Best star maps to get

[Mountain_Wanderer]

G'day all.

I'm looking around for a good set of star maps for the night sky. It would be good to have a set of sheets to help me learn in detail the sky.

What is the best recommendation and where can I get them?

Thanks!

[M54 (Molly)]

Hi Jowel,

I have a set of Star Charts (also comes with a cd of the maps) by Wil Tirion. It is 18 separate laminated charts which I have in a plastic sleeve book.
http://www.astrovisuals.com.au/skymaps.html
I have also photocopied all of the sheets and have put them together on my passage wall as a large map. Whenever I find something new in my telescope I mark it on the wall map with a highlighter. It's fun adding new discoveries after an observing session and gratifying to see more and more highlighted objects.
I know there are lots of great star atlases, but I don't have any as yet, so someone else will have to chip in about them.
Bintel have a selection worth checking out in their book section...https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm

Hope this helps,
Molly.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Hi Jowel,

Get yourself a planisphere if you don't have one. Good place to start if your not familiar with the constellations and the brightest stars.

If you want charts (i.e. on sheets) the Star Charts advertised in AS&T are a good place to start. There are also plenty of books around with charts, several recent threads list them.

Look at the stickies for some free online charts.

[astro744]

Sky Atlas 2000.0 Deluxe Mag 8.5 Stars (colour coded deep sky objects in deluxe version).

This was the first atlas I bought when the first release came out and I have only recently bought the second version for the extra 0.5mag stars and other nice features such as labelled star names. (Version 1 had Mag 8.0 stars).

There are 26 large (A2) folded sheets that cover the entire sky. BINTEL would have one in stock and if not can get one in for you.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Jowel, I like using Toshimi Taki's star maps.
You just print them for free from his website.

He offers many different maps but his most popular set is his Mag 8.5 set.

Print them off, slip them in plastic pockets and make the whole book. There are 147 A4 pages in the Mag 8.5 set

Left hand column:
http://www.geocities.jp/toshimi_taki/index.htm

ALL FREE!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Either Taki's maps like Ken says, or Andrew Johnson's Mag 7 set at http://www.siaris.net/astro/atlas/

[Suzy]

Hi Jowel, just remember that some of these maps (geocities for one) are upside down being from a northerly orientation. This is where a planisphere will also come in handy- as the constellations move and change shape, they will be less confusing if you consult it.

Ken, those geocities maps look awesome, thankyou

[Darth Wader (Wade)]

I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes...0875376&sr=8-1

Very well presented and easy to use on the field.

[Liz]

Originally Posted by Darth Wader

I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes...0875376&sr=8-1

Very well presented and easy to use on the field.

Yes, that is a good little book of charts Wade.
Also have the charts Molly was talking about, and use them a lot.
Also just carry a few books that have more info on the targets and a variety of charts-
Atlas of the Southern Night Sky - Massey/Quirk
Obsereving The Constellations -Sandford
Collins Stars and Planets.
Heaps around, and you have your favourites after awhile.
Lobve the charts in that 'Astronomica' book that Suzy recommened on previous thread, but the book weighs a TON!!

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Jowel,

I use Wsaag member Rob Horvat's custom maps he made that can be downloaded here.

These are specially constructed by Rob and are designed to be viewed by Southern Hemisphere observers and are great.

Check them out. You can print out the constellations that you want to look at and then take those out when you observe, very cool.

Cheers

Chris

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

Originally Posted by Darth Wader

I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes...0875376&sr=8-1

Very well presented and easy to use on the field.

I like this one as a nice compact go anywhere type of atlas

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

For a handy reference I too like the Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas...

[M54 (Molly)]

Wow Chris, Rob Horvats maps and info are fantastic! Thanks for that.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Originally Posted by M54

Wow Chris, Rob Horvats maps and info are fantastic! Thanks for that.

Yup, a special project he did himself and plotted using a computer, very technically cool how he did it. He put on a presentation for us at a WSAAG meeting one night to show us the end result.

The best thing is that they are uncluttered, easy to read and contain some really cool objects to have a go at. And you can print a page whenever you need it and if it gets wet, print another one...

Glad you like them. I am sure Rob is too...

Cheers

Chris

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

The best thing is that they are uncluttered, easy to read and contain some really cool objects to have a go at. And you can print a page whenever you need it and if it gets wet, print another one...

Which is the exact opposite of Uranometria and the Night Sky Guide. They are great pieces of work, but have so many objects finding things can be hard work, and they are too valuable to risk out in the weather.

You wind up copying the pages you want before you go out.

[Robh (Rob)]

Thanks to Chris and Molly for the comments.
I've only just recently (July) moved the maps from Appleworks Drawing format to EazyDraw. The consequence of this is that now the maps preserve their original quality when pasted into Word and pdf'd. This is especially noticeable for objects such as galaxies.
Both Sky Maps for Southern Observers and the Galaxy & PN Supplement have been upgraded.

Regards, Rob.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Thanks Rob, I noticed they had changed a bit when I printed out a copy on the office colour laser printer yesterday

Perhaps it might be a good idea to post your website's link (if that's OK) so people can go there and browse? I only put the freebie download on my link as I knew this one was listed as free to download and use and didn't want to speak for you.

That way, people know where to go for updates and the supplements you mentioned.

Cheers

Chris

[Robh (Rob)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Thanks Rob, I noticed they had changed a bit when I printed out a copy on the office colour laser printer yesterday

Perhaps it might be a good idea to post your website's link (if that's OK) so people can go there and browse? I only put the freebie download on my link as I knew this one was listed as free to download and use and didn't want to speak for you.

That way, people know where to go for updates and the supplements you mentioned.

Cheers

Chris

No problem.
All documents (Night Sky Objects and the Galaxy & PN Supplement) on the website are free.
http://sites.google.com/site/southernastronomer/

Regards, Rob.

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Hi Jowel,

I use Wsaag member Rob Horvat's custom maps he made that can be downloaded here.

These are specially constructed by Rob and are designed to be viewed by Southern Hemisphere observers and are great.

Check them out. You can print out the constellations that you want to look at and then take those out when you observe, very cool.

Cheers

Chris

They are fantastic! I printed out the whole lot about two weeks ago and popped them in plastic sleeves into a ring binder. I like how under each map there is a guide to help find the objects, and also gives descriptions of the stars etc in the area of that constellaton - and it's all in colour! Brilliant Rob!