cosmography

/kɑzˈmɑgrəfi/

If you've ever wondered how the Earth, stars, planets, galaxies, and everything that exists in the universe fit together, then you may have an interest in cosmography, the science of mapping the universe.

Cosmography comes from the Greek words kosmos, meaning "world" or "universe," and graphia, meaning "writing" or "description." It's a field of study that attempts to describe the universe as a whole, mapping out everything from the stars and planets to the Earth itself. In the past, people who studied cosmography created maps and charts that depicted not only geographical features but also the arrangement of the heavens, blending science, astronomy, and geography into a comprehensive view of the cosmos.

Definitions of cosmography

1. noun

   the science that maps the general features of the universe; describes both heaven and earth (but without encroaching on geography or astronomy)
   type of:

   natural science, science

   the sciences involved in the study of the physical world and its phenomena
2. noun

   a representation of the earth or the heavens
   “the cosmography of Ptolemy”

   type of:

   representation

   a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something