Nice, awesome feedback, thank you.
For the coordinates, this is what was intended, like draw a x/y graph as if 'k' were 0,0 and plot the coordinates. https://i.imgur.com/X4moZTn.png

I think maybe some disclaimers would help next time I post, like "the picture isn't part of the solution' etc to give people more of an idea of what to focus on. I'll probably link to this convo in the next one, and I was thinking about throwing the 'beta version' puzzles your way to get feedback before posting lol, I'll keep you posted!

And Clue 1 is referring to a different kind of 'star', which I figured would be hardest to figure out the date but I just liked the clue too much. This kind of star.. https://i.imgur.com/yuIT3tp.png