan

Every ship in Eve comes with an on-board Overview window that can be configured to show planets, asteroid belts, moons, stations, and other useful objects in the current system. As it is difficult to play EVE without this information, a thorough study of the Overview is highly recommended.

Every ship in Eve also comes with an on-board Directional Scanner (d-scan) that can be used to discover, but not pinpoint via distance or coordinates, objects up to 14 AU away from the ship.

This equipment can be used to search for Cosmic Anomalies (including ice belts and gas clouds) and other objects not found on the Overview.

In addition, each ship has a Solar System Map that displays the overview and directional scanning data in graphic form.

Survey Scanning

Asteroid miners may use survey scanners to measure distances to various asteroids and to monitor the volume of these as they are mined. Moon miners may use specialized survey probes which investigate a solar system and return the ore name, the quantity, the TypeID, and the ID's for the Solar System, Planet and Moon. Survey scanners take up a mid-level fitting slot.

Probe Scanning

Every ship in Eve with the exception of shuttles and freighters can fit a Scan Probe Launcher module. These launch probes that increase the number of types of objects that can be detected and the range at which they can be scanned. In addition, probes provide distance and coordinate information.

Probe scanners that launch "scan" probes are used extensively in Exploration to find wormholes and other cosmic anomolies. They are also used to find PvE combat sites and other cosmic signatures.

Probe scanners can also launch "combat" probes that can pinpoint the location of other ships. These are most frequently used in PvP.

Moon mining uses specialized "survey" probes to collect data on ore deposits. Note that these are probes and must be launched - as opposed to the use of a survey scanner as described above.