A Christmas gift with a date of its own

Why a star map makes a good Christmas gift

The best thing about a star map as a Christmas gift is that you choose the date yourself — it doesn’t have to be Christmas. That is precisely why it stands out among the standard presents: it isn’t a thing you buy because you have to buy something, but a specific moment you pick out for someone. For parents, grandparents and in-laws that works well, because it shows you have given it thought without having to guess anything about taste or size.

Which date works best

Choose a date that means something to the recipient: the day the family was complete, the day they moved into this house, or an earlier Christmas Eve everyone remembers. If you do want Christmas itself, 24 December at 22:00 is a lovely choice — the winter sky is clear then and Orion stands high. Order in November if you want to be certain: in December the queues at the printers build up.

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

When is the latest I can order for Christmas?

Within the EU delivery takes three to six working days, but December is busier. Order by mid-December at the latest, and preferably earlier — early December is comfortable.

Can I have it sent straight to the recipient?

Yes, you can enter a different delivery address at checkout. No invoice showing the price is included in the shipment.

What if I don’t know which date to choose?

The recipient’s birthday or wedding date is always a safe choice. If you can’t decide, the day you first met each other is often more surprising than an obvious holiday.