Python program to generate star charts. Currently supports creating charts in the following projections:
- stereographic - for generating atlas style maps covering large areas of sky.
- gnomonic - for generating field of view type charts useful as finder charts.
- polar - for generating a polar view.
Note: This program works with python 2.7. You will need to install Pillow with pip install Pillow.
see generate_charts.bat for sample script to generate low res 'index' charts and high res
starmaps.
The program uses data from the Tycho2 catalogue: http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/Cat?I/259 and the Revised New General Catalogue: http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/ngcic/rev2000/Explan.htm.
There are quite a few options which are documented in the program:
python chart.py --help
I have a version of the tycho2 catalogue here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nqhqpko4163y1ft/tycho2_abbr_new2.dat?dl=0. Download that and put it into the
data folder. It is too big to check into github :-)
see sample folder for sample output for polar, gnomonic and stereo projections.