Marking Your Star Charts

[Nordo]

I have just started astronomy .
I have downloaded and laminated a set of Taki's Star Charts.
I have also printed out Paul Mayo's Brightest Nebulas and Brightest Constellations.

I want to mark, say, the first ten brightest nebs/const on my laminated charts.
Can anyone help me with:
1. What can I mark the charts with that will withstand the dew, yet will wipe off easily (with say metho or cleaning spirits)?
2. What markers can I use that will not obscure the chart, but can be seen with a red light?

[astroron (Ron)]

Nordo Get dark crayon type pencil,( I think your charts are black stars on white background), they are the same pencils the kids use at school you can get them at newsagents

[Nordo]

Originally Posted by astroron

Nordo Get dark crayon type pencil,( I think your charts are black stars on white background), they are the same pencils the kids use at school you can get them at newsagents

Thanks. I couldn't think of anything other than marker pens (which would probably be a bit too permanent ).
Any particular colour, for viewing under red light?

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Originally Posted by Nordo

Any particular colour, for viewing under red light?

NOT red

BTW I often make a copy of a chart and scribble all over it then when its too far gone make another copy. I write notes about the appearance of objects, how to locate them, comparisons between dark sites and really dark sites, etc. It ends up being a bit of a caotic library which I must organise one day but there are only so many cloudy nights.

Keep looking up.

[astroron (Ron)]

Any Dark colour except of a redish colour, that will show up against a white background in the dark

[Lee]

I do similar to Rob - but use Starry Night printouts - then scribble all over them. If I didn't have Starry Night I'd photocopy a bunch of charts and use those....

[Nordo]

Thanks Guys

Originally Posted by rmcpb

It ends up being a bit of a caotic library which I must organise one day but there are only so many cloudy nights.

Keep looking up.

Are you REALLY complaining that there are not enough cloudy nights!!!!!!!

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Nords, sometimes cloudy nights are great for your ATM projects and just simply catching up on your notes from your observing nights. I'm not too good at coming in after a freezing night and sitting down an writting up my notes, usually try to hatch the heater then

Don't get me wrong, a couple a week would be great but there is a limit.

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

You want what's known as a chinograph pencil, which is like a plasticky crayon. Wipes off with a cloth when not needed, no fluids required. But if you do leave it on for several weeks and it dries out really well you might need a bit more elbow grease to get it off.

[Wombat_In_Space (Darren)]

For my charts I use white board markers from office woorks get the reall big ones that have the eraser built into the top, I got a four pack with Blue, Green, Black and Red.

I use only the blue, green, and black on my charts.

[Nordo]

Thanks Guys
I tried some of the kids crayons that Astroron suggested, but they don't seem to work too well on the plastic.
The white board markers might be the best bet.