Uranometria Sky Atlas

[Davekyn]

I’ve just ordered Volume 2 (Southern Hemisphere to +6) from Bintel & was wondering if I was missing much if I did not follow up and purchase Volume 3 DEEP SKY FIELD GUIDE. Is it worth the $149:00 I think I read it has both the northern & southern atlas maps of volume 1&2. Or is it not as comprehensive as the Volume 1 by itself.

Should I have just bought volume 3? Or does the addition of Volume three compliment Volume 2 despite having the same star charts?

Anyone out there use these books?

Cheers
Dave

[Rodstar]

Hi Dave,

I have all three volumes, and they are about the best investment I have ever made.

I absolutely recommend vol 3. If you have not seen it before, it has lists of objects for each of the 210 maps in Uranometria. Each object has details about size, magnitude, etc, and interesting stuff, like in the case of an open cluster, the number of stars in the cluster, or in the case of a galaxy cluster, the magnitude of the 10th brightest component, or in the case of globular how condensed it is.

One issue you will struggle with using Uranometria without vol 3 is that you will not know what is within the range of your scope, and what is not. It is all very well having hundreds of galaxies plotted on the page, but if many of them are of a magnitude too dim for your skies or aperture, then you will be endlessly disappointed when you cannot find most of them. With volume 3, you can go through the list of objects, and judging by the their size and magnitude, realistically assess what you will be able to see, and what will simply prove too elusive, to try to find.

Vol 3 provides me with something to make notes in, also. I can make annotations on the lists, instead of scribbling over the Uranometria maps.

The only drawback with Uranometria is the sheer size of them. Vol 3 is about 1.5 times the thickness of vols 1 & 2, and is quite heavy to use in the field.

[astroron]

I wasn't aware that Vol 3 had any charts in it:rolleyes: and am still none the wiser after reading through Google.
Rod does Vol 3 have charts?, I though it had descriptions of the objects.
I found this critique on the website and thought it is worth posting:D
http://www.gaherty.ca/rogers/Uranometria.htm
I have the original version and find it quite easy to use once you got the hang of joining the pages together in RA:rolleyes:

[Davekyn]

Sorry Ron, I did not mean to mislead...I often get my thoughts muddled up. Rod, you give good reason to owning Volume 3. May I ask why you have the northern hemisphere? Do you travel a lot.

Some people even question why some of us bother with print. I have to say, despite owning all the portable power I need and many laptops + various software......despite how carefull I try, my night vision suffers at some point during observation sessions compared to a red light & paper. Anyone else suffer with this?

[Rodstar]

Ron, vol 3 does not have any maps. It only has lists of objects. There is a list for each of the 210 maps which appear in vols 1 & 2.

Dave, vol 1, which is called "Northern hemisphere" contains many constellations we can see to good advantage in Australia. For example, if you would like maps of Leo, Taurus, northern Orion, northern Aquila, northern Ophiucus, Pisces, etc, you will need vol 1. There is a cross over between the two vols: northern hemisphere covers declination -6 to Polaris, whereas southern hemisphere covers declination +6 to the south celestial pole.

[astro744]

Check out the publishers web site at http://www.willbell.com/u2k/index.htm

I also highly recommend all three volumes of The Night Sky Observers Guide, http://www.willbell.com/HANDBOOK/nitesky.htm

Look at all the PDF extracts as they give you a lot of info.

Enjoy!

[GrahamL]

Thats very true Ron I have both the originals and when the "why"
slides away a bit... they are both still great tools for the visual observer.

I did have a quick look over the field guide once and didn't think it a must have at the time .

[[1ponders]]

And don't forget the companion Volumes! The Night Sky Observers Guides Vol 1, 2 & 3. ;)

Now all I gotta do is get a dob. :lol:

[Davekyn]

Thanks for the link astro, I'm hooked depite not having recieved my order yet. Rod...you should be a salesman...I'm going to get Volume 1&3 ony next Bintel order :)

[Rodstar]

.....perhaps I can interest you in making a new will?!!!:P

[Davekyn]

:)...Rod I recieved my Atlas today & have a few questions.

Is it always to be expected that we down in the southern hemisphere are always to turn our books upside down to make heads or tails of the maps?

Obviously no problem...just turn it upside down....was just wondering was all...I guess I was a little disapointed, but I will live.

Finally, is M1 a southern or Northern Hemisphere Object, as I swore I only saw it a few weeks ago, & it was reasonably high in the sky? Apparently it is listed in the Common Name index as "Crab Nebula NGC 1952 BN 77"
I don't have a Map 77 and take it I have to buy the Northern Atlas to aquire that map?.........I don't mind having to buy the Northen Atlas, but think as I only just saw M1 & at a reasonable hieght; now wonder how many other objects (especially famous ones) I can see in the south, but are listed under a northern Map number.

My maps start at 101 and goto 220.

Awsome atlas....having heaps of fun with it...I can finally track down the horse head Nebula & many many other Objects that Newbies like me have struggle with.

Damn...I just searched under TAURAS for M1 & yea...all those stars are on the lower map numbers...Oh well...The money makers aren't silly hey:)

Cheers
Dave

[Rodstar]

Hi Dave, yes M1 is an example of an object in Taurus that you will need the northern hemisphere edition for.

The bias towards the northern hemisphere is inherent in the very notion of a northern hemisphere. Of course, north and south are entirely relative concepts. As declination is universally referred to on the basis that as one travels towards Polaris it is north, the maps are orientated that way. Depending on how your scope flips the image, it may be correct for what you see in your scope (albeit back to front).

You'll need very dark skies to see the Horsehead in your 12" scope. Good luck. Remember to try with low power. I made the mistake for a long time of thinking I had to use high power, but not so. Around 100x, or a bit below, is all you need.

[Davekyn]

Thanks again...Makes more sense now. I think I can get my head around that...evemtually :) I think the three volumes are a must then. I'll be sure to pull out all the tricks to see the horse head...I have the January Issue (I think I bought that one in Dec 2008) of Australian Sky & Telescope. It has an excellent article on ORION, including a special on "How to see the Horse Head Nebula"& much much more...Best issue I have so far.

Sorry to rave on, but talking about dark skies...I drove out to one of my selected Dark Sites just the other night with a pair of Binos and a mini camping recliner. For those that live in the South East of QLD, picking a night of good viewing has been ot luck for over a month now. This night I arived at my Dark spot..............HOLLY SHMOLLY!!!!!!! It was as if a someome spilt a few containers of glitter across the sky and there was as many stars in the light zones as to what a moderate light polluted sky gives of the Milky Way. I was absoloutley taken back...I have been living in Town for far to long now.

It was unfortunate that I had taken my wife and kid as I could of just kept looking for hours & knew it may be another month before I would get a chance. Since my OIII & UHC filters have arrived, I have been chopping at the bit for another chance to get back out there. The Orion Nebula look Extreamly impresive in my 15X70 Bino's, as if I was looking through a telsescope. I'm simply going to have to sqeeze my 12" Dob through the back two seats, over the middle console & strap it to the reclining passenger seat of my new 4 cyclinder sedan. (Hyundi Ellanttra 2008) Thank God I have been able to achieve that.

Yadda Yadda...You just reminded me of what I was missing when you said Dark Sky was all. For all the foul mouthed whining my neigbours might have heard whilst I've been Observing in my Back Yard ("it's really not that bad :) ) I really have nothing to complain about when compared to those living in the big city. I'm in Toowoomba (pop-a little over 90-000) Australia's largest Regional inland city. LOL...still whining.

Take it easy Rod, Have a Great Day Mate & thanks again.
Regards
Dave

[astroron]

Dave I don't know if you have been to Leyburne dark sky site, frequented by the SAS club and others.
I think it is about 60 or so Kms South West of you.
I hope you get lot's of use out of your Atlas's.:thumbsup: