How We Create the Star Maps

Yes it really is. Aside from plotting the visible constellations, it’s exactly what you would see from horizon to horizon over your head if there was zero light pollution. We include the cardinal directions North, South, East, West on a compass surrounding the outside so you can get your bearings. The stars near the outside edges are the ones closest to the horizon, and the ones in the middle were what you would have seen if you looked straight up. While it would be impossible to see this many stars, planets and the Milky Way galaxy with the human eye from most populated places on earth, we do everything we can to make it possible for you and your loved ones.

We use the same software that the projectors in planetariums use. Star catalogs and and astronomical databases have mapped out the galactic coordinates of every star, planet and galaxy visible from earth. This galactic coordinate system enables an accurate image to be generated from any point on earth at any time in the last 100 years. We then define a stereographic projection from your chosen location to create your 100% unique night sky. It’s not really as complicated as it sounds.

Yes you definitely can. By default we use 11:00pm on the date you choose, or you can pick anytime of night or early morning. If you’d like a time during the daylight we can do that too but the sun will be showing. It looks like a very large star (see below). We can still render what it would look like if it was completely dark at that time, with all the stars and everything showing nicely, it just wouldn’t be realistic to our eyes. If the time of day is important then most people will do it because obviously the stars and planets are still there even if we can’t with our own eyes.

The Sun in a daytime star map

How To Order

We currently sell on Etsy and offer a number of different versions including digital download options, unframed posters and fully framed prints. We have sold over 2000 on Etsy and have 240+ 5-star reviews. We’ve recently launched our unframed posters on Amazon.com as well.  You can see all our current listings on our Etsy profile page here, and Amazon Storefront here.

Etsy is an online marketplace featuring all kinds of handmade and custom made products. We use it to get our wide range of product styles found by a larger international market, and for their secure payment and messaging system. Since each star map is custom made – and we send a digital proof for your approval  before the design is finalized – we use their instant messaging system with email notifications for back and forth communication. It keeps things simple for our customers and us so we can stay organized and handle a higher volume of orders.

Yes, you’ll need to sign up for an Etsy, but you’re not putting in any more information than you would to buy anything online. We need to be able to contact you when your design is ready, and keep you updated during your order, and that’s easiest for both of us through their online messaging systems that will send notifications directly to your email address.

Ordering on Etsy

Visit our Etsy store and choose what type of star map you like, we have a variety of different options and design styles.

You can choose between a digital version that you download and get printed yourself locally at somewhere like Staples/Office Depot or a local printing shop, or a printed poster or framed poster that we ship to you.

Once you add a product to cart, there’s an “Add a note” box on the checkout page where you can choose the background color and customize the text, date, and location. The place can be a city or exact address and we’ll lookup and list the coordinates.

To recap, we need:

︎ The color: black, blue, white, or custom color
︎ The custom text: quote/message/child’s name etc
︎ The date: (we use 11pm local time by default unless you choose a custom time)
︎ The location: city or exact address

If you want to change anything or have any special requests after completing your purchase, it’s no problem at all. Just send us a message through Etsy with your edits or questions and we’ll get back to you asap. You’ll get an email notification as soon as we respond.

We’ll create your design within 48 hours (usually sooner), and send you a message with a link to view a digital proof of your design for you to approve or make any changes.

Once you’re over the moon about your design we send you the final file and/or send it to be printed and shipped.

Turnaround Time & Shipping Information

We create your design within 48 hours of your order, after you approve the design it will be printed and processed within 1-2 business days for printed posters, or 3-5 business days for framed prints. Shipping times and rates depend on the product you’re ordering and where you live (see individual listings for exact shipping costs).

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