Fine-tuning intercept orbits?

[vger]

So, I'm tweaking my high orbit burn. After a few failures, I quickly discovered that I could plot my intercept by altering the planned orbit until the two "nearest" node markers line up, after which they would quickly be replaced by the 'encounter' and 'escape' nodes. Good, so far, right? Until I get to the encounter node and I find out just how close (or not close) to the target body I really am.

When I can see the 'nearest' node markers, I can mouse over them and find out how close it is to the actual target. In the case of other planets, this is usually a few million km. The trouble is, one I find the 'encounter' nodes, I no longer have access to the distance. Ideally, I should be able to tweak the orbit further (a hundred days out or more) to ensure that I intercept at a closer distance, but I see no way (outside of using mechjeb's autopilot) to accomplish this. When I hit my encounter node, I want to at least be less than a million km away, but from what I can tell, there's no way to do it. I then end up having to execute a 2-3 minute burn to achieve a stable orbit, when a 5-second burn 100 days ago would've made this as easy as pie.

Is there something I'm overlooking or is there actually no functionality for this?

[Kasuha]

When you get an encounter node, the trajectory around the target planet is plotted. And that trajectory has a periapsis marker (unless the intercept bug manifests). The value of the periapsis altitude is your new distance measure.

For further tweaking of the orbit (highly recommended!) it is good to edit your settings.cfg file and set up:

CONIC_PATCH_DRAW_MODE = 0

With this setting, the trajectory after intercept is actually drawn around the target planet and you focus on it and watch how your trajectory changes as you refine the maneuver or apply corrections e.g. using RCS.

Edited February 26, 2014 by Kasuha

[capi3101]

If you're not adverse to mods, you might give PreciseNode a whirl. In addition to allowing you to fine-tune the particulars of your maneuver nodes, it allows you to switch the conic patch draw mode in game. One extra (nice) bonus is that it has a button that will let you refocus on your craft.

Stock game, go with Kasuha's advice.

[thomasjkenney]

+1 on capi3101's recommend of PreciseNode (if you're willing to use any mods). It doesn't really add anything to the game, so not very mod'ish. It just gives you finer granular control that is an augmentation of the maneuver node widget. I'm playing 0.23 Career mode, and it's the only mod I will use until I max out my tech tree.

[Kryxal]

If you switch the conics, don't forget that you can then tab your way to focusing on the destination planet and work from there to some extent, then backspace to return focus.