Difference between revisions of "Scanning"

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Scanning & Probing is a method of finding objects, ships and hidden sites in space.  Every ship in Eve has an On-Board System Scanner that can be used to search for objects not found on the [[Overview]].  Every ship in Eve with the exception of shuttles and freighters can fit a Scan Probe Launcher module to launch probes.  Probes greatly increase both the number of types of objects that can be detected and the range at which they can be scanned.
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{{Exploration links}}
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'''Scanning''' is the primary method of finding objects and locations in space.
  
==Skills==
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== Finding things with scanning ==
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Astrometrics Astrometrics]
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This table shows the type of scanning you will most likely use when looking for a specific result.
  
==Scan Equipment==
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{| class="wikitable"
===Directional Scanner===
 
The Directional Scanner, or "D-Scanner," is built into every ship and can be used to discover, but not pinpoint, objects up to 14 AU away from your ship.  You can do a lot with this little gem.  See the [[Directional Scanner Guide]].
 
 
 
===On-board System Scanner===
 
The on-board scanner can be used to find Cosmic Anomalies, which are combat, ore or ice sites. The combat sites contain rats depending on the site type, lower security space is more likely to find the harder sites (with higher rewards). The on-board scanner can not be used while warping, unlike probes.  To find anomalies, open your on-board scanner by pressing ALT+D, select the "System Scanner" this will show all sites within 64AU of your ship immediately at 100%. When you have found an anomaly, warp there or create a bookmark of its position. Once an Anomaly has been completed, it will disappear after some time. These sites can also be found by probes which will find all sites within range at 100% (warpable) on the first scan even with one probe.  They can be distinguished from exploration sites because they do not show up on scans filtered down to cosmic signatures, as they are cosmic anomalies.
 
 
 
===Scan Equipment Types===
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Core_Probe_Launcher_I Core Probe Launcher]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Expanded_Probe_Launcher_I Expanded Probe Launcher]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Core_Scanner_Probe_I Core Scanner Probe]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Combat_Scanner_Probe_I Combat Scanner Probe]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Deep_Space_Scanner_Probe_I Deep Space Scanner Probe]
 
====Faction====
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Sisters_Core_Probe_Launcher Sisters Core Probe Launcher]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Sisters_Expanded_Probe_Launcher Sisters Expanded Probe Launcher]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Sisters_Core_Scanner_Probe Sisters Core Scanner Probe]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Sisters_Combat_Scanner_Probe Sisters Combat Scanner Probe]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Sisters_Deep_Space_Scanner_Probe Sisters Deep Space Scanner Probe]
 
 
 
Any probe can be used in any launcher with the capacity to load it.  Practically, this means an Expanded launcher can launch any probe, and a Core launcher can only launch Core probes.  Expanded launchers can also be used to launch moon mining probes.
 
 
 
==Scan Bonuses==
 
===Skills===
 
* [[Skills:Science#Astrometric_Acquisition|Astrometric Acquisition]]
 
* [[Skills:Science#Astrometric_Pinpointing|Astrometric Pinpointing]]
 
* [[Skills:Science#Astrometric_Rangefinding|Astrometric Rangefinding]]
 
 
 
===Deviation===
 
Deviation can be defined as the difference between an observed value and the expected value of a variable or function.
 
In the case of scanning with probes the observed value is the scan result shown on your map whereas the expected value is the actual position of your target in space. The deviation is the distance between the scan result shown on the map and the actual location of your target.
 
The actual deviation (or effective deviation) cannot be calculated at this time because it is unknown how CCP has factored signal strength into the equation.  The next part here explains how to calculate the maximum deviation.  It is known that the stronger your signal strength is the less actual deviation you will have therefore the deviation of your scan will always be less than the distance shown below. It helps to have an idea of how far way that dot might be from your target.
 
 
 
In order to calculate the maximum possible deviation you can use the constants provided for the type of probe, the scan size your probes are set to, and your skill level of Astrometric Pinpointing.
 
 
 
Here is the formula:
 
 
 
Max Deviation = (Scan Range / Base Scan Range) * Base Maximum Deviation * (1 - (Pinpointing Skill * .1))
 
 
 
Below is a table that shows how your pinpointing skill affects the maximum possible deviation of scanner probes.  Keep in mind that sisters probes and/or launchers have no effect on maximum deviation however they do have an effect on signal strength which therefore will affect the devation that you see in your scans.
 
 
 
{| class="DeviationTable"
 
 
|-
 
|-
!
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! To find this item !! Use this kind of scanner
! colspan="7" align="center" | Astrometric Pinpointing Skill Level
 
!
 
 
|-
 
|-
! align="left" | Scan Range
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| Names of objects within 14AU of your ship || [[#Overview, Map and Directional Scan|Overview, D-scan, Map]]
!
 
! L 0
 
! L 1
 
! L 2
 
! L 3
 
! L 4
 
! L 5
 
!
 
 
|-
 
|-
|
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| Locations or coordinates of objects || [[#Probe Scanning|Probe]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''0.25''' |||| 0.125 || 0.1125 || 0.100 || 0.0875 || 0.075 || 0.0625 || ('''Note: Combat scanner probes have a minimum scan range of 0.5 AU.''')
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| Asteroid belt || [[#Overview, Map and Directional Scan|Overview, D-scan, Map]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''0.5''' |||| .25 || .225 || .2 || .175 || .15 || .125 ||||
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| Asteroid size and composition || [[#Survey Scanning|Survey]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''1''' |||| .5 || .45 || .4 || .35 || .3 || .25 ||||
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| Ice belt || [[#Overview, Map and Directional Scan|Overview, D-scan, Map]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''2''' |||| 1 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 0.5 ||||
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| Ice size and composition || [[#Survey Scanning|Survey]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''4''' |||| 2 || 1.8 || 1.6 || 1.4 || 1.2 || 1 ||||
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| Gas cloud || [[#Overview, Map and Directional Scan|Overview, D-scan, Map]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''8''' |||| 4 || 3.6 || 3.2 || 2.8 || 2.4 || 2 ||||
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| Moon mining || [[#Probe Scanning|Survey Probe]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''16''' |||| 8 || 7.2 || 6.4 || 5.6 || 4.8 || 4 ||||
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| Wormhole || [[#Probe Scanning|Scan Probe]]
 
|-
 
|-
| '''32''' |||| 16 || 14.4 || 12.8 || 11.2 || 9.6 || 8 ||||
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| Player piloted ships || [[#Probe Scanning|Combat Probe]]
|-
 
| '''64''' |||| 32 || 28.8 || 25.6 || 22.4 || 19.2 || 16 || ('''Note: Core scanner probes have a maximum scan range of 32 AU.''')
 
 
|}
 
|}
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Follow the links below for more detailed information.
  
Note how as your Astrometric Pinpointing skill increases, the maximum deviation at each increment of the probes' scan range decreases.  Referring to the table for an example, if you have no skill in Astrometric Pinpointing, with your probes set to a 4 AU scan range your maximum deviation is as much as 2 AU.  Increasing your Astrometric Pinpointing skill to level 4 reduces the maximum scan deviation at a 4 AU scan range to 1.2 AU.
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== Overview, Map and Directional Scan ==
 
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[[image:Opendscan.jpg|thumb]]
Another thing to note is that both combat and core scanner probes experience the same maximum deviations at the same scan ranges.  The reason is that although the core scanner probe has a base maximum deviation of 0.125 AU and the combat scanner probe has a base maximum deviation of 0.25 AU (implying the core probe is more accurate), the two types of probes have base scan ranges of 0.25 AU and 0.5 AU, respectively.  Plugging those numbers into the equation above yields the same maximum deviations at each scan range for both kinds of probe.
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Every ship in EVE comes with an onboard [[Overview]] window that can be configured to show planets, asteroid belts, moons, stations, and other useful objects in the current system. A thorough study of the Overview is highly recommended because it is difficult to play EVE without this information.
 
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Every ship in EVE also comes with an onboard [[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.  
==Ship Equipment==
 
=== Rigs ===
 
 
 
*Gravity Capacitor Upgrade
 
 
 
This rig increases the scan strength of your probes by 10%, which is ''not'' subject to the usual [[Stacking_penalties|stacking penalties]]. Installing the T1 rig only requires Jury Rigging 1. With the release of small rigs, you can now rig the usual scanning ships very inexpensively.
 
 
 
===Ships===
 
====Tech 1 (T1) Frigates====
 
Each race has a T1 frigate with a 7.5% increase to scan strength of probes per level of racial frigate skill trained:
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Magnate Magnate] ([[Amarr]])
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Heron Heron] ([[Caldari]])
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Imicus Imicus] ([[Gallente]])
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Probe Probe] ([[Minmatar]])
 
 
 
====Tech 2 (T2) [[CovOps]]====
 
Covops ships get a 10% per level bonus to scanning.  Note that you must uncloak to launch scan probes, but you can use them and recover them while remaining cloaked.
 
 
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Anathema Anathema] ([[Amarr]])
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Buzzard Buzzard] ([[Caldari]])
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Helios Helios] ([[Gallente]])
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Cheetah Cheetah] ([[Minmatar]])
 
 
 
====T3 Cruisers====
 
[[Strategic_Cruiser|Strategic cruisers]] can be fitted with a subsystem that gives them probing bonuses.  If you're in a roaming gang of strategic cruisers, this might be useful -- but note that you can buy about 50 covops ships for the price of one of these. 
 
 
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Legion Legion] ([[Amarr]]) utilizing [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Legion_Electronics_-_Emergent_Locus_Analyzer Emergent Locus Analyzer]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Tengu Tengu] ([[Caldari]]) utilizing [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Tengu_Electronics_-_Emergent_Locus_Analyzer Emergent Locus Analyzer]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Proteus Proteus] ([[Gallente]]) utilizing [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Proteus_Electronics_-_Emergent_Locus_Analyzer Emergent Locus Analyzer]
 
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Loki Loki] ([[Minmatar]]) utilizing [http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Loki_Electronics_-_Emergent_Locus_Analyzer Emergent Locus Analyzer]
 
 
 
===Modules===
 
Each of these is available in a standard and a faction (Sisters of Eve) version.  The faction versions give scan strength and cycle time bonuses.
 
 
 
====Core Probe Launcher====
 
This module has modest fitting requirements, but can only use core scan probes, not combat or specialty probes.
 
 
 
====Expanded Probe Launcher====
 
This module is a pain to fit, due to the high CPU requirements.  However, it's the only launcher that can fire combat scanner probes, deep core probes, and explorer (moon) probes.
 
 
 
==Scan Results==
 
 
 
Once the target's signal strength reaches 25%, the scan result will display one of the following 5 groups. If it is a group that doesn't interest you, it is safe to move on at this point.
 
 
 
===Gas===
 
[[Scanning:Scan Results#Gas_Sites|Gas]] sites are harvestable gas clouds.
 
To utilize this type of exploration site, [[mining:Gas Clouds|Gas Harvesting]] is required.
 
 
 
===Relic===
 
[[Scanning:Scan Results#Relic_Sites|Relic]] sites contain [[Archaeology]] items.
 
To utilize this type of exploration site, [[Archaeology]] will be required.
 
 
 
===Data===
 
[[Scanning:Scan Results#Data_Sites|Data Sites]] sites contain [[Hacking]] items.
 
To utilize this type of exploration site, [[Hacking]] will be required.
 
 
 
 
 
====Combat====
 
[[Scanning:Scan Results#Unknown|Combat]] sites are locations to kill [[NPC]] [[Ratting|Rats]].
 
To utilize this type of exploration site, '''combat skills''' will be required.
 
 
 
====Wormholes====
 
[[Scanning:Scan Results#Unknown|Wormholes]] are portals to and from Wormhole Space ([[W-Space]]) and Known Space ([[K-Space]])
 
For further information see [[Wormholes]] main article.
 
 
 
==Scanning & Probing Techniques and Tricks==
 
 
 
See [[Smurfprime's Probing Guide]] for a complete guide on how to probe down a signature.
 
 
 
===Rearranging Probes===
 
*Holding SHIFT or ALT modifies all active probes at once. SHIFT moves them all together, ALT makes them zoom in or out around their common center. This allows for some very fast repositioning of probes.
 
*The probe-cubes can be clicked and dragged.  If you grab the top or bottom, they slide on a horizontal plane, if you grab the sides of the cube, they slide on a vertical plane. This is why every so often you grab the cube and it slides away to somewhere weird- you accidentally grabbed the side of the cube instead of the top.
 
 
 
===Probe Placement===
 
Scan Probe Placement (With 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 probes). You can find any site with just 4 probes, assuming you have enough sensor strength.  If the site is too weak, you can pile on additional probes and it may work.
 
 
 
===Quick Scans===
 
Can be performed with or without deep space probes.
 
Deep space probes are primarily useful in very huge system.  However, they are very weak, making them less useful than other probes for finding anything but deep-safe-spotted ships in very large systems.
 
 
 
===Where to Find Sites===
 
Sites only seem to spawn in a sphere 4 AU around celestials (may only be planets).
 
If you are scanning large reaches of empty space, you might find mission sites and abandoned drones, but probably not much else.
 
 
 
===Solar System Map===
 
The Solar System Map can not only be rotated using the Left Mouse Button, but panned using the Right Mouse Button as well.
 
Clicking an object (celestial body, station, probe, etc.) changes the pivot point when rotating with the Left Mouse Button.
 
 
 
===Loading Probes===
 
Carry exactly twice as many probes as you use at a time. When you load your launcher initially, only load the amount of probes you can have active.  (For example, if you can have 5 probes active, carry 10 but only load 5.)  As soon as you've launched your maximum number of probes and are busy placing them, the launcher will automatically load the next stack -- exactly the amount you need for the next system.  That way, the launcher will always be ready without you ever having to manually load it.  All you have to do is remember to recall them before moving to the next system.
 
 
 
===Results, and What They Mean===
 
*Sphere:  The result is somewhere in the sphere.  One probe only has a hit and approximate range.  You ''can'' get multiple probes with independent hits, it can be messy.  This is the least accurate hit.
 
*Circle:  Two probes have approximate distances.  More accurate, and likely to yield better hits with more probes.
 
*Two Dots:  Three probes have distances, which narrows it down to two possible locations.  Likely to be more or less accurate, but beware of deviation.
 
*One Dot:  Four probes can see the result.  Once scan strength reaches 100%, the result will be warpable.
 
 
 
===Quick and Dirty How-To ===
 
*Drop as many probes as needed to cover the system.  This can be as few as one Core probe, but larger systems may require more.  Scan, and use the filter to limit your results to what you want to find.
 
 
 
*Once you get a result, position probes to cover that result.  This may be as easy as moving them around a little, or covering a sphere.  Either way, keep in mind results from long range scans are ''very'' inaccurate sometimes.
 
 
 
*With luck, you will get one result.  If you get circles, or more spheres, your initial guess was off and you need to reposition and try again.  One way to easily cover a sphere-result, is to put 4 probes around the edges at enough range to cover the entire sphere.  Put them at whatever you want to call the top bottom, left and right, looking down from above.  If this is impractical, overlap the sphere as much as possible and try to narrow it down to a circle-result.
 
 
 
*Once you get it down to one result, close probes in, bring them to the same plane as the result, drop scan radius, and re-scan.  4 probes with enough strength is all that is required to find anything.  One way to do this is to position the probes in a square around the result, with 4 of the slide arrows touching the result-circle.
 
 
 
*Repeat the process of dropping range, positioning arrows on the result circle, and rescanning until you get your result.  If you hit the minimum probe range and still can't get 100%, try repositioning your probes more carefully & one at a time.  There are some sites that you may not be able to probe -- to get them, you can use Sisters launcher & probes, rig your ship, buy hardwired scanning implants, and/or train higher levels of the relevant skills.
 
 
 
* You can increase scanning strength, in extreme cases, by placing a 5th probe on top of the signal, carefully arranged between the other 4 probes.
 
 
 
* Note that core probes can go to half the range and therefore twice the strength of combat probes.  When scanning difficult sites, you may need to switch to core probes.
 
  
==Detecting Site Type With a Single Deep Space Probe==
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This equipment can be used to search for [[Cosmic Anomalies]] (including ice belts and gas clouds) and other objects not found on the Overview.
information used for this section mostly gleaned from this guide found here: http://swiftandbitter.com/eve/dsp/index.html
 
  
===Deep Space Scanner Probes===
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In addition, each ship has a [[Directional Scanner|Solar System Map]] that displays the overview and directional scanning data in graphic form.
[http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Deep_Space_Scanner_Probe_I Deep Space Scanner Probes] have the longest range of any probe (256AU at max) which means that they can detect every site in any system in one scan.  This combined with the fact that every site has a base signal resolution strength means that a single probe can be used to distinguish types of sites with a single scan allowing a knowledgeable explorer to ignore sites that they are not interested in.
 
  
===Using SwiftAndBitter's Website===
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== Survey Scanning ==
From the site linked above, there is also a wonderful webpage that allows the user to input their personal Deep Space Probe base scan strength and generate a table of what signatures will appear with what signal strength.  From there, ignore sites with strengths that are uninteresting, pull out your Core Probes, and scan away.  [http://swiftandbitter.com/eve/dsp/highsec.html Signature Band Table Generator]
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Asteroid and ice miners may use [[Mining#Survey_scanner|survey scanners]] to measure distances to various targets and monitor their volume as they are mined. Survey scanners typically measure resource type, quantity and distance. They have a maximum range of 15 km (23 km with T2), and they occupy a mid-level fitting slot.
  
Remember, you must insert your personal base scan strength of your own probes, this can be found by loading your launcher on your scanning ship with a Deep Space Probe, then selecting "Show Charge Info" from the fitting window.
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While the range of a scanner is small, the scanned asteroids stay in the menu if the scanner is run again at a different point within the same grid. Therefore, it is possible to get the contents of the entire belt/anomaly by scanning it multiple times at different spots without closing the survey scanner window.
  
==Links==
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== Probe Scanning ==
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Every ship in EVE except for 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. Such probes provide distance and coordinate information. A probe launcher will take up a high fitting slot.
  
*[[Smurfprime's Probing Guide]]
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A probe launcher can launch various types of probes:
*A very good video guide on scanning with 5 probes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heYfTA00Idg
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* "[[Probe scanning|Scan]]" probes are used extensively in [[Exploration]] to find [[wormholes]] and other [[Cosmic Anomalies]]. They are also used to find PvE [[combat sites]] and other [[cosmic signatures]].
*Seamus's guide to scanning with 7 probes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTf4ZYPAX1s
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* "Combat" probes can pinpoint the location of other ships. These are most frequently used in PvP.
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* [[Moon mining]] uses specialized [[Moon_mining#Equipment|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. (Note that these are ''probes'' and must be launched - as opposed to the use of a survey ''scanner'' as described above.)
  
[[Category:Guides]]
 
 
[[Category:Exploration]]
 
[[Category:Exploration]]

Latest revision as of 13:10, 9 April 2024

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

Finding things with scanning

This table shows the type of scanning you will most likely use when looking for a specific result.

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 Survey Probe
Wormhole Scan Probe
Player piloted ships Combat Probe

Follow the links below for more detailed information.

Overview, Map and Directional Scan

Opendscan.jpg

Every ship in EVE comes with an onboard Overview window that can be configured to show planets, asteroid belts, moons, stations, and other useful objects in the current system. A thorough study of the Overview is highly recommended because it is difficult to play EVE without this information. Every ship in EVE also comes with an onboard 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 and ice miners may use survey scanners to measure distances to various targets and monitor their volume as they are mined. Survey scanners typically measure resource type, quantity and distance. They have a maximum range of 15 km (23 km with T2), and they occupy a mid-level fitting slot.

While the range of a scanner is small, the scanned asteroids stay in the menu if the scanner is run again at a different point within the same grid. Therefore, it is possible to get the contents of the entire belt/anomaly by scanning it multiple times at different spots without closing the survey scanner window.

Probe Scanning

Every ship in EVE except for 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. Such probes provide distance and coordinate information. A probe launcher will take up a high fitting slot.

A probe launcher can launch various types of probes:

  • "Scan" probes are used extensively in Exploration to find wormholes and other Cosmic Anomalies. They are also used to find PvE combat sites and other cosmic signatures.
  • "Combat" probes can pinpoint the location of other ships. These are most frequently used in PvP.
  • Moon mining uses 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. (Note that these are probes and must be launched - as opposed to the use of a survey scanner as described above.)