SkyGX, 3570 charts

[glenc (Glen)]

This atlas is a work in progress. Some prototype charts are available.

Based on the Hipparcos and Tycho observations, SkyGX is a set of 3,570 charts encompassing the entire sky to about magnitude 12.0. With completeness to approximately 99% at magnitude 11.0 and 90% at magnitude 11.5—more than 2 million stars—it sets a new standard for printed star atlases. Smaller fields and greater chart scale, coupled with the use of the latest combined and revised stellar and deep-sky catalogues, has made it possible to show the whole sky with far greater veracity and uniformity than any previous printed all-sky atlas. Nearly 60,000 galaxies with visually verified aspect ratio and orientation are displayed, along with 25,000 other non-stellar objects taken from the most up-to-date and accurate datasets available.

http://www.skygx.com/index.cfm?go=counts.home

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Thanks for providing that link, Glen.

I have just printed off the sample map which covers the Eta Carina complex. Awesome. More objects in that small part of the sky than you can poke a stick (or is that a telescope?) at.

I hope they do find a publisher. I wonder how much larger than the Millenium Atlas it would end up being?

[skygxproject]

Hi guys. Found this forum and the SkyGX post through Google. Thanks for the props. SkyGX is unfortunately mothballed until such time as a publisher actually expresses interest in it. As of now, both Sky Publishing and Willmann-Bell have said "No, thanks." Self-publishing MAY be an option, provided funding can be secured. But I have too many other projects going on right now (such as http://vsx.aavso.org/) to devote much time these days to getting this atlas on the market. But thanks for the mention.

Christopher Watson
San Diego, CA, USA

[Rodstar (Rod)]

I do hope you end up publishing, Christopher. I'd save up my nickels, and buy it.

The only advance I can imagine is if you add dark matter and dark energy to the maps...

[skygxproject]

I, too, hope a publisher can be found. The atlas still needs much work, but as soon as someone commits to getting it out there, I'll be back on it. Thanks for expressing an interest.

I neglected to answer your earlier tought bubble. How much larger than the MSA would SkyGX be? Twice as big, pretty much in all categories. Six volumes as opposed to MSA's 3 (but there's also a 7th index volume), 2 million stars instead of 1 mil, etc., etc. But SkyGX is several magnitudes more inclusive in deep-sky than MSA. MSA was designed to be an exposition of the Hipparcos catalog, thus primarily stellar in focus. Not a DSO compendium. SkyGX goes there much better.

Someday....

-Christopher

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

A thread from the past.....
I've tried unsuccessfully to contact Christopher...
Anyone know if this project went ahead??