Live solar-system map
The home page presents an animated pixel-art map of the solar system with each body placed at its real current position.
AstraPixels
AstraPixels is a browser-based solar-system map and catalog with live positions, object pages, upcoming sky events, and searchable claimed-body ownership pages.
Overview
AstraPixels is a browser-based solar-system map and catalog that presents the Sun, planets, moons, minor bodies, and selected stars as live pixel-art objects in their current positions. It combines a visual map with a browsable object index so visitors can inspect individual bodies, their orbital data, and their status on the site.
The product also surfaces sky events and ownership information. The events page lists upcoming conjunctions, oppositions, meteor showers, and eclipses computed from astronomy-engine, while the claimed-objects view shows which bodies or orbital slots have been bought and what owner-chosen names they carry on the site.
Core features
Object catalog and detail pages
The browse view is a plain-text index of 171 catalogued bodies, grouped by what they orbit, with a page for each object and its sourced facts and orbital elements.
Computed sky-events feed
The events page lists upcoming conjunctions, oppositions, meteor showers, and eclipses for the next 180 days, and explains how each event is computed.
Claimed-object tracking
The claimed objects page shows which bodies and orbital slots have been claimed, supports search, and records the chosen owner name shown on the site.
Accessible text view
The browse index is designed to work in a screen reader, a text browser, and with JavaScript switched off, making the catalog accessible outside the animated map.
Reusable navigation for old links
The site notes that some body pages may no longer resolve if a claim was recycled or if a slug is spelled differently, and points users back to browse and search entry points.
Ways people use AstraPixels
Check current positions
Use the animated map to see where familiar bodies are in the solar system right now, instead of looking at a static diagram or table.
Research a specific object
Open the browse index when you want sourced facts, orbital elements, or a text-first way to move through the catalog.
Track near-term sky events
Visit the events page to see upcoming conjunctions, oppositions, meteor showers, and eclipses for planning stargazing or outreach content.
Follow claims and ownership
Use the claimed-objects page to see which bodies are already owned, what names owners selected, and which categories are still available.
Browse without the animated map
Start from the text index if you are using a screen reader, a text browser, or have JavaScript disabled and still need the catalog to work.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Combines a live solar-system map with a text-accessible object catalog.
- Covers a wide range of bodies, including planets, moons, comets, dwarf planets, nearby stars, and selected orbital slots.
- Events are computed rather than copied from a static list, with methodology explained on the page.
- The browse index is usable without JavaScript and is structured for screen readers and text browsers.
- Claimed objects are searchable and tied to owner-chosen names displayed on the site.
Cons
- The pricing page at the referenced URL did not show a normal pricing layout and instead returned a missing-page style message.
- Some claims can become derelict if a linked body page stops resolving, so old links may not remain stable.
- The events page gives UTC event times and does not determine local visibility, which still depends on location and weather.
FAQ
What is AstraPixels?
AstraPixels is a browser-based solar-system map that shows bodies at their current positions and lets you browse individual object pages. The map itself is presented as a canvas, while the plain-text browse index works without JavaScript and is usable in a screen reader or text browser.
What does the catalog include?
The browse index describes 171 hand-authored catalogued bodies, grouped by what they orbit. It includes the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, moons, minor bodies, comets, and nearby stars, while the main-belt page covers an additional set of procedurally generated rocks that are not listed individually.
How do claims work?
The claimed-objects page says bodies are bought once and kept, with one disclosed exception: a link that stops resolving can eventually mark a claim derelict. It also notes that names shown in quotes are owner-chosen names that appear on astrapixels.com, not IAU designations.
How are sky events determined?
The events page shows astronomy events for the next 180 days and says they are computed from astronomy-engine rather than copied from a list. It includes conjunctions, oppositions, the eight annual meteor showers, and lunar and solar eclipses, with times given in UTC.
Is there a pricing page?
The source does not show a working pricing page. The referenced /pricing URL returned a "Nothing at this address" message and directed visitors to browse, the main asteroid belt, sky events, or the map instead.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Astronomy / interactive map
- Platform
- Web app
- Source domain
- astrapixels.com
- Catalog size
- 171 hand-authored bodies
- Event window
- Next 180 days
- Accessibility
- Plain-text browse view works without JavaScript
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