Printing method | Giclée
Size | A3 (297x420mm / 11.69x16.53in)
Limited Edition | Yes
Paper | Hahnemühle German Etching 310 gsm
A map of the sky that reveals the more than 550,000 science-marked observations that the Hubble Space Telescope has performed in 30 years, from the first observations in 1990 until December 31, 2019. Each diamond presents one observation. The color signifies the type of target that was observed; Solar System, Stars, Interstellar Medium, Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies, and finally, Unidentified and Calibration.
This map uses the Aitoff projection and is oriented such that the plane of the Milky Way runs horizontally through the center of the map. Towards the upper-left is the Pole star (and majority of the Northern Hemisphere), while the Southern Hemisphere is found mostly in the lower-right section of the map.
Several points of interest have been marked to supply context to the HST observations. Such as the labels of several famous constellations, five well-known stars are marked by a yellow stroke and name, a few important nearby objects, such as the Andromeda Galaxy, and a (blue dashed) line reveals the ecliptic (representing the imaginary path that the Sun follows over the course of a year).
This piece is inspired by a project that I did for Physics Today to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the HST.
Limited edition of 50.
Printed with archival ink on high-quality Hahnemühle German Etching fine art paper (310 gsm) by theprintspace. This heavyweight paper has a strong texture on which deep colors feel rich and high in contrast.
Small note | The final two images show real life photos of version 1 of the Hubble Sky Map, which uses the Stereographic projection.