Sketching astronomical objects
This site is dedicated to my astronomical drawings.
Sketching deep-sky objects helps to improve observing skills.
Over time - my technique should become better...
- You are here:
-
Home
-
English (en-GB)
-
Star maps
- Star maps - Articles
Self made
Star maps
Star maps - Articles
Last update: Saturday, January 21, 2016
These maps can be used for quickly finding the brightest objects or as overview charts for the the 9m0 star atlas.
A friendly star map user, did send us a handy template for printing LED finder scope circles for download. Thanks for sharing!
Clear Skies!
Last update: Saturday, November 22, 2014
We optimized the maps for use with an 8x50 finding scope. Here you can read why we did so. Please visit the Review of all 9m0 maps page for more information about the rev and new labels.
Some useful resources are: a legend for the 9m0 star maps (including circle templates for finder scopes), a guide on how to print the maps and a constellation list with their highest altitudes for best observation time of the year.
Use the 6m5 star atlas if you need overview charts for the maps. Clear skies!
| Andromeda rev | Circinus | Lacerta new | Pisces Austrinus |
| Antlia | Columba | Leo rev | Puppis rev |
| Apus | Coma Berenices rev | Leo Minor rev | Pyxis |
| Aquarius new | Corona Australis | Lepus rev | Reticulum |
| Aquila rev | Corona Borealis new | Libra new | Sagitta new |
| Ara | Corvus rev | Lupus | Sagittarius new |
| Aries new | Crater rev | Lynx rev | Scorpius new |
| Auriga rev | Crux | Lyra new | Sculptor |
| Bootes rev | Cygnus rev | Mensa | Scutum new |
| Caelum | Delphinus new | Microscopium | Serpens new |
| Camelopardalis new | Dorado | Monoceros rev | Sextans rev |
| Cancer rev | Draco new | Musca | Taurus new |
| Canes Venatici rev | Equuleus new | Norma | Telescopium |
| Canis Major rev | Eridanus new | Octans | Triangulum new |
| Canis Minor rev | Fornax | Ophiuchus new | Triangulum Australe |
| Capricornus new | Gemini rev | Orion rev | Tucana |
| Carina | Grus | Pavo | Ursa Major new |
| Cassiopeia rev | Hercules new | Pegasus new | Ursa Minor new |
| Centaurus | Horologium | Perseus new | Vela |
| Cepheus new | Hydra rev | Phoenix | Virgo rev |
| Cetus new | Hydrus | Pictor | Volans |
| Chameleon | Indus | Pisces new | Vulpecula new |
Monday, October 20, 2014
You can read here, why I started to produce my own star maps. Another article explains the importance of limiting magnitude.
Since 2012 a friend is supporting the creation of this star map project. Together we continuously improve the quality of the PDF maps and the object databases behind behind them. On this pages we publish new maps and map updates as they become available.
The aim is to publish 2 complete sky atlases, each with different limiting magnitudes and scaling. All maps are made with StarMapStudio using its object databases and projection methods.
6m5 star atlas : constellation overview maps
- 6m5 stars with Bayer labeling
- Messier and Caldwell objects
- 5 mm per degree / 4 or 3 mm per degree for big constellations.
Click here to go to 6m star map download page
9m0 star atlas : maps for 8x50 finding scope
- 9m0 stars with Flamsteed labeling
- Saguaro / NGC objects up to 12m0
- 10 mm per degree
Click here to download the free 9m0 star map download page
About the free downloads
All astronomical data for the star maps were taken from free database sources on the internet.
Object databases:
Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg
Saguaro Astronomy Club: SAC Database
Star database:
SKY2000 Catalog, Version 4 (Myers+ 2002)
All star maps are licensed under a Creative Commons – Attribution – NonCommercial license.
