The Fathomless Sky Inside

softpyramid:

This particular chart is considered the “oldest surviving Anglo-American star map” and was drawn by Simeon De Witt in 1780, a surveyor for George Washington and the Continental army. The map shows the stars visible from De Witt’s post in New Jersey. Drawing such a map, as De Witt himself later said, fostered an appreciation of “the ever shifting scenery of the skies and all the gorgeous drapery of heaven.” It was on display for a while at the Smithsonian a couple years ago, I’m pretty sure the show is down now.

(via fuckyeahcartography)