jjjnettie
12-10-2005, 03:45 PM
Atlas of the Night Sky by Storm Dunlop
Published 2005 by Collins
RRP $49.95
I bought this book from Angus and Robertson at Morayfield, QLD. After a quick browse through their dozen or so astronomical titles, I found only 4 suitable for the more serious beginner. ( 2 were Steve Masseys excellent books on The Night Sky and The Moon. )
The Introduction covers the basics of the Celestial Sphere and coordinates, names of stars, magnitudes, spectras, descriptions of nebulae, galaxies, clusters etc.
Section 1 contains 20 charts which cover the whole sky to a limiting mag. of 6.5, accompanied by data detailing objects of particular interest within the relevant area.
Section 2 covers all of the 88 constellations in detail, with descriptions of interesting objects that are very informative. Each constellation has a map with stars down to mag. 7.5.
Here is an example of the info supplied with the constellation maps:-
M16 (NGC 6611: 18h 18.6m , S. Cauda) a combined open cluster (NGC 6611), visible in binoculars, and a diffuse nebula (IC 4703), the Eagle Nebula, which adds a background haziness. A large telescope and good conditions are required to see detail in the gaseous nebulosity. The cluster as a whole is about 800,000 years old, but some individual stars have ages of just 50,000 years.
Section 3 has extensive information on the Moon, with maps of the surface and details of craters and other named features . Each map is accompanied by a smaller scale reversed map. I thought this was an excellent idea. Also featured are 2 large Libration maps.
Section 4 covers observing solar system objects and planetary information. There are detailed finder charts for Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune that cover from 2005 up to 2009. Also on these pages are charts giving exact times for full moon, new moon, sunrise and set etc for these years.
The star charts are A4 size, and would scan and print well if you wanted copies to take outside.
I love the individual constellation maps, and think that they will be the maps most used by me. The info that accompanies them provides a grand tour of each constellation.
All of the charts are cross referenced with the maps.
The Star Charts are made from a Northern Hemisphere perspective. ie. They are written upside down. But I can live with that.
The publisher describes this book as “The definitive night sky atlas for every astronomer.”
I think it is the Definitive night sky atlas for every serious beginner.
I’m glad I bought it, and highly recommend it.
4 out of 5.
Published 2005 by Collins
RRP $49.95
I bought this book from Angus and Robertson at Morayfield, QLD. After a quick browse through their dozen or so astronomical titles, I found only 4 suitable for the more serious beginner. ( 2 were Steve Masseys excellent books on The Night Sky and The Moon. )
The Introduction covers the basics of the Celestial Sphere and coordinates, names of stars, magnitudes, spectras, descriptions of nebulae, galaxies, clusters etc.
Section 1 contains 20 charts which cover the whole sky to a limiting mag. of 6.5, accompanied by data detailing objects of particular interest within the relevant area.
Section 2 covers all of the 88 constellations in detail, with descriptions of interesting objects that are very informative. Each constellation has a map with stars down to mag. 7.5.
Here is an example of the info supplied with the constellation maps:-
M16 (NGC 6611: 18h 18.6m , S. Cauda) a combined open cluster (NGC 6611), visible in binoculars, and a diffuse nebula (IC 4703), the Eagle Nebula, which adds a background haziness. A large telescope and good conditions are required to see detail in the gaseous nebulosity. The cluster as a whole is about 800,000 years old, but some individual stars have ages of just 50,000 years.
Section 3 has extensive information on the Moon, with maps of the surface and details of craters and other named features . Each map is accompanied by a smaller scale reversed map. I thought this was an excellent idea. Also featured are 2 large Libration maps.
Section 4 covers observing solar system objects and planetary information. There are detailed finder charts for Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune that cover from 2005 up to 2009. Also on these pages are charts giving exact times for full moon, new moon, sunrise and set etc for these years.
The star charts are A4 size, and would scan and print well if you wanted copies to take outside.
I love the individual constellation maps, and think that they will be the maps most used by me. The info that accompanies them provides a grand tour of each constellation.
All of the charts are cross referenced with the maps.
The Star Charts are made from a Northern Hemisphere perspective. ie. They are written upside down. But I can live with that.
The publisher describes this book as “The definitive night sky atlas for every astronomer.”
I think it is the Definitive night sky atlas for every serious beginner.
I’m glad I bought it, and highly recommend it.
4 out of 5.