Customer Reviews:
Great Star Atlas.......2007-09-21
This is a wonderful little star atlas. Very useful for doing the Astronomical league's Messier Club. In the back of the book (last page, very easy to find) is the messier list with the page number of the item.
In the front of the book are other lists.
It's very portable but at the cost of small pages and constellations often run off the page. The pages do have a decent amount of overlap which helps when star-hopping.
The one thing I wish it had and was why I gave it four stars instead of five, I wish the pages were somehow coated so that dew wouldn't make the pages soggy. The pages are tougher than standard paper, but not dew proof.
Great Little Atlas.......2007-09-01
This atlas fills a real need for a pocket atlas that is easily carried and consulted in the field. Highly recommended.
Great Pocket Atlas.......2007-06-27
Features I like:
+ Highly detailed & labeled however not over-detailed.
+ Spiral bound is very handy.
+ Made of good quality paper.
+ Small (like medium notebook) and light weight - great for backyard observations. You don't sprain your hand when you carry it.
+ Great bargain for small price!
+ Good Index including Messier objects.
+ Detailed maps of pleaids, Virgo clusters etc.
Features I like less:
- Its size is also a disadvantge: divided to many charts that sometimes makes you confused. Can be difficult to navigate if you don't have a basic knowledge of sky.
- The spiral bound might cause pages to deteriorate in time.
- Lack of monthly maps that show the sky and the constelations change.
In a nutshell: Great bargain for the price. Very handy for observations. Best for the average stargazer.
Pocket Sky Atlas "For Large Pockets!".......2007-03-14
This rating should probably be closer to a 4 however I just can't get over the misleading description "Pocket" Sky Atlas. Over all it is what you would expect from a sky atlas. Decent easy to read maps, affordable price. However if you want a true "pocket" sky atlas to take in the field that will fit in your pocket, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
A great little atlas.......2007-03-08
I am an active amateur astronomer with several star atlases. I bought this atlas almost a year ago, and I have ended up using it more than any of my other atlases. The format is compact and convenient, it points out the major sky features very well (even providing outlines of larger nebulae), and is a great complement to a medium- to small-sized telescope. I even find this atlas makes interesting bed-time reading, helping familiarize myself with the locations of objects that I haven't commonly observed in the past, like carbon stars (cool, deep-red stars that are particularly beautiful in a low-power star field). The atlas is quite sturdy and has held up well. My only quibble is that in the edition that I have, there are a few small areas (roughly a half-inch in diameter) on a few of the maps that are blanked out, as if a small piece of scrap paper were in the way during printing. I believe this error may affect many or most copies of the first edition, but I am not certain about that.
Product Description
Each version of Sky Atlas 2000.0 contains 26 charts covering the whole sky and showing 81,312 single, multiple, and variable stars of magnitude 8.5 and brighter and 2,700 deep-sky objects. Stars are black, while deep-sky objects are color-coded by type for easy identification. Fold out charts in a 12 by 16 inch book (charts unfold to 21 by 16 inches), spiralbound.
Customer Reviews:
Don't leave home without it.!.......2007-05-01
This book has instantly become one of the two most important documents I take to the field. Once I have determined my position and orientation using a plenisphere there is nothing I can't know about any part of the sky. It's heavy, and bulky to hold (I take a collapsible table when observing) but there is nothing like having the complete data at your fingertips. Spiral bound lays flat. I thought that was a cute idea when I bought it. Now I know how important it is. Lamination is also critical to have as the first night out with the "free" charts I printed from my computer they were ruined.
This is the master reference to take to the observing site. I reiterate, "Don't leave home without it."
laminated deluxe version.......2007-02-27
the unlaminated deluxe is great, easy to mark btw. but the laminated deluxe is simply fabulous. the size(21 by 16 inches, maps are not folded), the top-binding make the atlas much less clumsy to handle and the spiral-binding really makes sense. also the chart key is in the front. make sure you take a look of both before making your purchase.
Excellent book.......2006-11-10
This Atlas is fantastic ... very large but the scale s so large it gives you and excellent idea of what one can see.
Very good but not quite perfect.......2006-08-12
For years the Sky Atlas 2000.0 has been the most popular atlas step up from a 6th magnitude atlas. The 8th magnitude limit is deep enough to enable users to find Neptune and the brighter asteroids. The large charts, while they can be a bit awkward to handle, are great to view, as they show wide swaths of sky.
The Second Edition brought some significant improvements: a useful step up to magnitude 8.5, galaxy shapes which show size and orientation, better representation of star magnitude, detailed charts of the Orion region and Virgo Galaxy Cluster. If you are debating between a used First Edition and a new Second Edition, get the Second; it's worth the extra money.
A few shortcomings remain. The charts are arranged in ascending order of right ascension. This presents problems with editions which are bound on the left side. When users reach the right edge of the chart, they have to stifle the instinct to continue right to the next page, force themselves to reverse direction, and turn--of all places--to the previous page instead. The same with the left edge. Charts should be ordered in descending RA like Uranometria or Millennium. Ordering by ascending RA is a pointless tradition.
Some of the versions are bound at the top, which solves the problem of the chart sequence--and makes the book less floppy to handle--but makes it harder to search for charts. Since the chart number is at the top right, the user cannot see what page they have their fingers on until the book is completely open.
The pages of the laminated versions are very sturdy for field use but hard to grasp and separate, especially when moist with dew. This and the previous problem could be solved by adding numbered, graspable tabs to the bottom of each chart.
A badly-needed improvement to the atlas came in a subsequent printing of the second edition: around the edges of each chart are noted the numbers of the charts which adjoin it. This greatly simplifies navigation through the atlas. It would be good to take this measure a step further and, on each chart, mark adjacent chart borders as well to save guesswork as to where each one ends and the next begins.
The many virtues of this atlas have been amply documented by other reviewers. The space I have spent on the shortcomings is simply an attempt to round out the picture. The many improvements already made to this work speak well of the publisher's commitment to an excellent atlas. The Sky 2000.0 is now only a couple steps short.
So which atlas to choose for your observations? I would completely ignore the 6th magnitude atlases on the market. For a beginning to intermediate observer, the magnitude 7.6 Pocket Sky Atlas is very well designed and affordable. For intermediate observing, the Sky Atlas 2000.0 is an excellent choice. For advanced observers who frequently go deep, I would suggest skipping the Sky Atlas and bringing both the Pocket and the Millennium along on outings.
Excellent charts - but for home or field?.......2006-03-18
These are definitely the best charts I've used to date. I have the unlaminated deluxe copy spiralbound, and to have the objects color coded really helps a ton - makes it quick and easy to find stuff and even helps me orient the map faster. However, I would caution using this in the field. If you have problems with dew, definitely get either the laminated version, or buy it unlaminated and pay to have it laminated. (You may have to compare at stores where you live to figure out if it would save you much to buy unlaminated and then take it somewhere - some have said the price isn't that different, others have said they saved a lot by doing the lamination theirselves.) Another solution is to make copies of the area or constellation you want to observe, then if they get ruined or if you want to mark it to death, you can always make more copies.
You really need a good way to lay out the map in the field, like a table or something to make it easier to flip thru - definitely not for the grass and too big to just lay in a chair. Marking the constellation patterns (i.e. connect the dots) also helps, and it's convienent to do on laminated copies as you can use a dry erase or grease marker, and if you make a mistake you can fix it or even mark places for observing sessions, as they easily wipe off.
Overall.. I would most certainly recommend the deluxe spiral version (the one w/ color identification). A Great Buy!!!
Pros: color, nice big charts that show a good expanse of sky, not too detailed but more so than average charts in a book, not exceptionally heavy and easy to pack
Cons: susceptible to dew, can be awkward to flip thru w/o a table or similar prop, unlaminated
Book Description
Featuring up-to-the-minute discoveries and state-of-the-art space photography, this atlas illustrates all that science has revealed about constellations, the evolution of stars and galaxies, and the planets in the solar system. Acetate overlays highlight special points of interest to show even more about what we see in the night sky.
Book Description
The ultimate guide for stargazing, anywhere in the world
The scope of
The New Atlas of the Stars is remarkably comprehensive. Astronomy buffs and skywatchers will find this abundantly illustrated reference book useful anywhere in the world.
Star charts depict the night sky, and this atlas is arranged so that one section of the sky is shown and described on each double-page spread. The two polar regions have their own individual pages. There are 30 charts covering the whole sky, and each chart has a plastic overlay depicting the names of the important stars.
The first section of the book is a general overview of astronomy and includes:
- Stars and constellations
- Historical star charts
- The motion of the heavens
- Star trails
- The Milky Way
The other three sections feature galaxies and constellations found in the Northern Hemisphere, Equatorial Region and Southern Hemisphere.
The final section covers the basics of astrophotography and digital imaging as well as practical and useful viewing tips.
The New Atlas of the Stars is the ultimate reference for the astronomer.
Customer Reviews:
Good Atlas.......2007-01-12
This atlas is what you would expect from a star atlas. It lays out everything nicley and has some outstanding pictures to go along with it.
Excellent effort, good for coffee table ref but not for the field.......2005-09-18
It is hard to please every one with a single star atlas, and indeed a variety of useful versions are out there in the market (e.g Uranometria, Star Atlas 2000, Norton's, Starry Night, Sky
Tools etc.). This release is unique in several ways. The atlas consists mainly of actual widefield photographic images of the heavens, with a transparent overlay denoting objects of interest and constellations lines. This approach is similar to Serge Brunier/Akira Fuji's The Great Atlas of the Stars.
Things I like about this book? 1. objects include several more interesting NGC objects instead of the typical Messier tour. 2. Atlas covers the southern skies, a treatment rarely seen in Northern Hemisphere publications and very valuable 3. Sectors of the maps are logical and not overly crowded. 4. The maps will give you a unique persepective of the night skies that are hard to get with any other atlas. 5. Photos are realistic and do not suffer from perspective distortion common in wide field photos. 6. Quality of the book is very good. Firefly, the publisher, has done a great job.
What do I not like? 1. Photos are good but in my opinion defintely not as good as Akira's (although I thought Akira's was a tad underexposed for that particular class of visual atlas). The Milky Way region in particular appears to be a little too overexposed to be aesthetically pleasing or useful. A little creative photoshopping might be the ticket. The author should have opted to take photos with at least a 6cmx4.5cm medium format camera instead of a 35mm camera for better image quality. Akira uses a large format camera and the difference in quality and resolution clearly shows. 2. Accompanying 1 page facing text is too cursory to give each map sector the full justice, hence relegating the atlas to more as a nice visual planning supplement or for coffee table enjoyment. An advanced hobbyist would probably prefer tables of notable galaxies, double stars, etc. for each map sector.
All in all, this book is unique and definitely worth having in one's collection. I recommend it.
Book Description
The Observer's Sky Atlas contains star charts and information for all those who observe the night sky with unaided eyes, with binoculars, or with small telescopes, and also for those who just wish to look at constellations and interesting objects. Equally useful for the beginning observer and the old hand, the atlas presents:
- A short introduction into observing the sky and a thorough description of the star charts and tables
- Clearly arranged charts of all the stars (up to 6th magnitude) visible with the unaided eye
- Enlarged chart sections (including all stars to magnitude 9) for binocular observation, highlighting 250 interesting nebulae, galaxies, and stellar clusters;
This new third edition features:
- 32 additional pages with images of all the 250 nebulae covered in the atlas
- An updated calendar for the next 20 years
- Double star ephemerides from 2005-2020, including updated tables accompanying star charts
- Updated minima/maxima of variable stars according to recent observations
- Updated data where new measurements have proven more reliable than previous ones.
The Observer's Sky Atlas is an indispensable and handy companion for every observer and has already appeared in four languages.
Some praise for previous editions:
"… The most informative little sky guide in the business." –Astronomy
"The more experienced observer will find this slim volume useful at the telescope and … packed with interesting observing projects." –Sky & Telescope
Customer Reviews:
A good guide for deep sky observing.......2007-10-04
I have a lot of sky atlases as well as guides to deep sky objects. While there are numerous maps that are aesthetically more beautiful and perhaps more useful overal as a scopeside map, and numerous deep sky object guides, none of them presents such an excellent distillation of objects and easily useable maps for practical recreational viewing with binoculars or the small scope. I find with this book, I get the most out of my evenings with little pre-planning necessary. After gaining some experience with this book, one can than follow the general approach to deep sky viewing with more advanced guides and atlases.
A jewel for small telescope owners.......2007-09-28
I've been an active observer for years. My telescopes have been large instruments requiring some planning and setup. For this reason, I typically do little observing during nights when there is a partial moon out. I've decided to do some observing with a small 80mm telescope. It's easy to move outside and set up within a minute and it's no big deal if I only have a few minutes to observe.
It turns out that what I had in the way of a star atlas was not terribly suited for my new endeavor. My atlases are all geared for deep space observing with big reflectors. They are well worn and tattered and I know from experience that although I have loved them to death, I will learn to hate them if I attempt an observing program with an 80mm telescope.
So..... during the past few weeks, I've been looking for the perfect reference material. A friend of mine turned me on to "The Observer's Sky Atlas" by E. Karkoschka. I briefly looked through his and decided immediately that I "needed" one. I've used many of the other atlases geared towards small telescpes but I've decided that this one will be my new companion over the next few months.
My grab and go observing will be just that... grab and go. I wanted a volume that fits that bill. The atlas is a small paperback about 6 x 8 inches. Within it's pages you'll find 250 deep space wonders along with 250 double stars complete with pictures and easy to use reference charts.
Each set of pages includes a table of interesting objects to see on the left side and a chart on the right. The table lists the objects of interest, along with pertinent data. There's your mix of deep space objects, open clusters, binary stars, and standard stars. Refractors are very nice for just looking at your standard stars you know. You got your big ones, your blue ones, your red ones.... There are two additional pieces of data that this volume provides lacking in so many other references. The first is the estimated distance in light years. I love this! The other is a guide to help you determine the difficulty in seeing the object shown by a die (as in dice). A six is super easy, a one will be more challenging.
Near the back of the book are black and white photos of all 250 deep space objects in the guide. This is really nice for your daytime aspects of your observing program or to tease out what you think you see as you compare it to the photograph.
At the back of the book is a full sky chart showing all of the constellations and a key to help you zoom in on the individual charts in the book.
I am sure that all objects in the book are observable in an 80mm scope and that is why I so heartily recommend this book. This is also a volume that I can highly recommend for budding astronomers. I see little mention of it in observing circles but it is a true little jewel. Get it!
Michelle
If only it was made of durable paper!.......2006-12-08
Alas, nothing is perfect. This pocket star atlas is nothing short then genius - it would have been perfect but for the cheap production.
The idea is simple yet powerful. All other star atlas are either short on details - thus preventing convenient star-hopping to non-trivial targets, or cumbersome, as good detail of the entire sky is a lot to print.
Taking Uranometria or The Millennium Star Atlas to the field is no light task. Using these hefty books at the field is even less convenient.
Here we have a marvelous solution: most of the sky do not deserve rich detail for lack of interesting objects. Here we have but 10% of the entire sky in high detail, and the rest in low detail. Thus we have 250 objects, enough to satisfy my 10 incher, in a pocket - sized book.
Then there's the fine data regarding each and every object. Why other atlas do not include surface brightness for nebulae? This one does! Tons of knowledge, ready to be used - this is magic!
I warmly recommend this little marvel. I wish better production will be available - I, for one, will certainly buy it.
Indispensable and still the best.......2006-08-23
There are two small atlases I consider to be absolutely indispensable. The Observer's Sky Atlas is one of them. The unique feature of The Observer's Sky Atlas is the insets on each chart that provides additional detail in the vicinity of many of the most commonly sought after objects. In this way, Karkoschka has been able to plot stars down to magnitude 9 for those areas of the sky you are most likely to be targeting. This feature has allowed me to more easily zero in on an object where my other favorite field atlas, (see below), sometimes provided too few stars to pinpoint exactly where I was as I tried to narrow in on a tiny section of dark sky.
When opening the book, each chart is printed on a right hand page. Each chart covers a nice area of the sky and includes stick figures of the constellations to help get your bearings. Then, as mentioned above, key areas within the chart are further detailed with the insets. The charts are not in color, so some may not see them as pretty as in other books, but there is a nice elegance to them nonetheless. The charts are easy to find using the all sky view key to charts at the back of the book, (which oddly is in color).
Data for the objects on each chart are printed on the facing left hand page. This is a very nice feature that I particularly like. Information includes such things as a star's apparent and absolute magnitude, it's B-V index, its distance and its coordinates. For binary stars there is information on their separation and their variability. For nebula and galaxies there is additional information on size, shape, and distance. There are even short descriptions of how objects appear through a telescope or binoculars. Karkoschka has done a great job of providing a lot of information in a very condensed but easy to read format.
One drawback to this atlas is the construction. The atlas is not spiral bound, so it does not lay flat, and the pages, although sturdy enough, are not in any way water resistant.
Overall though, this is an outstanding atlas for taking into the field, and I would certainly recommend it. As I said, I consider it to be indispensable.
Another outstanding atlas is Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas by Roger Sinnott. It is a nice compliment to The Observer's Sky Atlas. I like the Pocket Sky Atlas for its big broad views of the sky and it's stunning charts (see my review of that book). I like the Observer's Sky Atlas for its additional detail both in the chart insets and in the descriptions of objects. Both are ideal as field atlases, and I keep them both very close at hand when I've observing.
I hope you're not in a position where you can only buy one. Choosing between the two would be difficult. As I said, I keep both with me when I'm observing. But if you do have to choose, I would suggest the following. If you want the nicest looking atlas, go with the Pocket Sky Atlas. If you want a bit more detail and you don't mind giving up the glossy color pages and spiral binding, go with the Observers's Sky Atlas. But honestly, you really can't go wrong with either one.
A little giant atlas.......2005-09-02
I have this atlas since 1999, it was the first, and by far the most used. The 50 charts include 250 non-stellar objects(nebulae), including all Messier,also 250 binary and 80 visual variables stars. All the charts include inset finder charts up
to 9 star magnitudes to find all non-stellar the objects. Althought the object count doesn't seem much impressive, the layout is a miracle of compactness. It's quite amazing how much really usefull information the author did put on such a small
format, and yet on perfectly readable manner. That includes position, size, shape, classification, magnitude, surface
brightness, visibility, distance and even a sucint description. On binary stars have also the color (temperature)
difference, separations , position angles and on some cases even the orbits.
This atlas is a perfect companion for instruments that go from a pair of eyes to telescopes and binoculars up to 150mm (6"),
but beware that is a very practical "field" observer's book, there are no pretty pictures or extensive descriptions, just a
guide to get you to do your own pretty pictures and your own descriptions, requiring some practice and a basic knowledge of
the constellations and some bright stars.
Due it's incredible compactness I'll give it 5 (neutron) stars.
Customer Reviews:
All the problems of other Wil Tirion atlases.......2006-08-19
This is just another 6th magnitude atlas with all the limitations pertaining thereunto. Atlases of this scale are inadequate for finding Neptune or bright asteroids. It does not even reach the limit of the humble 6x30mm finder.
This atlas is typical of Wil Tirion's work. He draws charts as clear and attractive as any astrocartographer in the business, but until he shows better understanding of the needs of observers in the field, his works will never be readily usable.
For example, charts should always be arranged in descending order of right ascension, not ascending. That way, when north is at the top of the chart, navigation between charts is intuitive: you move to the right edge of the chart, and to continue, you continue right to the next page. To continue left, you should go to the previous page.
Even worse, when you look for an object just off the edge of one of the charts, the edge of the chart tells you nothing about where to go next. You have to fumble back to the index page to find out which chart to go to, which is time consuming and aggravating.
Terrestrial atlases place guides at the edges of their maps: "continues on 14." This is all the more important for astronomical observation, where the user is in the dark with nothing but a red flashlight and possibly holding an eyepiece or filter. To make the atlas practicable for field use, users must write the adjacent chart information on the charts themselves.
I would recommend skipping the 6th magnitude atlases altogether and buying Sky and Telescope's far superior 7.6 magnitude Pocket Sky Atlas instead.
First class.......2006-07-30
I did a detailed review of this text compared to "Norton's Star Atlas", 2004. This is here on Amazon, listed under Norton's text. In the interest of brevity I won't duplicate it here. Collins is far superior.
A nice general reference.......2006-07-11
I had high hopes for this book and it is very nicely illustrated with Tirion's famous maps however they are a little difficult to view under red light in the field. Still, they are detailed as are the nicely air-brushed lunar maps of Antonin Rukl. It would have more appeal being illustrated with deep sky images to show what an amateur might expect to photograph or even see at the eyepiece. I think Collins pocket Guide to the Stars & Planets does an overall better job for most beginners.
Still, it is a worthy production.
Well-produced observing guide covers all the bases.......2005-12-05
Sometimes, it looks as though there are as many astronomy observing guides as there are astronomy authors, and all of them seem very much of a feather. That's why it's surprising why the pieces come together so well for the Collins Atlas of the Night Sky, by Storm Dunlop, Wil Tirion, and Antonin Rukl. With so much of this ground having been covered before, it's pleasantly surprising that they can present it so much better than others.
Dunlop and Tirion have collaborated before, on the Firefly Deluxe Planisphere, a thick and large planisphere with rich detail and lots of information that puts David Levy's large planisphere to shame, for only twice the price. Rukl is known for his spectacular lunar atlas, recently reintroduced by Sky Publishing after a decade-long slumber in the out-of-print stacks. Make no mistake about it, these are some heavyweights in the uranography department.
Much of this information can be obtained elsewhere. The book contains four main sections: an unaided-eye star atlas, a constellation guide, a lunar atlas, and a solar system observing guide. The star atlas is essentially drawn from the Cambridge Star Atlas, down to the same object list format. Twenty maps cover the entire night sky to a scale of about 3 degrees per centimeter, with stars to magnitude 6.5. Hundreds of deep sky objects are plotted and listed. To my initial puzzlement, I didn't find a map key, as there is in the Cambridge. I found it, after some searching, at the other end of the book, just before the index.
The constellation guide, in turn, is quite reminiscent of the same section in Ian Ridpath and Tirion's Stars and Planets. The difference is that the Ridpath and Tirion book measures just 5-by-7, and each of the constellations is constrained to fit on a single page of that book. Here, each page is 9-by-12, and the constellation maps are given a generous scale of about 2 degrees per centimeter. Stars are plotted down to magnitude 7.5, so that the stellar density remains about the same in both the star atlas and the constellation guide maps. As in the Ridpath and Tirion book, each constellation is accompanied by an annotated list of several objects of particular interest within.
Rukl's lunar atlas is drawn--hand-drawn, in fact--substantially from his well-known standalone Moon book, although the descriptions of each sector are given here in a more narrative style, rather than the spare, feature-by-feature description given in his own book. This makes it more suitable as an introduction to the Moon, though perhaps less so as a reference source for the experienced lunatic. Also, the scale is smaller than in his own atlas, with the Moon being divided into just 16 sectors, in a 4-by-4 square. A pair of map keys is given on each page of the atlas, with north up in both keys, but mirror-reversed from each other, to suit those observing with and without star diagonals.
The last and slightest section covers solar system observing. A few pages on celestial mechanics are followed desultorily by specific advice on observing Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and somewhat scantier tips for Uranus and Neptune. Mercury and Venus are mentioned only for the sake of locating and detecting them, and Pluto seems not to be indicated at all. In some sense, I understand this, because you really need a large telescope to find and identify Pluto, particularly if you're a beginner and therefore the target for this book. Still, I think it would have been neat to spend four pages doing a strip map of stars in the neighborhood of Pluto down to the fifteenth magnitude, and to indicate its path for the next five years. After all, the section concludes with strip maps for the other main planets, as well as hourglass diagrams for representative latitudes. Of the four parts of this book, this one was the least satisfying.
I don't want to give the impression that this book is just a Greatest Hits album for these folks. The presentation has been updated, and new features added. Detail maps are geared more for the observer, rather than the armchair astronomer. Instead of giving us the slow creep of the celestial pole around Polaris, for example, we get the much more useful map of comparison stars for Mira, the pulsating variable in Cetus the Whale, or a map of the area around the galactic center.
Beginners will still need books like Terence Dickinson's Nightwatch, to help guide them toward the right purchases and, perhaps, to inspire a love for the night sky. Once they have the bug and the tools, though, it's hard to beat this new text as a self-contained guide to the night sky for the novice. Definitely recommended.
Book Description
A practical guide to binocular and small telescope observing.
Night Sky Atlas combines clear, accurate star maps with reliable and informative text. This is a highly practical atlas for beginning sky gazers using binoculars or a small telescope.
Sturdy binding makes it suitable for outdoor use. Cover flaps can be used as page-markers. The sewn binding allows the atlas to be opened flat. The star maps are drawn with black stars on a white background, allowing observers to pencil in their own observations. The high quality paper can withstand repeated use of an eraser.
The book begins by presenting the whole sky in a series of six maps, showing stars down to magnitude 5.5 -- all visible with binoculars or a small telescope. Opposite each map is a photo-realistic image that shows how the same portion of sky looks to the naked eye, allowing less-experienced observers to quickly find specific objects of interest.
The maps can be used for planning observations, navigating from one part of the sky to another and for a quick reference guide.
Other features include:
- Forty large scale constellation charts
- A full set of seasonal charts
- Maps of the Moon and the planets
- Deep sky maps identifying double stars, nebula and more.
A comprehensive index provides the location of information for all the night sky objects and features covered in the atlas.
The
Night Sky Atlas is the ideal portable reference for backyard astronomers.
Customer Reviews:
Very good first star atlas.......2005-11-24
This is a very nice first atlas. It starts with a introduction section which covers the basics on celstial movement, observation techniques, and a few pages on the planets and the moon (including 4 pages of charts on the moon's four quaters and 4 accompanying pages of descriptions of each). It then has a very nice sky atlas section with the left page showing a black star on white background atlas and the right page showing the same view with white stars on black and all markings removed. This is helpful for getting a good idea of what you'll see, but the stars are artifically enlarged to show magnitude differences so its not exactly what you'll see in the sky.
My one gripe about this atlas comes in the third and final section on individual constelations. Its very well detailed and uses a page or so per constelation with textual descriptions of various objects, a few photographs, and a finder chart. However, the charts are printed with yellow stars on blue background, which washes out quite horribly when used outside under a red light. A white light only fares slightly better. I've found that this section is best used indoors. You can use many available software pacakages to print finder charts that are more exact to what you're looking for and will display better outdoors.
Overall, a very good buy.
You NEED this book........2005-09-16
I have many Astronomy books, but this is one of my favorites. The atlas is a classic star chart of an area of the sky, and on the next page is a photo of what you can expect to see. No more looking at your star chart, and then looking UP to try to find what you're looking for. It's so cool, and makes finding deep sky objects (or whatever your fancy) much easier. The back of the book also shows each constellation, and has a list of interesting objects in each with pictures that are stunning. Lots of great reference data also. Highly recommended and a GREAT PRICE too !!!!
Average customer rating:
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Atlas of the Constellations: Discover the Secrets of the Night Sky
Giles Sparrow
Manufacturer: Gramercy
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Earth: An Intimate History
ASIN: 0517229196
Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Book Description
For aspiring astronomers or anyone who has ever been captivated by the
beauty of the stars,
ATLAS OF THE CONSTELLATIONS is a wonderfully accessible and comprehensive guide to the night sky.
This beautiful volume features accurate and clear star charts and diagrams of all
88 recognized constellations in the northern and southern hemispheres, including all twelve constellations of the zodiac. Beginning with a brief introduction to the stars,
ATLAS OF THE CONSTELLATIONS features one full page on each constellation, detailing its naming and mythology, location in the sky, the best times of year to view it,
and its key stars and nebulae.
Included are constellations such as:
• Andromeda
• Cassiopeia
• Corona Borealis
• Draco
• Hydra
• Orion
• Pyxis
• Ursa Major
• Vulpecula
Comprehensive and informative,
ATLAS OF THE CONSTELLATIONS will enable every reader to unlock the secrets of the night sky.
Book Description
An innovative guide to the night sky.
Most casual stargazers and amateur astronomers have limited time to spend on their hobby. Given the choice, they would prefer to spend their time viewing stars and constellations rather than trying to find or identify them.
The Concise Atlas of the Stars uses transparency overlays for the full-page images of the night to identify the stars, nebulas, galaxies and the 15 most interesting constellations.
Each constellation featured is presented as a full-page spread with a transparent overlay. Details include:
- Name of the constellation
- Location, luminosity and dimensions of the main stars and most interesting objects
- Best time of night for observing
- History and characteristics
- Map of the constellation and its surroundings
- Transparency showing the outline of the constellation with its stars
- Full-page night-sky photo of the constellation.
A concealed wiro-binding allows the book to open flat at any page to keep hands free for adjusting a telescope.
Attractively illustrated with clear star maps and spectacular photographs, this book will be consulted again and again
The Concise Atlas of the Stars is an accurate and handy reference to the night sky.
Customer Reviews:
The Concise Atlas of the Stars.......2007-01-11
Excellent book for boating people who are looking at the stars and want to learn more.
Product Description
This is the Atlas for sky observing begginers. The constellations are easy to locate, and all the objects in the atlas are within reach of binoculars or a small (2 inches or less) telescopes. The forward gives a basic overview of celestial motion. The selection of objects insures success for the beginner with the easiest to find objects in the sky. Many beginners do not know which objects are within reach of their equipment and end up frustrated and unsuccessful. This atlas describes if the object is viewable in binoculars, or a small telescope, or with the unaided eye. Descriptions of objects on a page are given on the opposing page. A
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