[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

What tells me the distance is normally the distance away from the star plus when I get the message. So if I am moving towards the star and time compression stop and the message pops up with my orders I make a circle from the star to my current position and stay inside and I have never had an issue.

yeah, i love those missions, however, as you have probably noticed, not all missions have that kind of sign.
some missions actually have a range circle on the nav map.

there is a set of mission commands that will allow modders to create those mission features. me.... i would rather play than mod.
i am sure that propbeanie will tell us how it all works (sorry, pal) but if you browse the patrol objectives folder and see how many mission files are there you will understand the size of the task to change them and add patrol-range-circles.
so, take your best estimate for range and go out and sink 'em all.