In both SC2 and SC3, the map took the entire screen, it was easier to click on a specific star to navigate to. In Star Control Origin, it's much more difficult to do so. Granted, this game has greater resolution, but I'm finding it difficult to use as is.
Have you tried the mouse scroll wheel? Zooms in on cursor location, you can also pan the map as well.
A yellow check mark if I've scanned it, possibly visited but not investigated Ruins/Ships because of defenses indicating I should return at some point and a green check mark if I've visited the planet, scanned it and there is nothing left interesting there.
Its subtle, but there is a yellow/orange line under the planet name when you left click on it - this means you haven't scanned it yet. It turns green after you have completed the scan.
To your other suggestions - there is a marker function that you can place on stars of interest. I tend to use different colours for different items - red for aliens, yellow for fuel, purple for RU rich worlds.
I'd like to see an sensor upgrade for the flagship that provides more information on planets when you enter the solar system (like planet type, maybe resource types on planet, unknown objects, etc).