How should I go about creating a 2D representation of a star map? – September 8, 2022 at 02:41PM

So I’ve been developing a concept for a PC space based strangely game lately complete with accurate data of our galaxy.

I’ve already completed all the math and figured out the light year distances between each star and I have a list of about 350 stars or every star with in 30 light-years from Earth. This is my game board…how do I represent this game board?

How do you reduce 3 dimensional space to a 2 dimensional readout. I was contemplating making it a web map. Start with the solar system in the center and list everything with in 10 light years. Draw lines between those stars. Then for each of those stars, do the same. Every star with in 10 lys listed, repeats overlap and so the map branches out like a web from the central star. It could work, or it could become a cluttered mess because the concepts of up and down would have to be factored in the map.

Does anyone have a good idea for good way to map the stars out with in the game?