The size of the dot reflects the brightness of the star, the bigger the dot, the brighter the star.

Stars are represented as black dots on a white background, which makes it easier to read when observing at night. It’s similar to a planisphere but they have different uses. Normally, a star chart only shows what’s visible to the naked eye under dark skies. It represents the stellar dome with only the brightest stars and objects and the constellations. Similar to how we use terrestrial maps to find destinations on Earth, a star chart is a map of the night sky and one’s guide to navigating the stars. This post will be your first step to understanding what these maps are, learning how to read a star chart, and most importantly, what you can do with them. If you are new to astronomy, finding your way around the night sky can be scary, overwhelming, and exciting all at once.ĭon’t worry! Even the most experienced eye takes time and effort to compare blurry dots on the star maps to stars, constellations, and other objects in the night sky.

Stellarium online star map