Star Charts: Ancient Tools of Astronomy

Star charts are maps of the night sky, showing the positions of stars and constellations.
The oldest known star chart, the Nebra Sky Disk, dates back over 3,600 years.
Ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Chinese, and Greeks used star charts for navigation and calendars.
Ptolemy’s Almagest (2nd century AD) listed over 1,000 stars in 48 constellations.
Islamic scholars in the Middle Ages refined star maps with improved accuracy.
Star charts guided sailors before the invention of the compass.
They were essential for early astronomers like Tycho Brahe to track planetary motions.
Modern star charts are printed in atlases or generated by planetarium software.
Apps and digital sky maps now let anyone carry a star chart in their pocket.
From stone carvings to smartphone screens, star charts remain humanity’s guides to the heavens.