Star Charts

[des948@ozemail.]

Can anyone tell me what is a very user freindly cd star chart that i can install onto the lap top and take into the yard I have a basic one The Sky Student edition another is Starry Nights Vers 4.5 and is there some where in Newcastle Australia i can buy it

[Mick]

Don't buy it download one from here. http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/

[Mick]

Btw hello and welcome. :)

[Blue Skies]

I second that suggestion!

[janoskiss]

and if you want printable charts for use in the field, Taki's star atlases are excellent. There are two versions: Mag 6.5 (recommended for starters) and mag 8.5 which is very detailed and goes quite deep. See http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zs3t-tk/index.htm

[Dujon]

I too admire Mr Taki's star maps. During the cloudy days of last week I downloaded the various PDF files, printed them and then stored them in a four ring A4 (that's a big advantage for me) folder.

I've attached a couple of images to give you some idea as to what it looks like on completion. It will cost you the price of a cheap folder, a box of sheet protectors and whatever ink your printer might use. Yes, and a bit of time for overseeing operations and collation. :(

[Gargoyle_Steve]

When I downloaded those charts a while ago I stored them on a flashdrve and took them to my local print shop to have them laser printed on A3 size paper (as my laser only does A4 size, and these charts are detailed enough to deserve the 100% bigger sheets).

I then had the charts laminated back to back in such a way that I can "flip the pages" and view southern hemisphere charts 1 through 6, or turn it upside down and do likewise with the northern hemisphere charts.

A3 sheet printing : $ 6.00

Back to back laminating : $15.00

Having totally waterproof charts that I can make notes on and erase again (using non-perma markers): Priceless !!

[JimmyH155]

I only have the old fashioned paper charts, and the one I use more than others is the Harold / Bobroff star chart. These two guys live in Canberra I think and their charts are really detailed (sometimes too detailed) with several different "zoom" scales. Does anybody else use this???;)