Apollo 9 flown Command Module Star Chart Panel

This star chart panel was one of the metal guidance and control panels used at the navigation station in the lower equipment bay of the Command Module. This particular example was flown on Apollo 9 and comes from the Jim McDivitt collection.

These panels were a quick reference to information required for spacecraft maneuvers made during flight. Each of several panels was designed to fit into a backlit compartment in the G&N control panel on the navigation station. The removable panels allowed the backlight to shine through allowing astronauts to read program information or maps in low light conditions.

This panel is a map of the major stars and constellations in the southern hemisphere. It helped astronauts take star sightings to establish the spacecraft’s position (or “state vector”) in space.