The sky on the day they arrived

Why a star map for a new baby

With a birth the hour is usually known to the minute, and that makes this map more accurate than for any other occasion. It is also one of the few gifts for new parents that doesn’t treat the baby as a consumable — no sleepsuits that are outgrown within three months, but something that stays above the cot and moves along to the nursery. Many parents later order a second map for a little brother or sister, so the two can hang side by side.

Which time to pick

Take the time of birth as it appears on the birth announcement or in the records, and as the place the hospital or the town where your child was born. If your child was born during the day, the map shows a daytime sky with fewer visible stars — that is astronomically correct, but many parents still go for the evening of that same day, because the image is fuller. Both are defensible; it is your map.

How it works

You choose a date, a time and a place. From that we calculate the exact star positions using the HYG catalogue and the IAU 1982 sidereal time formula — the same method professional planetarium software uses. What you see in the preview is what gets printed.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work if my child was born during the day?

Yes. The calculation is correct for any hour of the day. During daylight fewer stars are above the horizon, so the image is quieter. If you want a fuller image, choose the evening of the same day — the date still stays right.

Can I add the birth weight and length?

You fill in the three lines of text under the map yourself, so you can put whatever you like there: the name, the time, or the weight. Bear in mind that short lines look calmer than full ones.

Is this a suitable new-baby gift from someone outside the family?

Yes, as long as you know the date and place of birth. The time is nice to have but not essential. If you don’t know those details, a gift card is often wiser than guessing.