Atlas of the Night Sky - Review

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Atlas of the Night Sky by Storm Dunlop
Published 2005 by Collins
RRP $49.95

I bought this book from Angus and Robertson at Morayfield, QLD. After a quick browse through their dozen or so astronomical titles, I found only 4 suitable for the more serious beginner. ( 2 were Steve Masseys excellent books on The Night Sky and The Moon. )

The Introduction covers the basics of the Celestial Sphere and coordinates, names of stars, magnitudes, spectras, descriptions of nebulae, galaxies, clusters etc.
Section 1 contains 20 charts which cover the whole sky to a limiting mag. of 6.5, accompanied by data detailing objects of particular interest within the relevant area.
Section 2 covers all of the 88 constellations in detail, with descriptions of interesting objects that are very informative. Each constellation has a map with stars down to mag. 7.5.
Here is an example of the info supplied with the constellation maps:-

M16 (NGC 6611: 18h 18.6m , S. Cauda) a combined open cluster (NGC 6611), visible in binoculars, and a diffuse nebula (IC 4703), the Eagle Nebula, which adds a background haziness. A large telescope and good conditions are required to see detail in the gaseous nebulosity. The cluster as a whole is about 800,000 years old, but some individual stars have ages of just 50,000 years.

Section 3 has extensive information on the Moon, with maps of the surface and details of craters and other named features . Each map is accompanied by a smaller scale reversed map. I thought this was an excellent idea. Also featured are 2 large Libration maps.
Section 4 covers observing solar system objects and planetary information. There are detailed finder charts for Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune that cover from 2005 up to 2009. Also on these pages are charts giving exact times for full moon, new moon, sunrise and set etc for these years.

The star charts are A4 size, and would scan and print well if you wanted copies to take outside.
I love the individual constellation maps, and think that they will be the maps most used by me. The info that accompanies them provides a grand tour of each constellation.
All of the charts are cross referenced with the maps.
The Star Charts are made from a Northern Hemisphere perspective. ie. They are written upside down. But I can live with that.
The publisher describes this book as “The definitive night sky atlas for every astronomer.”
I think it is the Definitive night sky atlas for every serious beginner.
I’m glad I bought it, and highly recommend it.
4 out of 5.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Great review jjjnettie. I'll certainly keep my eye out for it. I especially like the idea of individual constellation maps. Do these go to lower mag stars?

[atalas]

Sounds like a great book at a good price as well , have to see If Its down at the local book shop .
Thanks for a nice review of It jjjnettie !

Cheers

Louie

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Paul,
The constellation maps only go down to 7.5. The star charts go down to 6.5.
I didn't realise that the Cloud Curse also applies to new astronomy books. I can't wait for the sky to clear.

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Paul,
The constellation maps only go down to 7.5. The star charts go down to 6.5.
I didn't realise that the Cloud Curse also applies to new astronomy books. I can't wait for the sky to clear.

You didn't read that section in the disclaimer? go out and buy a Pentax XW of any focal length and watch the clouds scatter worked for me.

How's the new scope???

regards,CS

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Paul,
The constellation maps only go down to 7.5. The star charts go down to 6.5.
I didn't realise that the Cloud Curse also applies to new astronomy books. I can't wait for the sky to clear.

Sounds like a great book, but 6.5 isn't going very deep nor 7.5. My skies here get
down to 6.5 easy naked eye. As you know I brought UM2000.0 vol2, excellent
book, the deep field maps go down to mag 12+. But useless for taking outside
even when there is only a hints of a posibility of dew : (

Can anyone suggest a good in the field, dew resistant star atlas? AstroSouth
if you read this how is the new HB?

regards,CS

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Rob,
UM2000 would be the next logical step up after this Atlas. Even then, I'd still probably use this one regularly. It would be a great companion for a set of binos.
The new scope is sitting in the shed. It is now blowing a gale and threatening storms. LOLOLOL
I'm going through my old magazines looking at the ads, trying to decide what to buy my scope for christmas.
What are you buying yours?

[atalas]

Rob Sky Atlas 2000 is laminated !

Cheers


Louie

jjjnettie,

UM2000.0 is great but no good outside at the scope, bummer really. I suppose if
you had an obsevatory it would be very handy. I have thought about laminating
it and putting it into a ringbinder.

Yeah I hear your guy's are in for some storm action, with the Gold Coast being hit
last night, I hope Eddie T and the folks up there are ok. It's building out west of me
and it's black epsecially to the north. Keep safe guy's

For Xmas, something for the scope.... hmmmm another ep would be nice. The 2"
20mm to 30mm variety. I'd dearly love a bigger scope. But I figure I'm still very
much enjoying the 8" so the ep crusade continues.

regards,CS

Originally Posted by atalas

Rob Sky Atlas 2000 is laminated !

Cheers


Louie

Yeah I'm kinda kicking myself I could of brought that at AstroFest.
What mag does it go down to?

regards,CS

[dhumpie]

I have seen that book at the local Dymock's bookshop and even told Andrew about it (I think he has a copy). The maps are pretty detailed and the individual constellation maps seem to be right off SkyAtlas 2000, but in a handier format with descriptions. I say it will be a very good field guide for intermediate to advance astronomers. I am currently using photocopies of the Cambridge Star Atlas (CSA) in conjunction with SkyAtlas 2000 (SA2000) and these suffice for me for the time being. I have seen both the Uranometria and the HB astroatlas (Andrew has one) and while I can consider myself an intermediate to advance observer, both these seem way too detailed for my 6", 4" and 3" scopes. Currently just trying to finish off objects in both the CSA and the SA2000 atlases and I still have a long way to go (I have logged approx 530 DSO's now and these do not include double stars

Great review by the way

Darren

[atalas]

Originally Posted by xrekcor

Yeah I'm kinda kicking myself I could of brought that at AstroFest.
What mag does it go down to?

regards,CS

Some charts down to 10.5 Rob , I havent used It for a Year or so now mate If you want to borrow It I'll send It up to you just PM me and let me know Rob. A lot of things change when you start learning how to image ! things
like eyepieces and charts start laying around doing nothing . Hey nothing like getting to try before you buy I guess . The thing that I really liked about It is that you have a transparent sheet whith scales on It to work from and a Telrad pattern scaled to the charts as well which worked great for me .
Anyway like I said just let me know and I'll send It up to you no worries mate.

Cheers


Louie