Scanning

Scanning records species in your journal index. You carry your Scanner from the start, and scanning leaves the target in place.

Record a species

Equip the scanner and point it at a plant, a mineral, debris, a robot or a small creature. For an unrecorded species, the focus card shows its name and SCAN. Hold the action button until the progress fills to record it. The index records the day and biome where you found it. The scanner does not offer SCAN for a species already recorded in the index. Scanning uses no battery charge.

Chart the planet by walking

The planet starts under fog. Walking reveals the map around you, and that ground stays revealed. Charting is separate from scanning. The journal tracks your progress under PLANET CHARTED. The DISCOVER PLANET guide task requires you to chart part of the planet.

What the index gives you

A discovered species' card records where you first found it. A card that reads POINT THE SCANNER AT ONE is still unknown. While you hold the scanner, scanning an unrecorded species takes priority over gathering from it. The ship's calls can mention species you have scanned. The journal counts them under SPECIES SCANNED. See Getting started and Reaching milestones.