Pleiades Star Map

[GMNelson]

I have been working on a role-playing game set in the Pleiades Star Cluster, and have been struggling with producing maps for the setting. I've not done a large amount of cartography in the past, and what little I have done has been for campaigns taking place on a single continent or at the most 2. Mapping a star system or cluster is not something I know how to do, and any tips, help, or input would be much appreciated.

What I would like is a star map that feels more like an old-school nautical map, with the radial lines and stuff. I believe it is called a Portolan Chart.

What I have so far is really inaccurate and frankly looks like a horse's butt, but like I said, I've no idea what I am doing
Pleiades Star Map.png
Like I said, pretty pitiful.
If anyone could help me out, I would very much like to appreciate it.

[Jalyha]

I wrote a big long thing and then something wouldn't let me post D:

I think the problem with those charts for a galaxy is that... well... I don't know how to say it really.

You can sail in any direction *on* the earth, but you can't sail *inside* it, or out into space


So you're dealing with a lot more directions with a galaxy which isn't as ... well... help me out here... the earth isn't 2D, but the sailing isn't really 3D either...

Whereas space...

So I'm sure it can be done, just not sure how.

Hmm.. lots of people doing star maps but what you want makes me think most of... like this challenge entry (the second map, all the way at the end of the thread).

I'm thinking you could do something similar... set aside certain *clusters* of the stars to represent that they are higher or lower, not so much north-south-east-west.

If you did it with outlines/boxes/something instead of colors, maybe?

idk.. i'm not real bright... you'll have better luck waiting for the smarter people


EDIT:

Just wanted to show a *really bad* illustration of the sort of thing I mean... of course you'd have better shapes... >.<

pliedas.jpg

EDIT PART 2:

Also I think you've got too much unnecessary space around the stars... simple map, a few points, it should be zoomed in a bit?

EDIT the Third:

There's a few spots where the lines overlap in weird ways, just slightly off center enough that it throws off the whole thing (see in red)

pliedas.jpg

[schattentanz]

Regarding the 2D / 3D thing:

The milky way is 100k-120k lightyears in Diameter while "only" 3k LY "thick".
So even if you wanted to map the Milky Way, you would be safe if you used a "flat" map as an approximation.

I'm not an astronomer, but I guess, the same is true for the Plejaden as well.

Regarding the map:

Actually, there already is a fantastic picture available via Wikimedia:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...ades_large.jpg
Maybe you might want to start with this one as a Background and work from there?



Kind regards,
Kai

[GMNelson]

That IS an amazing image. But I wasn't sure about the rules of using a copyrighted image like that, so I avoided it.

Pleiades Picture.jpg

The reason behind wanting the Portolan chart style is as a way to convey those rays of light in the picture

[GMNelson]

The placing of the stars is as close as I could get them to the Actual cluster, the Pleiades (also known as the seven sisters). The game actually only takes place within this cluster, with a larger focus on the systems and how they relate to one another.
I see where you are going with this. It IS hard to convey a three dimensional map on a single plane, but rather than focus on the science and math behind calculating how to best represent their locations, I feel like a simple map is best. Which is why I went for the Portolan style chart.

[Jalyha]

Well, what if you did it with a compass-y style then? It's still not going to be "rays of light" but it might get you closer. Something like...

pliedas.jpg


Only, yknow... good

[GMNelson]

Well, what if you did it with a compass-y style then? It's still not going to be "rays of light" but it might get you closer. Something like...

pliedas.jpg


Only, yknow... good

Pleiades Nav.png
That's what I did with that, to kinda mesh the two ideas.
Looks a jumbled mess, though

[Jalyha]

Close

Try removing the lines from the area of the compasses... so they go sort of... behind them

[- Max -]

I moved this thread to sci/fi section since it doesn't belong to the CWBP thread.

[schattentanz]

Regarding the License to use the Image:

This file is in the public domain because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted".

So: use it however you wish



Kind regards,
Kai