Best inspirational star map?
November 11, 2009 3:09 PM Subscribe
Looking for the best click-zoomable star map. I especially want the new Hubble hi-res photos and a clean interface.
I once found an lovely clean website that allowed clicking from eye ball through to hubble resolutions. The sites Google offer me are very cluttered and 1997-ish. They also offer too much information without an easy way to just look at stars and feel small. Any help?
I once found an lovely clean website that allowed clicking from eye ball through to hubble resolutions. The sites Google offer me are very cluttered and 1997-ish. They also offer too much information without an easy way to just look at stars and feel small. Any help?
You don't have to download Google Earth to see their starmap -- they offer Google Sky online in a searchable Google Maps-style interface.
posted by Rhaomi at 4:29 PM on November 11, 2009
posted by Rhaomi at 4:29 PM on November 11, 2009
Stellarium is a great, free, zoomable, planetarium like program. It will even diplay constellations using traditional Chinese, ancient Egyptian and Polynesian astronomy.
I don't think it has Hubble hi-res though.
posted by Sustainable Chiles at 5:33 PM on November 11, 2009
I don't think it has Hubble hi-res though.
posted by Sustainable Chiles at 5:33 PM on November 11, 2009
Not sure if it matches your criteria, but maybe this? Designed by these guys.
posted by daisyace at 7:00 PM on November 11, 2009
posted by daisyace at 7:00 PM on November 11, 2009
Two of my previous Metafilter posts may be of interest. First there's this one, which isn't a star map per se but it is awesome, will let you look at stars and will totally make you feel small.
The second is a star map from the Gigagalaxy Zoom Project. It reveals the full sky as it appears with the unaided eye from one of the darkest deserts on Earth, then zooms in on a rich region of the Milky Way to reveal three amazing, ultra-high-resolution images of the night sky that online stargazers can zoom in on and explore in an incredible level of detail.
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:35 PM on November 11, 2009
The second is a star map from the Gigagalaxy Zoom Project. It reveals the full sky as it appears with the unaided eye from one of the darkest deserts on Earth, then zooms in on a rich region of the Milky Way to reveal three amazing, ultra-high-resolution images of the night sky that online stargazers can zoom in on and explore in an incredible level of detail.
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:35 PM on November 11, 2009
I think it should probably be pointed out that the Hubble has not surveyed the entire sky. It isn't possible; it would take centuries.
One of the best survey instruments available now is the big Schmidt scope at Palomar Observatory. It has a 4-degree square field of view. They have photographed the entire visible sky from that location with it more than once. The first time took 7 years.
If you use a tool which has Hubble pictures in it, they'll be patchy and it'll feel somewhat unnatural.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 12:27 PM on November 12, 2009
One of the best survey instruments available now is the big Schmidt scope at Palomar Observatory. It has a 4-degree square field of view. They have photographed the entire visible sky from that location with it more than once. The first time took 7 years.
If you use a tool which has Hubble pictures in it, they'll be patchy and it'll feel somewhat unnatural.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 12:27 PM on November 12, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:22 PM on November 11, 2009