star atlas - any suggestions?

[lesbehrens]

hi. i am after a good star atlas to help me find dso's i already have star charts by wil tirion but i want something a bit more. any recommendations?
i was looking at maybe sky atlas 2000.0 or atlas of the southern night sky.
Les

[orestis]

Hi les, I was also looking at getting a good star atlas for searching for dso's.

I was lucky enough to recieve the atlas of the southern night sky for my birthday.It is quite good and has got me started on a handfull of new objects but it is not so detailed and does not show all the objects and only highlights some of the best.Though the charts are helpfull to me.

I was looking at getting the sky atlas 2000,as it has a lot of dso's and has stars plotted down to mag 8.Though it does not have a description of the object like the atlas of the southern night sky.I looked around for prices here in Australia and bintel have the for I think $80 or more which I think is a bit dear for a book.But if you have the money I'd say go for it there would probably be loads of objects in it for you to hunt down.If you have a large scope 12'' of larger then I have heard the uranometria series are great charts.

Hope this has helped
cheers Orestis:thumbsup:
Ps-The star atlas 2000 is made by will tirion

[lesbehrens]

hi. do u guys know the difference between the vol. 2 and 3 of uranometria ?
les

[Paddy]

I have star atlas 2000 by Tirion and the charts are quite large and clear, but I find it doesn't have a very comprehensive array of objects. Certainly a lot more than Atlas of the Southern Night sky, but for example it didn't have a lot of Arp galaxies etc. These days I use the Nights sky Observer's guide as an Atlas. It's quite comprehensive and I like being able to chekc against obs notes, sketches and photographs. But Uranometria would be more complete as an actual atlas

[Blue Skies]

The Sky Atlas 2000 is a good starter, its longevity is testament to its usefulness.

If you can get your hands on a Herald-Bobroff Sky Atlas they are also pretty good, especially if you like galaxies and planetary nebulae, but its not so good for nebulae.

Uranometria comes in a northern hemisphere volume and a southern hemisphere volume, so you need both or all. They have a bit more detail than the Sky Atlas 2000.

The Millenium Star Atlas is probably a bit over the top for you at the moment, and its not a practical publication to have in the field. Unless you're going to keep it in an observatory or you have a 20" or bigger dob, I wouldn't worry about it.

At the lower end, I bought a Petersons Field Guide to Astronomy (might have the name wrong here, can't see where I've put it right now..) as it was a step up from the Collins Guide to Stars and Planets and has enough detail to make a good substitute for the Sky Atlas or the H-B when travelling afar.

Alternatively you could go electronic and make your own maps up to the level of detail you require.

[Colin_Fraser]

I found Atlas of the Southern Night Sky good for my needs. I don't think any one book on the subject covers everything.
What is missing in one, is covered in another. You may end up with more than one book.

[lesbehrens]

what would be the most user friendly and have the best of all books?
Les

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Probably the aforementioned 'Atlas of the Southern Night Sky' by Massey & Quirk.
I'm an imbecile and even I make good use of it!

[Colin_Fraser]

I agree. (about the book, not the imbecile bit)

[mithrandir]

Volume 1 charts from 90 deg north to 6 deg south.
Volume 2 charts from 6 deg north to 90 deg south.
Volume 3 has no charts and is catalog to all the DSOs in volumes 1 and 2. It does make finding things in vol 1 and 2 simpler.

A typical entry:
ra: 13 25 29
dec: -43 01 00
name: NGC 5128
mag: 6.8
dim(arcmin): 25.7 x 20.0
sb: 13.5
type: S0 pec
pa: 13.5
notes: Centaurus A. Wide dark lane.

A few examples from vol 3. For map 204 which includes NGC104, there are sections for galaxies, galaxy clusters, open clusters, globular clusters and bright nebulae. 207 has planetary nebulae. 208 has star clouds and dark nebulae.

You would not want to take "Uranometria" or "The Night Sky Observer's Guide" out into the field without a waterproof place to use them. They are both 3 volume sets, not cheap, hard back and heavy.

Andrew

[barx1963]

I use Uranometria 2000 (all three volumes) and they are great. Combined with a set of Tirions star charts that I have laminated and bound to get me roughly in the area or the nearest bright star, then switch to U2000 to star hop to my target. They include enough stars and detail that any target is easily found and are extremely accurate. They are expensive but they are my most used tool and I use them even on dewey nights, if they end up getting wrecked well thats just too bad. I have had they Southern Hemisphere volume for nearly 2 years now and I have got more than its prices value out of it.

[Liz]

Yes, its tricky finding a good one that covers evrything.
I use 'Atlas of Southern Sky' a bit ... but only has a few targets, though I believe the new has more, and the charts are the right way up.
Collins 'star and Planets' is good.
Seem to have heaps now. :shrug:
Sky and Telescopes Pocket Atlas is excellent, but hasnt info on hte targets.
I still us one I bought about 20 years ago - 'Observing the Constellations' by John Sanford. Great info and charts. I find myself going back to it all the time. ;)

[astroron]

:hi:Liz, Observing the Constellations'
that's the book I cut my teeth on using my 8"SCT when I brought it back from the USA:)
It is a great book:thumbsup: