Enchilada
17-04-2009, 03:40 PM
Those here might be aware that there was recently issued a "NEW: Cambridge Double Star Atlas", which can be bought at some expense. This Atlas was drawn Will Tirion, the same person who did the various popular sky atlases currently used by amateurs. Needless to say there are alternatives to this on the Net, whose usefulness is likely as good but cost nothing to download.
A good introductory one is the "Atlas of Double Stars" by Toshimi Taki and Pete Wehner, which can be obtained from the link http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zs3t-tk/index.htm (Under . Astronomy>Tools of Observation>Atlas of Double Stars (updated on March 2, 2008)
This atlas lists double stars that have the combined magnitude if 7.0 or brighter, whose angular separations are between 0.5 and 200 arcsec, and secondary companions that are brighter than 11th magnitude.
The scale of the thirty-six charts are in A4 (or other formats too) was scale is 39mm/ degree. They can be downloaded in four. c. 1 Mb bits. (If I were to be slightly negative, there is a lack of overlap with the charts mainly around +50 and -50 degrees declination. Annoying, but at least no pair within the range is missing.
In all there are more than 2053 double stars here that will easily satisfy those new to double stars. Some 304 bright deep-sky objects are included - most easy targets for amateur 'scopes.
Also for download is a basic catalogue of all objects presented in chart order.
There are some general drawbacks, however, that I have noticed. For example, Gamma Crucis and Alpha Circinus are not listed as double stars - especially annoying as these doubles are popular among amateur astronomers. Indeed, I suspect the southern portion is a little neglected compared to the north.
Highly recommended for a newbee.
(A sample of the chart is given of the Pointers and the Southern Cross.)
Note: Also available is the Taki's Star Atlas, and an A3 "Taki's 8.5 Magnitude Star Atlas." You can also make your own or modify the atlas using Powerpoint and Excel. A bit technical, but useful if you have some specialist usage -- like images you have taken or some specialised selection of objects. (I haven't used it, but it does look fairly easy.)
A good introductory one is the "Atlas of Double Stars" by Toshimi Taki and Pete Wehner, which can be obtained from the link http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zs3t-tk/index.htm (Under . Astronomy>Tools of Observation>Atlas of Double Stars (updated on March 2, 2008)
This atlas lists double stars that have the combined magnitude if 7.0 or brighter, whose angular separations are between 0.5 and 200 arcsec, and secondary companions that are brighter than 11th magnitude.
The scale of the thirty-six charts are in A4 (or other formats too) was scale is 39mm/ degree. They can be downloaded in four. c. 1 Mb bits. (If I were to be slightly negative, there is a lack of overlap with the charts mainly around +50 and -50 degrees declination. Annoying, but at least no pair within the range is missing.
In all there are more than 2053 double stars here that will easily satisfy those new to double stars. Some 304 bright deep-sky objects are included - most easy targets for amateur 'scopes.
Also for download is a basic catalogue of all objects presented in chart order.
There are some general drawbacks, however, that I have noticed. For example, Gamma Crucis and Alpha Circinus are not listed as double stars - especially annoying as these doubles are popular among amateur astronomers. Indeed, I suspect the southern portion is a little neglected compared to the north.
Highly recommended for a newbee.
(A sample of the chart is given of the Pointers and the Southern Cross.)
Note: Also available is the Taki's Star Atlas, and an A3 "Taki's 8.5 Magnitude Star Atlas." You can also make your own or modify the atlas using Powerpoint and Excel. A bit technical, but useful if you have some specialist usage -- like images you have taken or some specialised selection of objects. (I haven't used it, but it does look fairly easy.)