Guide in the sky: Star maps
Star maps were of vital importance in maritime history. Since ancient times, sailors have used the stars to find directions. The position of the stars in the sky was the first guide to navigation, and the transition to printed maps on paper was also due to their reflection on the earth. Today, we don’t need either of them anymore.
Star maps were the first light to illuminate the darkness of the sky. Astronomers divided the sky into grids to identify celestial bodies such as stars, nebulae, and galaxies, as well as constellations; and those that could be located were used for navigation. The first guide was the Pole Star (Polaris), which helped determine the direction of north. Other fixed stars followed it. Different cultures tried to ensure long-distance travels for sailors by determining star maps with the astronomical knowledge they had compiled. The real contribution of star maps was to the development of seafaring.
The navigation methods developed by sailors in ancient Greek and Roman times were always based on these maps. The mythological references in the star maps had deep meanings from the point of view of cultural history. Ancient societies observed the stars and created some shapes and figures in the sky. These were usually depictions inspired by mythological heroes, gods or legends. For example, the Orion or Scorpio constellations in Greek mythology directly reflected that cultural identity. Mythological figures also helped sailors remember the stars by bringing legends to life in their minds, and served as reference points for finding direction. Even the seasons and the appropriate travel times were determined according to them. This is how the deep connection between the sky and the human experience on earth began to be established.
Hipparchus’ systematic recording of the positions of the stars, which facilitated navigation, was followed by the work of the Alexandrian mathematician, geographer and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who is thought to have lived between 100-170 AD, with his Almagest (He Mathematike Syntaxis). This compilation of astronomy, based on the observations of Greek and Mesopotamian scholars, was followed by the star maps of Arab sailors in the Middle Ages.
During the geographical discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries that changed the course of the world, it was again star maps that led Portuguese and Spanish sailors to discover new continents. It was these maps, which included the data collected by the observatories, that enabled Magellan to successfully complete his world tour. In the 18th century, more precise navigation techniques began to be developed. However, the main source was star maps prepared with a more scientific approach. Navigation handbooks prepared for sailors during this period still included star maps.
As paper maps developed, stargazing decreased, but the sky was still the primary guide for sextant use. In 2025, the world-famous map maker Imray announced its decision to cease printing, marking the end of a centuries-long practice. The fact that Imray will now only do digital production shows that the transformation in this area will be permanent.