Steve Costa
@stevec72.bsky.social
I make digital things, and sometimes actual things.
Explore our stellar neighborhood in 3D: https://starcarta.app
Explore our stellar neighborhood in 3D: https://starcarta.app
StarCarta 2.1!
New update today focuses more on the naming of stars which I touched on last year: bsky.app/profile/stev...
I’m now pulling in IAU (International Astronomical Union) names for stars and exoplanets.
exopla.net/star-names/m...
#starcarta #space
starcarta.app
New update today focuses more on the naming of stars which I touched on last year: bsky.app/profile/stev...
I’m now pulling in IAU (International Astronomical Union) names for stars and exoplanets.
exopla.net/star-names/m...
#starcarta #space
starcarta.app
September 4, 2026 at 8:29 PM
StarCarta 2.1!
New update today focuses more on the naming of stars which I touched on last year: bsky.app/profile/stev...
I’m now pulling in IAU (International Astronomical Union) names for stars and exoplanets.
exopla.net/star-names/m...
#starcarta #space
starcarta.app
New update today focuses more on the naming of stars which I touched on last year: bsky.app/profile/stev...
I’m now pulling in IAU (International Astronomical Union) names for stars and exoplanets.
exopla.net/star-names/m...
#starcarta #space
starcarta.app
Starcarta 1.85! 💫
New Update!
- Nearby Systems List
#space #starcarta #indiedev
Nearby Systems: This drop-down will show you the 6 closest star systems to the one currently being viewed, along with how far they are. Giving you a really quick way to navigate there without just rotating the camera.
New Update!
- Nearby Systems List
#space #starcarta #indiedev
Nearby Systems: This drop-down will show you the 6 closest star systems to the one currently being viewed, along with how far they are. Giving you a really quick way to navigate there without just rotating the camera.
August 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Starcarta 1.85! 💫
New Update!
- Nearby Systems List
#space #starcarta #indiedev
Nearby Systems: This drop-down will show you the 6 closest star systems to the one currently being viewed, along with how far they are. Giving you a really quick way to navigate there without just rotating the camera.
New Update!
- Nearby Systems List
#space #starcarta #indiedev
Nearby Systems: This drop-down will show you the 6 closest star systems to the one currently being viewed, along with how far they are. Giving you a really quick way to navigate there without just rotating the camera.
Starcarta 1.8!
Building on the Really Cool Orbits update (which added multi-star orbit paths to show you how Stars actually orbit each other inside a system) is a new Starcarta release including...
Building on the Really Cool Orbits update (which added multi-star orbit paths to show you how Stars actually orbit each other inside a system) is a new Starcarta release including...
August 1, 2026 at 3:54 AM
Starcarta 1.8!
Building on the Really Cool Orbits update (which added multi-star orbit paths to show you how Stars actually orbit each other inside a system) is a new Starcarta release including...
Building on the Really Cool Orbits update (which added multi-star orbit paths to show you how Stars actually orbit each other inside a system) is a new Starcarta release including...
Starcarta v 1.7 is out! 💫
I’m pretty excited about this release, and it has a feature which I’ve had as a long-term roadmap goal from the very beginning: Binary and multiple star orbits!
#space #starcarta #astronomy #indidev
I’m pretty excited about this release, and it has a feature which I’ve had as a long-term roadmap goal from the very beginning: Binary and multiple star orbits!
#space #starcarta #astronomy #indidev
July 8, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Starcarta v 1.7 is out! 💫
I’m pretty excited about this release, and it has a feature which I’ve had as a long-term roadmap goal from the very beginning: Binary and multiple star orbits!
#space #starcarta #astronomy #indidev
I’m pretty excited about this release, and it has a feature which I’ve had as a long-term roadmap goal from the very beginning: Binary and multiple star orbits!
#space #starcarta #astronomy #indidev
Server Woes for Starcarta
I knew I was pushing it a little bit with a DB-heavy Hobby Vercel account, but it looks like a scraper hit my endpoint for 20GB throughput in a day and my database for 237 GB - which disabled the site.
1/3
I knew I was pushing it a little bit with a DB-heavy Hobby Vercel account, but it looks like a scraper hit my endpoint for 20GB throughput in a day and my database for 237 GB - which disabled the site.
1/3
June 29, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Server Woes for Starcarta
I knew I was pushing it a little bit with a DB-heavy Hobby Vercel account, but it looks like a scraper hit my endpoint for 20GB throughput in a day and my database for 237 GB - which disabled the site.
1/3
I knew I was pushing it a little bit with a DB-heavy Hobby Vercel account, but it looks like a scraper hit my endpoint for 20GB throughput in a day and my database for 237 GB - which disabled the site.
1/3
Updated star and planet information will soon be available on Starcarta from the latest astronomy data.
On what major feature to add next. One of the current issues I have is that multiple star systems in app look like this.
starcarta.app/o/kqRM
#starcarta #space #indiedev #stellarcartography
On what major feature to add next. One of the current issues I have is that multiple star systems in app look like this.
starcarta.app/o/kqRM
#starcarta #space #indiedev #stellarcartography
May 18, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Updated star and planet information will soon be available on Starcarta from the latest astronomy data.
On what major feature to add next. One of the current issues I have is that multiple star systems in app look like this.
starcarta.app/o/kqRM
#starcarta #space #indiedev #stellarcartography
On what major feature to add next. One of the current issues I have is that multiple star systems in app look like this.
starcarta.app/o/kqRM
#starcarta #space #indiedev #stellarcartography
Starcarta Update 1.5!
- Now includes additional data and precision from GAIA DR3 data.
Let's have a look at HD 205160: starcarta.app/o/lxBd
In this case we can see radius, mass, temperature, age and luminosity, which isn't available in SIMBAD or Wikipedia data.
#starcarta #space #indiedev
- Now includes additional data and precision from GAIA DR3 data.
Let's have a look at HD 205160: starcarta.app/o/lxBd
In this case we can see radius, mass, temperature, age and luminosity, which isn't available in SIMBAD or Wikipedia data.
#starcarta #space #indiedev
March 5, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Starcarta Update 1.5!
- Now includes additional data and precision from GAIA DR3 data.
Let's have a look at HD 205160: starcarta.app/o/lxBd
In this case we can see radius, mass, temperature, age and luminosity, which isn't available in SIMBAD or Wikipedia data.
#starcarta #space #indiedev
- Now includes additional data and precision from GAIA DR3 data.
Let's have a look at HD 205160: starcarta.app/o/lxBd
In this case we can see radius, mass, temperature, age and luminosity, which isn't available in SIMBAD or Wikipedia data.
#starcarta #space #indiedev
New Starcarta minor release!
starcarta.app
Updating to include the latest planet and star data from Simbad (simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-t...) and the Exoplanet archive (exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu).
#space #astronomy #starcarta
starcarta.app
Updating to include the latest planet and star data from Simbad (simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-t...) and the Exoplanet archive (exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu).
#space #astronomy #starcarta
Starcarta
Explore the stars and planets of our local 200ly space in 3D. Discover star systems, planets, and their unique features. Search for celestial objects and learn about their properties in Starcarta.
starcarta.app
February 1, 2026 at 1:40 AM
New Starcarta minor release!
starcarta.app
Updating to include the latest planet and star data from Simbad (simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-t...) and the Exoplanet archive (exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu).
#space #astronomy #starcarta
starcarta.app
Updating to include the latest planet and star data from Simbad (simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-t...) and the Exoplanet archive (exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu).
#space #astronomy #starcarta
The latest PBS Space Time digs into the complexities of finding habitable exoplanets (www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPFF...)
Let's go through some systems mentioned, starting w/Trappist-1.
A 7-planet system whose worlds all orbit within 10% of the Earth-Sun distance. starcarta.app/o/jkSG
Let's go through some systems mentioned, starting w/Trappist-1.
A 7-planet system whose worlds all orbit within 10% of the Earth-Sun distance. starcarta.app/o/jkSG
December 11, 2025 at 4:40 AM
The latest PBS Space Time digs into the complexities of finding habitable exoplanets (www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPFF...)
Let's go through some systems mentioned, starting w/Trappist-1.
A 7-planet system whose worlds all orbit within 10% of the Earth-Sun distance. starcarta.app/o/jkSG
Let's go through some systems mentioned, starting w/Trappist-1.
A 7-planet system whose worlds all orbit within 10% of the Earth-Sun distance. starcarta.app/o/jkSG
Mini Starcarta update: I’ve improved the fidelity of protoplanetary disks and dust rings around stars. For a good example of one, let’s take a look at Fomalhaut!
#space #starcarta #indiedev
starcarta.app/o/gNnB
#space #starcarta #indiedev
starcarta.app/o/gNnB
November 13, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Mini Starcarta update: I’ve improved the fidelity of protoplanetary disks and dust rings around stars. For a good example of one, let’s take a look at Fomalhaut!
#space #starcarta #indiedev
starcarta.app/o/gNnB
#space #starcarta #indiedev
starcarta.app/o/gNnB
🛰️ Starcarta Update 1.4!
✨ New:
- Star focus
Stars in multiple systems can be far apart making it difficult to zoom in. Now by clicking on a Star’s name, you can zoom in on that star and its planets. Clicking the Star’s name again toggles you back to the the System.
#space #astronomy #indiedev
✨ New:
- Star focus
Stars in multiple systems can be far apart making it difficult to zoom in. Now by clicking on a Star’s name, you can zoom in on that star and its planets. Clicking the Star’s name again toggles you back to the the System.
#space #astronomy #indiedev
October 11, 2025 at 1:38 AM
🛰️ Starcarta Update 1.4!
✨ New:
- Star focus
Stars in multiple systems can be far apart making it difficult to zoom in. Now by clicking on a Star’s name, you can zoom in on that star and its planets. Clicking the Star’s name again toggles you back to the the System.
#space #astronomy #indiedev
✨ New:
- Star focus
Stars in multiple systems can be far apart making it difficult to zoom in. Now by clicking on a Star’s name, you can zoom in on that star and its planets. Clicking the Star’s name again toggles you back to the the System.
#space #astronomy #indiedev
Recently, JWT studied Trappist-1e’s atmosphere ruling out a Venus or Mars-like atmosphere but leaving water possible for future studies. science.nasa.gov/missions/web... Check it at starcarta.app/o/jkSG - you can also see how all of the 7 discovered planets are less than 1 au from Trappist-1
September 26, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Recently, JWT studied Trappist-1e’s atmosphere ruling out a Venus or Mars-like atmosphere but leaving water possible for future studies. science.nasa.gov/missions/web... Check it at starcarta.app/o/jkSG - you can also see how all of the 7 discovered planets are less than 1 au from Trappist-1
🛰️ Starcarta update 1.3 is here!
✨ New:
- Tags!
- Highlight Systems by Tag.
- Added 1 AU graph circle to all Systems with planets to show scale. (1/4)
#Starcarta #indiedev #astronomy #space starcarta.app
✨ New:
- Tags!
- Highlight Systems by Tag.
- Added 1 AU graph circle to all Systems with planets to show scale. (1/4)
#Starcarta #indiedev #astronomy #space starcarta.app
September 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
🛰️ Starcarta update 1.3 is here!
✨ New:
- Tags!
- Highlight Systems by Tag.
- Added 1 AU graph circle to all Systems with planets to show scale. (1/4)
#Starcarta #indiedev #astronomy #space starcarta.app
✨ New:
- Tags!
- Highlight Systems by Tag.
- Added 1 AU graph circle to all Systems with planets to show scale. (1/4)
#Starcarta #indiedev #astronomy #space starcarta.app
This week’s star is Gliese 163, a red dwarf with at least 3 planets (up to 5). One, Gliese 163c, is a 7-Earth-mass world near the habitable zone. The light we see from it today began its trip 49 years ago, the same year & maybe even day I was born. I think that’s pretty cool!
starcarta.app/o/CXJPq
starcarta.app/o/CXJPq
August 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This week’s star is Gliese 163, a red dwarf with at least 3 planets (up to 5). One, Gliese 163c, is a 7-Earth-mass world near the habitable zone. The light we see from it today began its trip 49 years ago, the same year & maybe even day I was born. I think that’s pretty cool!
starcarta.app/o/CXJPq
starcarta.app/o/CXJPq
The Habitable Zone of our solar system, which is between 0.99au & 1.70au includes both Earth & Mars (even though Mars is too small to hold enough atmosphere) but excludes the runaway greenhouse Venus. Interestingly, you can see how the Earth is just balanced on the inner edge.
starcarta.app/o/B
starcarta.app/o/B
August 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The Habitable Zone of our solar system, which is between 0.99au & 1.70au includes both Earth & Mars (even though Mars is too small to hold enough atmosphere) but excludes the runaway greenhouse Venus. Interestingly, you can see how the Earth is just balanced on the inner edge.
starcarta.app/o/B
starcarta.app/o/B
GL581 is a low-activity, stable M-class star. It has 2 candidate planets well positioned in their HZ, GL581 b & GL581 c. GL581 b is a 6 Me super-earth, zipping around every 5 days, while GL581 c is a more reasonable 2 Me planet, taking 13 days to complete an orbit. starcarta.app/o/JdJCb #astronomy
August 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
GL581 is a low-activity, stable M-class star. It has 2 candidate planets well positioned in their HZ, GL581 b & GL581 c. GL581 b is a 6 Me super-earth, zipping around every 5 days, while GL581 c is a more reasonable 2 Me planet, taking 13 days to complete an orbit. starcarta.app/o/JdJCb #astronomy
For a pretty good HZ match, we can check out HD 40307 g, a massive 7 Me super-earth in the habitable zone of its 1 billion year old K-Class star. It’s a great candidate to explore in the future, and not too far away at 42 light years away. starcarta.app/o/CXSGM #space #astronomy
August 5, 2025 at 11:23 PM
For a pretty good HZ match, we can check out HD 40307 g, a massive 7 Me super-earth in the habitable zone of its 1 billion year old K-Class star. It’s a great candidate to explore in the future, and not too far away at 42 light years away. starcarta.app/o/CXSGM #space #astronomy
Gliese 667 Cc is also a 4 Me super-earth w/ an orbit right in the middle of its Red Dwarf’s HZ. Gliese 667 Cf, Gliese 667 Ce are not confirmed, but could also be in Gliese 667 C’s HZ. So Gliese 667 C might have multiple habitable worlds, at just 24 light years from Sol. #space
starcarta.app/o/CJCWm
starcarta.app/o/CJCWm
August 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Gliese 667 Cc is also a 4 Me super-earth w/ an orbit right in the middle of its Red Dwarf’s HZ. Gliese 667 Cf, Gliese 667 Ce are not confirmed, but could also be in Gliese 667 C’s HZ. So Gliese 667 C might have multiple habitable worlds, at just 24 light years from Sol. #space
starcarta.app/o/CJCWm
starcarta.app/o/CJCWm
Tau Ceti has come up before, checking its HZ shows Tau Ceti e is slightly too close & Tau Ceti f (4 earth mass) is on the outer fringes. However, Tau Ceti f’s orbit dips it in & out of the zone during its 636-day orbit / half-year-long winter if it’s able to hold an atmosphere.
starcarta.app/o/hkBp
starcarta.app/o/hkBp
August 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Tau Ceti has come up before, checking its HZ shows Tau Ceti e is slightly too close & Tau Ceti f (4 earth mass) is on the outer fringes. However, Tau Ceti f’s orbit dips it in & out of the zone during its 636-day orbit / half-year-long winter if it’s able to hold an atmosphere.
starcarta.app/o/hkBp
starcarta.app/o/hkBp
RK Kopparapu + team’s articles build on & refine the work of Kasting in 1993 to determine where this zone around a star could be. HZs are then determined from the star’s output (ex luminosity), adjusting for its temp as well as (optionally) the mass of the planet. Check them out in starcarta.app
Starcarta
Explore the stars and planets of our local 200ly space in 3D. Discover star systems, planets, and their unique features. Search for celestial objects and learn about their properties in Starcarta.
starcarta.app
August 3, 2025 at 2:37 AM
RK Kopparapu + team’s articles build on & refine the work of Kasting in 1993 to determine where this zone around a star could be. HZs are then determined from the star’s output (ex luminosity), adjusting for its temp as well as (optionally) the mass of the planet. Check them out in starcarta.app
Starcarta release 1.12!
Now w/Habitable Zones! So what is a star’s HZ? It’s the space around a star where a rocky planet can have surface water, assuming atmosphere & sufficient gravity. Avoiding either runaway greenhouses or where CO₂ can't keep the planet sufficiently warm. #space #starcarta (1/2)
Now w/Habitable Zones! So what is a star’s HZ? It’s the space around a star where a rocky planet can have surface water, assuming atmosphere & sufficient gravity. Avoiding either runaway greenhouses or where CO₂ can't keep the planet sufficiently warm. #space #starcarta (1/2)
August 3, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Starcarta release 1.12!
Now w/Habitable Zones! So what is a star’s HZ? It’s the space around a star where a rocky planet can have surface water, assuming atmosphere & sufficient gravity. Avoiding either runaway greenhouses or where CO₂ can't keep the planet sufficiently warm. #space #starcarta (1/2)
Now w/Habitable Zones! So what is a star’s HZ? It’s the space around a star where a rocky planet can have surface water, assuming atmosphere & sufficient gravity. Avoiding either runaway greenhouses or where CO₂ can't keep the planet sufficiently warm. #space #starcarta (1/2)
HD 20781 has 4 known planets (2 Gas Giants and 2 Super-earths) and 9000au away is HD 20782, with at least 1 planet having the single highest eccentricity of all known exoplanets. Have a look at them in 3D on starcarta.app/o/QgvX. (2/2) #astronomy #space #starcarta
Starcarta
Explore the stars and planets of our local 200ly space in 3D. Discover star systems, planets, and their unique features. Search for celestial objects and learn about their properties in Starcarta.
starcarta.app
July 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
HD 20781 has 4 known planets (2 Gas Giants and 2 Super-earths) and 9000au away is HD 20782, with at least 1 planet having the single highest eccentricity of all known exoplanets. Have a look at them in 3D on starcarta.app/o/QgvX. (2/2) #astronomy #space #starcarta
Today’s system is HD 20782/HD 20781 which form a twice notable wide-binary system w/2 sunlike stars. Their system is the first found binary where each star has planets, which is unusual as one of the stars tends to disrupt the initial planet-forming disks of their companions. (1/2) #astronomy #space
July 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Today’s system is HD 20782/HD 20781 which form a twice notable wide-binary system w/2 sunlike stars. Their system is the first found binary where each star has planets, which is unusual as one of the stars tends to disrupt the initial planet-forming disks of their companions. (1/2) #astronomy #space