I Made a (Partial) 3D Model/Map of the Cosmere

[Usseewa]

So, this is something that is interesting to me, and I have made some (and plan to make more) theories regarding the Cosmere (in regards to the star cluster itself, constellations, and stars). I decided to try to make a 3D model of the stars we know of (based on the Arcanum Unbounded star chart), because I feel like it could be useful (at least to me). It's partially inspired by this WoB:

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Pagerunner

Will we be seeing an updated Cosmere star chart or system charts for these new words [from Secret Projects]?

Isaac Stewart

I imagine that we'll eventually have a star chart that has these new worlds on it. I don't know when that will be, but it's something that's been in the back of my head.

Brandon Sanderson

Maybe if we ever get around to Arcanum Unbounded 2, but I need to write more short fiction that could go in that before we could do that. One fun thing is: if you look at the Kickstarter page, there's that nice illustration of Hoid--also done by Howard Lyon--and in the background you will see some stars. Hmm? The new ones aren't in there yet.

Isaac Stewart

At least, not labeled yet. For people who don't know, I have a 3D model that a while back we said "okay, how many stars are in the Cosmere, what kind of a cluster is this?" And we talked to Peter and Brandon and we kind of brainstormed some things. So I built a 3D model that helped me create that first star chart and I have the main worlds like Roshar and Scadrial are named in there, but there are other ones that I just put in there in places to look good and try to figure out how would constellations work and things like that. So, we just have to go in there and name some of these if they're in the right spot. Or add them.

Secret Project #1 Reveal and Livestream (March 8, 2022)

 

So, I made a crude "website" (it's only local, on my computer, so none of you can use it yet, and it is pretty basic) that basically has the image in the background, and then I can add circles representing stars by clicking and then using my keyboard to move and resize them (I didn't want to deal with figuring out how to do it with the mouse). I can also name stars and use prefixes to "group" them into constellations. I'm using the star's size to determine the Z/depth (which may or may not be accurate). I would like feedback on the method I am using, since I don't know much about stars and stuff. Like, the AU map is 2D, but in reality, the night sky would be weirder and curved. Also, since I doubt all stars are actually the same size in reality (or the Cosmere), using the size on the chart is probably not a great (though probably semi-accurate) method of determining position. For X and Y, I just use the position on the image.

Here are screenshots of the tool (green dots represent stars I have marked. You can see that I have done Threnody, Taldain, and their surrounding stars):

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I can then export the data, and it produces both a regular JSON export (to store somewhere and be used for importing back or other general use) and a string that can be pasted into Desmos that creates a 3D plot/model of the stars:

(link: https://www.desmos.com/3d/epdezgtzwi)

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It doesn't exactly look the best, but it's a start.

So, what do you all think? Feedback? Ideas for improvement (such as plotting accuracy)? I didn't really want to do all the stars and then find out it was a waste of effort or something.

Edited December 29, 2025 by Theory
Formatting/SPAG

[Schizoposting]

How are you determining the Z axis of the stars? The star chart is only two dimensional.

[Treamayne]

WoBs to keep in mind:

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Edited for length and relevance

Brandon Sanderson

Now, you've got to remember that at the point that this comes out-- The collection's been interesting for a couple of reasons. For one reason, the collection's coming out before Sixth of the Dusk happens in the cosmere, right? And so Khriss gives an introduction to each world, so you'll find her introduction to First of the Sun to be a very interesting introduction that doesn't know things that you know because of that. In addition, the star chart is a star chart created by people who are not spacefaring, right? And so it is a star chart more along the lines of-- It may not be one hundred percent to scale and things like that, like they've been able to figure out a lot of things by using the Cognitive Realm, so they'd be like "alright, here's the relationship", but it will be a while before you get what feels like a Star Trek star chart. Your star chart you're gonna get in this is a fantasy star chart, which will give you the relative positions and things like that, but it's not gonna be like you can measure exactly, which we do have! But I'm not gonna give you yet. *audience laughs*

JordanCon 2016 (April 23, 2016)

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Herald (paraphrased)

Is Vax present (lurking) in any of the star systems explained in Arcanum Unbounded? Personally I think there will be more star systems that would be discovered in the future and Vax might be part of them. Comment?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO for Vax. Yes, there might be more stars. The picture on the cover is the sight observed from one particular place.

Herald (paraphrased)

Silverlight?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO. Let's just say that there are more planetary systems present in the existing star chart itself that you don't know yet.

Herald (paraphrased)

Is Yolen present in the dragon constellation?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

Arcanum Unbounded San Francisco signing (Nov. 30, 2016)

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Argent

What perspective is this constellation map seen/drawn from? Somebody from an earlier signing in this tour said they spoke with you about this, and you mentioned Silverlight, but not exactly... I got the impression that your reply wasn't transcribed verbatim  Can you address the perspective issue here? We now know that Silverlight is in the Cognitive Realm (where the stars don't necessarily match their physical arrangement, if they are visible at all), so if you worried about accidentally revealing that earlier, it's no longer an issue.

Isaac Stewart

The map was created to reside in Silverlight and represents a partial view of the night sky from a point we have not yet revealed. So, no, this is not a view of the night sky from Silverlight. This is a mural painted for a patron whose travels have taken them far far afield.

Footnote: This is from a private email exchange between Argent and Isaac Stewart.
Miscellaneous 2017 (June 1, 2017)

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Argent

Do the constellations have actual names you can share with us?

Isaac Stewart

Clockwise from Threnody: the Mourner, the Dragon, the Fisherman, the Giver, the Lamp, the Knight, and the One Tree. The names are a bit generic, mostly because they are working names I used to refer to the different constellations during the process of painting the piece. It should be noted that the people from the spot in the Cosmere where the night sky does look like this would not see these pictures in the constellations nor give them these names. The pictures the patron saw in the stars here are based on their own observations and knowledge about the Cosmere as a whole. The locals would see entirely different pictures in their stars, for those who can even see the stars from their vantage.

One tidbit I should mention is that the lamp used to be a constellation called the Lover and was a man receiving breath from the Giver. I dropped it mostly because it's reference to Devotion wasn't working visually. Another thing to note: Not all the stars on this chart are physically within the Cosmere. Some are in the parts of Space beyond the Cosmere.

Footnote: This is from a private email exchange between Argent and Isaac Stewart.
Miscellaneous 2017 (June 1, 2017)

 

Hope that helps

9 minutes ago, Schizoposting said:

How are you determining the Z axis of the stars? The star chart is only two dimensional.

From the OP:

1 hour ago, Theory said:

I'm using the star's size to determine the Z/depth (which may or may not be accurate).

Hope that helps