Nortons Star Atlas

Vanda (Ian) · #1 17-04-2010, 11:54 PM

Remember having one of these in the 1960's - no longer published?

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #2 18-04-2010, 12:38 AM

I have my 1981 edition. Fond memories

astroron (Ron) · #3 18-04-2010, 02:03 AM

1986 here, still in perfect nick

This was the first Astronomical book I had ever bought.

Dennis · #4 18-04-2010, 08:23 AM

I am fondling my copy as I write – the twentieth edition, 2nd printing, 2004.

Cheers

Dennis

DavidTrap (David) · #5 18-04-2010, 09:18 AM

I had a copy of the Epoch 2000 edition when I was in high school. Do you think I can find it now... Will probably be somewhere at my folks house, only to be found when we clean their place up for sale (potentially when they are carted away in pine boxes) in the years ahead (hopefully distant years ahead).

DT

JohnG (John) · #6 18-04-2010, 09:33 AM

I still have my very first Star Atlas, got it when I was 12 yo.

Fourteenth Edition, 1959, Epoch 1950, still use it......

Cheers

allan gould · #7 18-04-2010, 03:59 PM

Like JohnG still have my early 16th edition (1973) and an eoghtenth edition of Norton 2000. Prefer the earlier edition but both loved and in
mint condition. Picked them both up at various times for less than $10.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #8 18-04-2010, 05:49 PM

I've collected various editions of Nortons, from the latest Nortons 2000 back to the 1949 edition.
I'd love to find some even earlier editions; If anyone has an old Nortons available, drop me a PM.

Ken

Vanda (Ian) · #9 18-04-2010, 10:50 PM

I remember writing lots of notes in mine in faint pencil - now I do not know where is has gone post kids leaving home. Fond memories though - hope they will republish - sounds like there is a chance.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #10 18-04-2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanda

I remember writing lots of notes in mine in faint pencil - now I do not know where is has gone post kids leaving home. Fond memories though - hope they will republish - sounds like there is a chance.

You can still buy them new on Amazon - the 20th edition is alive and kicking, although perhaps not the 'must have' it used to be.

chrisp9au (Chris) · #11 19-04-2010, 12:10 AM

I have my 13th edition in front of me, paid 22 shillings and sixpence for it! It has my first comet observations pencilled in, the track of Comet Ikeya Seki passing through Corvus, Crater, Hydra and Sextans, Map 9/10. Viewed it from the depths of the Pacific en route Auckland to Panama late 1965, no light pollution out there back then, and it was gob smacking!

Cheers

Chris

Geoff45 (Geoff) · #12 19-04-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisp9au

I have my 13th edition in front of me, paid 22 shillings and sixpence for it! It has my first comet observations pencilled in, the track of Comet Ikeya Seki passing through Corvus, Crater, Hydra and Sextans, Map 9/10. Viewed it from the depths of the Pacific en route Auckland to Panama late 1965, no light pollution out there back then, and it was gob smacking!

Cheers

Chris

Well my 13th Ed only cost 19/6 (that's nineteen shillings and sixpence for the pre-decimal young guys). I also have a twentieth edition, bought in the US.
Geoff

gbeal · #13 20-04-2010, 07:20 AM

Ditto, THE reference as one grew up looking up.
My first one is 15th Edition, 1966.
A few years ago I stumbled on another, 17th Edition.
Great memories I must say.
Gary

Robert9 (Robert) · #14 26-04-2010, 10:21 AM

If you want a copy, it can be found at http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book...ons-Star-Atlas . Its the 20th edition, published 20 Nov. 2003

The price is $28.54 and free delivery too!!

Robert

P.S. ABE Books http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...tlas&x=61&y=16 have access to many copies, new and second -hand. Prices are good but postage can be a killer.

TrevorW · #15 26-04-2010, 12:22 PM

17th Edition 1978 still have

RobF (Rob) · #16 26-04-2010, 12:23 PM

I remember "discovering" this with a friend on an early visit to the city with a school friend - at Audio Optics when they were still in George St. We were ooing and ahhing at the detail of the Star maps. Saved up and bought as my first Astro book (not including the How and Why Wonder book I cut up to make my first Planisphere....

)

Still on the shelves, with all the pencil notes next to Messier objects I used to try and hunt down with my 4.5" reflector. Figured out pretty quick galaxies were hard from the city, so mostly notes on double stars and globs.

That's what I love about astrophotography now - I can actually "SEE" some of those damned galaxies....

RobF (Rob) · #17 26-04-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

17th Edition 1978 still have

That's mine too. $16.95 11/2/1980
Just a starry eyed 16yr old...!

ngcles · #18 26-04-2010, 07:28 PM

Hi Vanda, Trevor & All,

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

17th Edition 1978 still have

Yep mine's a 17th edition too. I think mine is 1977 (subject to correction) I bought it from Astro Optical Supplies at the same time as my 8" mirror grinding kit.

The Nortons is battered, briused and has a few dozen comet tracks (in pencil) running all over it and a stack of pencil notations all over the object pages. It was my first "serious" star atlas. Mind you I have since acquired a copy of (the much older) Bevcar's Atlas Eclipticus and Atlas Australis, The Skalnate Pleso, Sky Atlas 2000, Herald-Bobroff ... and on it goes. Love star maps

Much abused and at the same time much loved ...

Best,

Les D