4 - Creating a Basic Map

Tutorial - Map Plot

The zenith star chart is known as a perspective projection, which means it depends on a time and place. They're useful for many things in astronomy, but Starplot also lets you create general-purpose maps of the sky that are independent of location (well, technically they still assume you're somewhere on Earth 😆).

For example, here's how you can create a map that shows the area around Orion:

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from starplot import MapPlot, Projection
from starplot.styles import PlotStyle, extensions

style = PlotStyle().extend(
    extensions.BLUE_LIGHT,
    extensions.MAP,
    {
        "bayer_labels": {
            "font_name": "GFS Didot",  # use a better font for Greek letters
            "font_size": 7,
            "font_alpha": 0.9,
        },
        "legend": {
            "location": "lower right",  # show legend inside map
            "num_columns": 1,
            "background_alpha": 1,
        },
    },
)

p = MapPlot(
    projection=Projection.MERCATOR,  # specify a non-perspective projection
    ra_min=3.6,  # limit the map to a specific area
    ra_max=7.8,
    dec_min=-15,
    dec_max=27,
    style=style,
    resolution=3600,
)

p.gridlines()  # add gridlines

p.stars(mag=9, bayer_labels=True)  # include bayer labels with the stars

p.nebula(mag=9, labels=None)
p.open_clusters(mag=9, labels=None)

p.constellations()
p.constellation_borders()
p.milky_way()
p.ecliptic()

p.legend()  # add a legend

p.export("tutorial_04.png", padding=0.2, transparent=True)

In the next section, we'll learn how to create an optic plot which shows an area of the sky when viewed through an optic (such as binoculars or a telescope)...

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