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Old 17-04-2009, 05:29 PM
Coen
"Doc"

Coen is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 180
I used Taki's atlas and supporting tables quite a bit initially. Especially the accompanying tables - I printed the atlas, bound it and have it nearby.

Then I came across the Tri-Atlas http://www.uv.es/jrtorres/index.html and associated software CNebulaX from which I do my planning from. I still cross reference to Taki's though.

The Tri-Atlas Hybrid maps (the "M" series) is pretty good match for the stars & objects for my telescope arrangement except it is a little cluttered in the busy regions around Carina for example (too many labels). The new 3rd edition will be addressing these "problems". I have printed out the M series (a bit over 200 charts) onto double sided A3 and find that a great resource near the telescope, especially for star-hopping.

The CNebulaX programme (which was used to generate the charts) has a search ability and I use it compile an observing programme for a constellation. I print out the list and attempt to view compiling my observing notes of the objects I succeed with. Sometimes when cross referencing the chart whilst at the scope I'll try an object that was not on my original list and see what I get.

There is also the Washington Double Star database which comes with search criteria in an Access database - now you can compile your own list based on your own criteria for magnitude differences, constellations etc. http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astrom...ptical-IR-prod. I can not find the exact link to the access database but I know I got it from somewhere.
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