Maps for Moments

Personalised star maps for specific dates and places

Maps for Moments is a British online shop focused on creating personalised star maps. The customer chooses a meaningful date and location and the company generates a representation of the night sky corresponding to that moment. The catalogue includes prints and posters, as well as pendants engraved with the same star design.

Prints, posters and engraved jewellery

The main offering combines two formats: star map prints and personalised pendants. The prints are sold in A4, A3 and A2 sizes, and the company highlights A2 as its best-selling format. It also offers the option of framing the map or using poster hangers. In jewellery, the catalogue includes a 925 sterling silver pendant and a black steel one, both engraved with the personalised star design.

As add-ons, the shop offers a scented soy wax candle that reproduces the message included in the star map, as well as framing options and hanging systems for the prints.

The personalisation process

The company describes a three-step creation process. First, the user chooses the style and colour of the map from the available variants. Then they enter the date and place they wish to commemorate and can add a personalised message. Finally, they select the delivery and framing options. The shop has an online builder that allows the design to be completed in just a few minutes.

Astronomical accuracy and print quality

According to the company's own information, the maps are generated with an astronomically verified algorithm that uses an observation point and a date. The database used comes from the European Space Agency's star catalogue and contains hundreds of thousands of accurately positioned stars. The company states that a team of astronomers oversees the accuracy of each poster.

The difference between the three poster sizes lies in the number of stars represented: A2 doubles the size of A3 and A3 doubles A4, so the smaller formats show fewer stars of lower magnitude. All posters are printed on the same type of paper and with the same equipment, and go through the same quality control process.

The company also sells a print called Real Starry Sky, developed in-house by combining billions of pixels and astronomical cartography algorithms to achieve a photorealistic result.

Occasions and recipients

The catalogue organises gifts by occasion and by recipient. Occasions include birthdays, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, births, graduations, new homes and condolences. Recipients include daughter, girlfriend, sister, mum, nan/grandma, wife, friends, son, husband, boyfriend, brother, dad and grandad.

Shipping, guarantee and customer service

The company states that orders placed before 15:50 are shipped the same day. Shipping within the UK is free via Royal Mail 24 and the estimated delivery time is one to three working days. There is a special next-day delivery option before 13:00. Shipping to European Union countries takes two to five working days, and shipping outside the EU takes three to seven working days. Shipping is free for orders over £30 within the UK.

The company offers a full money-back guarantee within 28 days if the customer or recipient is not satisfied with the print quality. Customer service is UK-based and operates 24 hours a day during the week; at weekends the hours are 9:00 to 17:00.

Reviews and presence

The website shows more than 2,700 customer reviews on Trustpilot and the company presents itself as a business with thousands of satisfied buyers.