Blog
Gift ideas, astronomy insights, and inspiration for your personalized star maps.
Understanding the sky to capture it better. Our articles cover three pillars: practical gift guides for choosing a star map by occasion, the science behind our accuracy (HYG v4.2 catalog, IAU stereographic projection, 88 official constellations), and inspiration for turning a unique moment into lasting wall art. Wedding, birth, Valentine's Day, last-minute gifts, cosmic signatures — we write what we wish we had read before making our own star map. Every article is reviewed by Théo, founder and software engineer based in Normandy, France.
How Many Stars Can You See with the Naked Eye? The Exact Answer
The number of stars visible to the naked eye is approximately 9,096 according to the Hipparcos catalogue. In practice, you'll see between 100 and 4,500 depending on light pollution. Facts, tables and explanations.
April 10, 2026 · 9 min read
Light Pollution Map of France: How to Read Night-Sky Data
Learn how to read light-pollution maps for France, distinguish satellite radiance from the Bortle scale, and verify local observing conditions.
April 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Give Her the Stars She Deserves
Looking for a meaningful Mother's Day gift? Discover why a personalized star map is the most thoughtful present you can give the woman who gave you everything.
April 10, 2026 · 4 min read
The Psychology of Gift-Giving: Why Personalised Gifts Create More Emotion
A personalised gift generates roughly 28% more positive emotion than a generic gift of the same value, according to consumer psychology research. The IKEA effect, perceived uniqueness and the price paradox — what science says.
April 10, 2026 · 8 min read
The 50 Most Popular Star Map Dates — OwnStarMap 2025 Study
Analysis of 14,728 OwnStarMap orders in 2025: birth dates account for 34% of maps, followed by weddings (22%) and first meetings (11%). Data, trends and surprises.
April 10, 2026 · 8 min read
What People Actually Write on Their Star Maps — Analysis of 10,000 Messages
The average star map message is 11 words long. The most used words are 'stars', 'night' and 'love'. Analysis of 10,000 real OwnStarMap inscriptions — data, trends and examples.
April 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Star, Planet or Satellite: How to Tell Them Apart in 30 Seconds
A bright point in the sky could be a star, planet, satellite or aircraft. The difference comes down to three criteria: twinkling, movement and colour. Here's how to identify them reliably.
April 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Memorial Star Map: A Tribute Written in Stars
Honor a loved one with a memorial star map showing the night sky from a date that holds meaning. A lasting, gentle tribute that transcends words.
April 9, 2026 · 6 min read
The Stars the Night You Were Born: What the Sky Looked Like
Discover what the night sky looked like the moment you were born. Learn how to find your birth constellation and see a scientifically accurate map of your birth sky.
April 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Get star map inspiration
Gift ideas and astronomy insights, delivered monthly.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.