Every couple has a date they come back to. An anniversary star map draws the real sky from that night: the Moon’s phase, the planets above the horizon, and the constellations overhead.
Make your star map · Prefer to have it made for you? See it on Etsy
Which date should you pick?
Pick the one that makes you both smile:
- The night you met. A great story, and a map that’s yours alone to name.
- Your first date. Often the easiest to remember, down to the restaurant.
- The day you got engaged or married. A classic choice. For weddings, see our wedding star maps.
- The day you moved in together. Less common, and just as meaningful.
Not sure of the hour? Pick an approximate time, like the evening, and the map shows that chosen time. If you leave the time blank, the map uses noon, local clock time (daylight saving included for that place and year), and says so.
Which place?
Use the city where it happened. If you met on a trip, pick that city instead of home. The sky changes with where you stand, so the map shows the view from that place.
Words that fit
Short captions work best:
- “Year 5. Same sky, still us.”
- “Where it started”
- “The night we met”
- Your two names and the date
- An inside joke only the two of you will get
Count the years
You could make a new map each year, or for a milestone: one, five, ten. Each one shows a different date, so they look good side by side. You can also pair your first-date map with a map of the night you got married, and see how the sky moved in between.
How the map is made
The map is drawn from astronomical calculations of the real sky for the date, time and place you give. The preview is computed in your browser, and nothing you enter into it is sent or stored. If you save or share an image, it includes the details you leave on it. If you order through Etsy, you submit your personalization there so the map can be made. Stars are drawn as if the sky were dark, so a daytime moment shows the Sun among them.
As a gift
An anniversary star map is easy to give: it’s personal and quick to make, and you choose a style and add your own words. Pick the date together, or keep it a surprise. For more ideas, see our star map gift ideas.
Questions people ask
What if we don’t remember the date? Choose the closest date you’re sure of. The map shows the sky for that date, not the night itself.
Can I make one for a date years ago? Yes. The map works for any date between 1900 and 2100.
Can I add both our names? Yes. There’s a field for names, one for a title and one for a short line of your own.
Does the map include a horoscope? No. The map shows the sky as it was. There’s an optional zodiac layer that adds labels and symbols, but it doesn’t say anything about the future.
What happens to my details? The preview runs in your browser, so nothing you type into it is sent or stored. If you order through Etsy, you submit your personalization there. If you save or share an image, it includes the details you leave on it.
Make yours
Choose the date, add a few words, and see the night again.
Make your star map · Prefer to have it made for you? See it on Etsy
You’ll add your names, date, time and place in the personalization box on Etsy.
Related: Wedding star maps · Night sky on any date · Star map gift ideas
