'astrographer' is formed in modern English from the combining form 'astro-' (from Greek 'astron' meaning 'star') + 'graph' (from Greek 'graphein' meaning 'to write/draw') + agent suffix '-er'.

'astrographer' developed from 'astrograph' and 'astrography' (coined in the 19th century to name instruments and techniques for photographing or charting the stars) and was later extended to mean a person who operates such instruments or makes such charts.

Initially the elements referred specifically to 'writing/drawing the stars' (mapping), but over time the word has also come to include those who photograph celestial objects using astrographs; the core idea of recording the heavens has remained.