星图是不同于传统地理图集或者天体照片，也就是说，现在星图是把夜空中持久的特征精确描述或绘制，例如恒星、恒星组成的星座、银河系、星云、星团和其它河外星系的绘图集；亦即是「星星的地图」。

古时的星图最初只以小圆圈或一样的圆点附以连接表示星官与星座，如敦煌星图，后期才陆续加上标示黄道、银道等等参考线。

为了精确标定恒星与各类天体位置，在现今的较专业星图上，一定标有赤经线、赤纬线、黄道与银度并标示确切依据的历元。而星点则以由大至小的黑点代表亮度的光暗（并附有星点亮度示意），星点旁标示其西方星名与星座界线，在简单的或者索引图上并标示有星座连接；星云与星团以轮廓界线或图例标示；银河则以虚线或淡白色（淡灰色）勾划出来。

A star chart is another name for a chore chart.

A star chart or star map is a map of the night sky. Astronomers divide these into grids to use them more easily. They are used to identify and locate astronomical objects such as stars, constellations and galaxies. They have been used for human navigation since time immemorial. Note that a star chart differs from an astronomical catalog, which is a listing or tabulation of astronomical objects for a particular purpose. Tools utilizing a star chart include the astrolabe and the planisphere.