This month I created a version of my Gaia DR3 hot star density map using a Tolkienesque fantasy theme, with star density mapped as forest, dust as mountains and hills, and prominent HII regions and open clusters as towns, cities and other structures.
Here is a link to a zoomable version: https://gruze.org/dr3_fantasy/
#Astronomy #Fantasy #Cartography #GaiaMissionFantasyMap
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I used ProFantasy's Campaign Cartographer 3+ to create this map and the symbol set (especially for the buildings) is very detailed and creative so be sure to zoom all the way in to appreciate their designs!
It was a lot of fun to produce, is a bit simpler than my more sciency map, and also gave me free rein to add labels for many regions that I was reluctant to name in my more official map.
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I am still tweaking the map with the hope of producing something that could be printed as an A0 sized poster, but it has stabilized enough for me to do some public releases.
You can also download a (much reduced) 2160x2160 desktop image: https://gruze.org/dr3_fantasy/fantasy_map_desktop.png
By the way, while creating the zoomable version I finally figured out how to remove the ugly tile boundary lines and will also fix those in my main map soon.
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Some people have asked me if I could create a map with a more sciencefictiony theme.
In theory that is possible but I have a lack of tools to create a good science fiction map. I have ProFantasy's Cosmographer 3 but frankly I think that is better for creating cool-looking starships than galaxy scale maps ...
... also traditionally galaxy maps for science fiction have a limited palette (blues ...) and I don't think that represents the Gaia data well.
For now I would prefer to use more traditional terrestrial cartographic metaphors. After all, the map is not the territory.
Old Elephant
Galaxy Map