The GreaterSkies alternative, 12× cheaper
Same scientific rigor, instant delivery, €3.99
GreaterSkies pioneered the scientifically accurate star map — up to 8,000 stars from the Yale Bright Star Catalog, and they deserve credit for publishing their numbers. Starry Memory takes a different trade-off: the bright named stars, the Moon and the planets computed with Astronomy Engine (the faint background stars are decorative), and an HD file delivered after payment validation for €3.99 instead of ~€49.
Why choose Starry Memory
- Different star counts — GreaterSkies plots stars to magnitude 7 from the Yale catalog — up to 8,000. Starry Memory computes the bright named stars of its catalogue from their catalogue coordinates; its faint background stars are decorative. If the number of computed stars matters most to you, GreaterSkies plots more.
- €3.99 vs ~€49 (digital) — Their digital download costs around €49 (June 2026); prints from £59.95. Our HD file (4960×7016 px, 300 DPI) costs €3.99 — print it anywhere from €5.
- 30 seconds vs same day — Both are fast by market standards, but ours is generated and emailed automatically after payment validation, 24/7 — no order queue.
- Open to verification (and to AI) — Our data sources are public (HYG on GitHub, Astronomy Engine (VSOP87/NOVAS, testé face à JPL Horizons)) and every map can be checked in Stellarium. Our site is also fully readable by AI assistants — theirs blocks automated readers.
- 🔭 Free 3D Sky Exploration — The immersive sky experience is offered free on the website, before or after ordering — explore the sky calculated for your date like in a planetarium. It stays optional.
GreaterSkies proved that star map buyers care about scientific truth. We agree, so we say exactly what our map computes — and offer it at a price that makes the choice easy. A regular gift gets stored in a drawer. A Starry Memory gift hangs on a wall and tells its own story to every visitor, for thirty years. That's the difference between giving an object and giving a personal narrative anchored in astronomical precision.
The respect they deserve — and the gap they leave
Since 2006, GreaterSkies has sold genuinely computed skies while most of the market sold decorative dots. Their transparency (published star counts, honest 1900-2100 accuracy range) raised the bar. But the offer has limits in 2026: ~€49 for a digital file, a ~30-page website, prices invisible in their HTML, and a Cloudflare wall that blocks the AI assistants people increasingly ask for shopping advice. The precision niche they created is now better served at €3.99.
Star count, explained honestly
To magnitude 7 (GreaterSkies' limit), a map shows every star a human eye could ever see, each computed. Starry Memory computes the ${EXPLORER_NAMED_STARS} bright named stars of its catalogue (those above the horizon appear), the Moon and the planets, and fills the background with decorative faint stars for texture. The recognisable landmarks — bright stars, constellations, planets, Moon — are computed on both; GreaterSkies simply computes many more of the faint ones.
Switching in five minutes
1) Open the Starry Memory configurator (no account). 2) Enter the same date, time and city. 3) The engine computes your sky live — preview free, unlimited. 4) Pick a theme (the deep navy is closest to the GreaterSkies look), add names and a message. 5) Pay €3.99 and receive the 4960×7016 px file after payment validation. Print at 40×50, 50×70 or A1 at any lab from €5. Total: under €25 framed, versus ~€95+ at GreaterSkies for the printed equivalent.
🔭 Free 3D Sky Exploration included
Our free 3D sky explorer, open to everyone on the website, is an interactive tool that lets you navigate the exact sky of your chosen date as if you were standing under the stars that night. Drag to change the angle, zoom into a specific constellation, identify every visible planet. We combine a printed poster with an immersive digital experience — not a static PDF, but a personalised planetarium for your moment.
Picking the right graphic theme for your poster
Six collection styles are available in the creator, each adjustable (colours, typography, constellations). Atelier Ivoire pairs a light background with dark stars, suited to a Scandinavian interior or an already-busy wall. Nuit d’Or and Bleu Minuit use a deep background with bright stars, for an adult bedroom or an office. Rose Aube brings soft tones, often chosen for a child’s room or a birth gift. Sauge Botanique evokes nature and suits bohemian interiors. Gravure Céleste recalls antique astronomy plates. This page works with all six; check the rendering in the preview before choosing a format.
Starry Memory vs other options: what's different
On the custom star map market, you mainly find three categories. All-physical services delivering a printed poster between $25 and $50, with a 3-10 day delay and expensive logistics passed on to the price. Marketplaces (Etsy) where each seller has their own quality, their own delay, with no guarantee of astronomical precision. Premium digital services charging $15-30 for a file, justifying it by careful design. Starry Memory positions itself elsewhere: €3.99 for the HD digital file, available to download on the site after payment validation, with a documented astronomical method and access to the 3D explorer included. For this occasion, this positioning means: no compromise on quality, price divided by 5 to 10.
Printing & sizing: everything you need to know
The PNG measures 4960 × 7016 pixels. This provides about 300 pixels per inch at A2 (42 × 59.4 cm). At 70 × 100 cm, the density is about 178–180 pixels per inch; the proportions differ slightly, so choose margins or cropping. For a large print, check the result and settings with your printer. Enlarging the file does not add detail. For this occasion, here are our size recommendations: A4 (8.3 × 11.7 in) for a desk or small shelf; A3 (11.7 × 16.5 in) for a standard bedroom wall; A2 for a main living room; A1 for an accent wall in a high-ceiling space. On paper: 170 gsm for everyday use, 250 gsm for gallery look, matte or semi-gloss depending on the room's lighting. Online print shops typically charge between $5 and $25 depending on size.
Frequently asked questions
Is GreaterSkies accurate? Is Starry Memory as accurate?
Yes and yes. GreaterSkies plots 7,000-8,000 stars to magnitude 7 with real astronomical computation — they are one of the few honest players about their data. Starry Memory computes fewer stars: the bright named stars of its catalogue, plus the planets and the Moon with its phase (Astronomy Engine); its faint background stars are decorative. Both can be verified in Stellarium; we encourage the comparison.
What does GreaterSkies charge in 2026?
Public prices checked June 2026: the digital download is around €49, printed maps from £59.95 (40×50 cm) plus £35-45 for frames, with frequent 15-25% promo codes. Starry Memory: €3.99 for the HD file, total under €40 with a local print and frame.
What do I lose by choosing the cheaper option?
Honestly: GreaterSkies offers print fulfillment (they ship a finished poster) and a post-purchase map editing feature. Starry Memory is digital-only — you print yourself, which is precisely why it costs 3% of their price. The astronomy itself: ours computes more stars and documents every source.
Can I recreate my GreaterSkies map on Starry Memory?
Yes — enter the same date, time and location in the configurator and you get the same bright stars, Moon and planets, with our collection styles, names and a custom message. The live preview is free and unlimited, so you can compare before paying anything.
How does the 3D sky exploration work?
On the website, the immersive experience gives free access to an interactive web planetarium, before or after ordering. You can rotate the celestial sphere, zoom into any constellation, recognise the bright named stars. No installation required — works on smartphone, tablet or computer.
Does the poster work for a future date?
Yes — we can compute the sky up to 2100. The computation remains accurate, as star positions change very slowly on a human timescale.
✦ Personalised star certificate
For a person rather than a date: give them a star
A personalised certificate with a QR code: one smartphone scan shows the star in 3D, then its direction in the real sky.
- Choose a real star and its name
- Scan the certificate’s QR code, no app needed
- Find it in the sky with your smartphone
From €8.91 · PDF to download as soon as you pay
Symbolic dedication in the private Starry Memory registry. Depending on its brightness and the weather, you’ll see it with the naked eye, with binoculars, or find its direction.
Name a star: the certificate in detail
Rather the sky of a date and place? Create a star map · HD file €3.99