Name a Star
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Free sky map for any date and place

Type a date, a time and a town, and the map shows every star you could see from there, free. It works for any date from 1800 to 2200. Tap a star to learn its name, colour and how bright it is. If you want a poster to print, the Star Keepsake + Sky Map (US$15) makes a large sky map with your chosen star named.

1Choose the date and place

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2Pick a real star

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    Or tap any star on the map. Stars the IAU has already named (like Vega or Sirius) are never offered.

    North is at the top and east is on the left, as when you lie on your back and look up. The edge is the horizon.
    3Give it a name

    What you type stays on this device. It is never sent to us or to the payment page.

    4Preview your keepsake

    The real download has no PREVIEW marks and is full size (A4 or US Letter, 300 dpi), with a second page that shows how to find the star.

    Download only: nothing is printed or posted. You pay on Stripe’s secure page; any sales tax or VAT is shown there before you pay. Refunds: 30 days, no questions asked. Other people can pick the same star, because no one can own a star or its name.

    How to read the map

    • The middle of the circle is straight above your head. The edge is the horizon all round you.
    • North is at the top, so east is on the left and west on the right. This is how the sky looks when you lie on your back with your head to the north.
    • Bigger dots are brighter stars. A slight orange or blue tint shows the star’s real colour.
    • The faint rings show 30° and 60° above the horizon. Your fist at arm’s length is about 10°.

    Where the stars come from

    The map uses the Bright Star Catalogue: about 9,100 stars down to the faintest you can see with your eyes. We move each star to its place for your date (stars drift slowly, and the Earth’s axis wobbles over centuries), then work out where it stands in your sky. We test the results against the US Naval Observatory and a planetarium program, and they agree to within a few thousandths of a degree.

    The map does not show the Moon or the planets, and it draws no constellation lines.

    Questions about the sky map

    How do I read the sky map?

    Hold it over your head: the middle is straight up and the edge is the horizon all round you. North is at the top, so east is on the left. Bigger dots are brighter stars.

    Is the free sky map accurate?

    Yes, for stars. We work out each star’s place from its catalogue position with the standard formulas astronomers use, and test the results against the US Naval Observatory and a planetarium program. The Moon and planets are not shown.

    Can I get a big printable sky map?

    Yes: the Star Keepsake + Sky Map (US$15) adds a 3,000 by 4,000 pixel poster of the sky for your date and place, as a PNG and a PDF, with your star and its name marked.