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Star Map shows a field of stars, hides it, and asks you to reproduce the pattern. Without a grid to anchor to, you are remembering relative positions in open space — which is considerably harder than remembering positions in a structured layout.
Study the star pattern.
The stars disappear.
Place stars where you remember them.
Accuracy of position is scored.
More stars appear as you progress.
Spatial memory without a reference frame. Grid-based tasks give you coordinates to hold; open-field tasks do not, which makes relative relationships the only available encoding.
Find constellations. Grouping three or four stars into a shape is what makes this tractable.
Use the edges and centre of the field as anchors.
Note relative distances — 'these two close, that one far' — rather than absolute positions.
Place the stars you are most confident about first; they anchor the rest.
A grid gives you discrete coordinates. Open space gives you nothing but relationships, and relationships are harder to hold precisely.
Close counts — scoring is based on how near your placements are, not on exact pixels.
It is the same strategy: grouping stars into shapes is precisely what constellations are for.
Make your own constellations during the study phase. Three shapes are far easier to hold than twelve points.