Star Map / Chart

star map / chart is a celestial night sky map with astronomical objects laid out on a grid system. They identify and locate constellations, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and planets. They have been used for human navigation since time immemorial. Note that a star chart differs from an astronomical catalogue, which lists or tabulates astronomical objects for a particular purpose. Tools using a star chart include the astrolabe and planisphere.


Figure 1: A celestial map by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit, 1670.

Figure 2: Modern Star Chart

Figure 3: Circular Map of the Observable Universe (distance/time increases towards perimeter).