http://arbesman.net/milkyway/
Computational sociology student Samuel Arbesman from Harvard University has created a "route map" of the Milky Way based on the London Underground subway map. By simplifying the "vast and complex interconnections" of the Milky Way, the map is "an attempt to approach our galaxy with a bit more familiarity than usual".
On his schematic representation, each line corresponds to an arm of the galaxy, and the "stations", which are thousands of light years apart, show important "destinations" such as stars, nebulae and other astronomical objects. Samuel has purposely omitted the Earth to show that we "aren't the centre of the universe".
The map is not intended to be accurate: Arbesman sees it as a "useful shorthand for our place in the Milky Way, [making] the important sights and inconceivable distances a bit less daunting".
(Image: NTI Media/TRex Features)