11.17: Celestial cartography
Celestial cartography
, also known as
uranography
or
star cartography
, is the area of astronomy that produces star maps. Most are aware of cartographers who made early and more recent maps of Earth. Both types of cartography were difficult in early history; we were not certain of the exact sizes and shapes of land masses, and there are many, many stars to chart correctly. Many early Earth and star maps were very artistic in nature and truly took not only a scientific mind, but the skills of an amazing artist.