DaveO
super member
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 186
Loc: Phoenix, AZ.
|
|
I have Sky Atlas 2000 in 26 charts, white stars on a black background, not laminated (it’s an old one printed in 1981). I find it very difficult to find my way around without the constellations drawn in. Actually, it’s hard to find my way around period.
Anyway, Is there a way to draw those constellations in on a black background?
DaveO
--------------------
David Owings
6" DSH
|
Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
|
|
Perhaps thin striping tape found in art supply stores. Needs to be pretty sticky though to keep from peeling up.
Maybe a glow-in-the-dark pen would work.
--------------------
Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
|
DaveO
super member
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 186
Loc: Phoenix, AZ.
|
|
I thought about the tape, and may still go in that direction, but I'm afraid of covering up other important data in the chart. I never thought about a glow-in-the-dark pen; although I have tried various colors of markers and nothing shows up against that black background.
DaveO
--------------------
David Owings
6" DSH
|
chrissy
sage
Reged: 05/22/05
Posts: 203
Loc: Calgary, Alberta
|
|
since it's not laminated, can't you just use a white pencil crayon?
|
Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 17639
Loc: Los Angeles
|
|
Quote:
I have Sky Atlas 2000 in 26 charts, white stars on a black background, not laminated (it’s an old one printed in 1981). I find it very difficult to find my way around without the constellations drawn in. Actually, it’s hard to find my way around period.
Anyway, Is there a way to draw those constellations in on a black background?
DaveO
Yes. Use one of the fancy pens designed for writing on a waxy, gift-wrap, paper. I've seen them in white, gold, pink, etc. White or gold ink would be best for your purposes.
As to HOW to draw in the lines and connect the dots, I recommend pre-1985 Sky & Tel centerfold charts. You can find these in the local library--the older the better. In those days, the centerfold charts went deeper, and more dots were connected, than is currently found in the astronomy magazine centerfolds of today. I suspect the reason is that today's amateur observes in greater light pollution, and drawing lines to connect stars he cannot see would be confusing.
The Mag. 7 star charts available on this site have lines drawn in, but they are more like the outlines in the magazines. Like you, I like the charts to have the dots connected to help me pick the chart to use. I simply drew them in to the degree I wanted, as you intend to do.
--------------------
Don Pensack
www.EyepiecesEtc.com
12.5" Teeter/Zambuto, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member
|
DaveO
super member
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 186
Loc: Phoenix, AZ.
|
|
chrissy and Don thanks,
I’ll go to the local crafts store and see what I might find. As far as how detailed to make the lines I never really thought about that; I’ll have to do a little research. I’m sure I can find something on-line somewhere as well as the library.
Thanks again for the ideas.
DaveO
--------------------
David Owings
6" DSH
|
EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 18806
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
|
|
I would give one word of caution. Allow breaks in your lines as you cross over any printed numbers or letters on your charts. In the future you will want to read those NGC and Flamsteed numbers and those Greek letters.
edz
--------------------
Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
|
DaveO
super member
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 186
Loc: Phoenix, AZ.
|
|
Thanks edz, I was thinking about that also. I'm still not sure how or even if I will draw in the lines.......debating my next move.
DaveO
--------------------
David Owings
6" DSH
|
stringscope
member
Reged: 06/12/05
Posts: 90
|
|
Dave,
I have done this very thing with my SA2k. I used a silver inked uni-ball SigNO pen from the local newsagent. I have attached an image of one of the maps. Sorry re image quality. I thing the auto focus had difficulty with the black paper.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
--------------------
Ian Ogilvie
Canberra
Australia
8" F6 ATM String Truss Travel Scope
10" F4.5 ATM Truss Dob
16" F4.5 ATM Truss Dob
Fujinon 16X70 Bino
Ultra 10.5X70 Bino
Pentax PIF 7X50 Bino
Kamakura 7X50 Bino
Yosco 8X40 Wide Angle Bino
|
DaveO
super member
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 186
Loc: Phoenix, AZ.
|
|
Wow, great job on the Map, looks like it was purchased that way. I see you also had breaks on your lines as Edz was recommending.
DaveO
|
stringscope
member
Reged: 06/12/05
Posts: 90
|
|
Dave,
It was a fun job for rainy days and cloudy nights. If I recall It took several weeks of very much part time effort. I did make a couple of mistakes which I corrected with a black marker pen.
A couple of tips if you go ahead with this:
Dave,
It was a fun job for rainy days and cloudy nights. If I recall It took several weeks of very much part time effort. I did make a couple of mistakes which I corrected with a black marker pen.
A couple of tips if you go ahead with this:
The ink I used didn't dry immediately. You therefore need to plan your move across the page.
I used a beveled edge clear Perspex ruler, turned upside down. The clear Perspex allowed me to better position the ruler and by turning it upside down any ink that invariable gets on the edge will not smear across the page.
For constellation outlines I used those contained in "The Southern Sky Guide" by Ellyard and Tirion. I assume something like the Cambridge Star Atlas or Bright Star Atlas would provide similar guidance.
Due to the 1mm width of the ink pen, in a couple of very crowded areas of the sky I didn't put in constellation outlines. In particular; the Crux/Eta Carina and Scorpius regions. I am intending to draw in the Scorpius lines, however the Crux/Eta Carina area is just too crowded.
Happy to provide more photos if you want.
Have fun.
--------------------
Ian Ogilvie
Canberra
Australia
8" F6 ATM String Truss Travel Scope
10" F4.5 ATM Truss Dob
16" F4.5 ATM Truss Dob
Fujinon 16X70 Bino
Ultra 10.5X70 Bino
Pentax PIF 7X50 Bino
Kamakura 7X50 Bino
Yosco 8X40 Wide Angle Bino
|
DaveO
super member
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 186
Loc: Phoenix, AZ.
|
|
I decided to use a white Crayola pencil. It's thin, doesn't cover over the stars too much, but is still visible at night under a red flashlight. I tried a small area, and it seemed to work OK. After doing all the maps, if the pencil doesn't seem to do the job, then I may use a "Liquid Gold" paint market I happen to have.
DaveO
--------------------
David Owings
6" DSH
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 