Trouble with Planetary transfers

[Geo793]

I've always had trouble with going to other planets, to the point of relying completely on mechjeb for anything between planets. What are some tips you guys have for me?

[Jetski]

Burn prograde to leave Kerbin SOI, but wait until your orbit is pointed the right way.  You should just start passing between the sun and kerbin at mid burn to go to Eve and in (Kerbin retrograde), and opposite side of the planet for Duna and out (Kerbin prograde).

Burn as close to Kerbin as possible.  Like 71K.

Transfer window planner is really useful, but you can eyeball it close if you have to.  If Kerbol system is a clock, Duna should be 1-2 hours ahead, Eve 1-2 hours behind.  Really roughly.

Play with the manouver nodes a lot, when you do a prograde burn to leave Kerbin SOI, make sure the yellow vector of the node (once you've stretched it out enough to reach the other planet orbit) is parallel to Kerbins orbit, either prograde (for Duna and outer planets) or retrograde (Eve and Moho).  That gives you max efficiency.  Don't burn until you have an intercept on your manouver node.  If you can't get close, try rotating the node to a different place in orbit instead of using the blue arms (radial and anti-radial).  Or wait for a better window.

Jool is easy to catch, if you have time.  Huge SOI and big moons for a gravicapture.

Dres is a pain, small SOI and inclined orbit.  Make your first node stretch to where you think is close, then place a second node at the green arrow (ascending or descending node) that's about halfway.  Play with that node using the purple arms until you have an intercept.  If it doesn't work, keep trying

Hope this helps

[Snark]

Gameplay question moved to Gameplay Questions.

[FullMetalMachinist]

17 hours ago, Geo793 said:

I've always had trouble with going to other planets, to the point of relying completely on mechjeb for anything between planets. What are some tips you guys have for me?

I would practice by doing transfers between Mun and Minmus. The mechanics are exactly the same. You can use a transfer planner to help you know when/where to plot your maneuver nodes. I like http://ksp.olex.biz/ because it's easy to understand with the pictures, and the UI is really simple (although https://alexmoon.github.io/ksp/ is also really good, or you can use the in-game Transfer Window Planner).  

If you're just getting the hang of the whole thing, I would suggest going from Minmus to Mun (rather than Mun->Minmus) because the Mun's SOI is bigger, so it should be a easier target to hit. 

Minmus being on an inclined orbit does complicate things a bit, but I think it's worth it for three reasons:
     One, the dV requirements are stupidly low (once you get out there), so with a light and efficient ship you should be able to do several practice transfers.
     Two, the distances are small enough that you don't have to sit at max time warp for minutes at a time just to get to the next transfer window to practice again.
     And three, a few of the other planet's orbits are inclined as well, so you might as well get used to the idea early on. 

Also, and this is just personal preference, but I would suggest using Kerbal Alarm Clock and Precise Node to help you out. If you're really uncertain you can use MechJeb to do the transfers and watch what it does, but I think there's no substitute for getting in there and trying it out yourself. Then once you feel comfortable with the tools and the procedures, go interplanetary. I personally think Duna is the easiest target. 

Hope this helps, and if you have any specific questions/problems let us know! 

(Oh, and fair warning. Moho is a tricky little devil to get to without using obscene amounts of dV, so be careful. There's a pretty specific way to get there besides the normal Hohmann transfer windows.  Really good info here.)

[N_Danger]

 I have never been able to get MJ's maneuver planner to work all the time for me but I always use MJ's maneuver node editor. (I think it is similar to the Precise Node mentioned above)

When you get an intercept with a SOI of a planet or moon you can focus the view on it and then use the editor to adjust the trajectory precisely.

And the advice to practice using the moons of Kerben is right on target. 

[FullMetalMachinist]

2 hours ago, N_Danger said:

When you get an intercept with a SOI of a planet or moon you can focus the view on it and then use the editor to adjust the trajectory precisely.

I forgot to mention this bit in my first answer, which is a shame because it's great to know. 

It's also the main reason that I use Precise Node to begin with. Getting any 'ole intercept with the stock tools is pretty easy. But once you focus on your destination to tweak it better, the stock node editor quickly turns to rubbish. 

Also, I didn't know that MechJeb had a node editor tool (never used it), good to know.