thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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As I am now nearing the end of a year of Turn Left at Orion (which I have thoroughly enjoyed) I have been beginning to think about what I should do next.
I have downloaded the CN star-map (which I have to say is very good) but I would like something a little more comprehensive.
The ideal book would have say, a constellation per page with stars down to magnitude 8 or 9, and showing all the DSOs from easy to really quite challenging.
I really dont know whether this sort of thing exists, and if not, what is the best alternative? If at all possible, it would give a brief description of each object too, although I understand this could take up many pages!
Thanks,
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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SaberScorpX
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/12/05
Posts: 4121
Loc: illinois, usa
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re: ...stars down to magnitude 8 or 9, and showing all the DSOs from easy to really quite challenging...it would give a brief description of each object, too.
Next stop: The Sky Atlas 2000 and SA 2000 Companion.
Highly recommended, excellent investment, and will keep you busy for many years.
Stephen Saber
PAC/Astronomical League
http://www.geocities.com/saberscorpx/home.html
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Jim Nelson
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 718
Loc: Hanover, New Hampshire
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I agree with SA2000 plus companion, for sure! But you also might be looking for something more "book"-like to complement it. Sue French's new Celestial Sampler is probably a good one - I haven't seen the book itself, but her columns on which it is based are terrific. O'Meara's Messier and Caldwell books are also good, if a bit idiosyncratic. And the Night-Sky Observer's Guide is about as comprehensive as you get in this type of book; it's aimed at big scope users but I get plenty of use out of it with no scope larger than 6inches.
Any or all of these in combination with the SA2000/companion would do very nicely.
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Orion XT6
Orion Starblast
Swift 8x42 Ultra Lite
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30019
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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You might find these threads in the Stellar Media forum to be of use:
Best Star Atlas
Free Star Atlases
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Thanks everyone I will look into everything in a minute and tell you what I think!
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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I have been looking at these books (click books on the left) What do you think of these?
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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JayKSC
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/01/05
Posts: 753
Loc: Florida
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I own Phil Harrington's "The Deep Sky, An Intro." It's a good book overall, but is more an objects guide. I use it more as a quick reference than anything for the field. If you want an outstanding book that offers true object tours, take a look at Alan MacRobert's "Star Hopping for Backyard Astronomers" (Sky Pub).
Jay
KSC FL
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Refractor manic. 
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JayKSC
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/01/05
Posts: 753
Loc: Florida
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... To build on what I previously posted, too, I think you'd do well to purchase Sky-Atlas 2000 or maybe Uranometria. These atlas meet your requirements for magnitude and fainter objects. Coupling either atlas with what MacRobert teaches in his book will help plan your own star-hop sessions - which I find exciting and fun.
One other note... MacRobert's book is self-contained. It provides nice star charts for each "tour".
Jay
KSC FL
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Refractor manic.
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Thanks Jay
I think I need to really stick to what I want, and really think about what I need.
I don't need a book that will tell me all about astronomy and how to use a telescope and all about the stars etc. etc. I know that.
What I need is something that can show me lots of different objects in chronological order (ideally constellation by constellation), and then it can tell me basically what I am looking at, and perhaps some notes on how to find it.
MacRobert's book sounds really good but I think I would find it too restricting - by the sounds of what you were saying Jay, it takes a group of objects and shows you how to jump from one to the other.
The Practical Astronomer's Deep-Sky Companion by Jess K. Gilmour looks good, but there is something about it that I just don't like - not sure what. I don't think it has enough objects in it (I am looking for a long-term thing here).
I have looked at the Sky Atlas Companion. It looks good (there is a 'search inside' bit on Amazon) but not detailed enough I feel. I want something like The Practical Astronomer's Deep-Sky Companion but more objects.
I have found this website which can list me everything in a constellation and I have just downloaded AstroPlanner 1.5 (the free version). They both look quite good but I dont really want software like this - I want something a little more informative.
I have got Cartes Du Ciel but I haven't (yet) worked out how to create decent star charts. Perhaps I should try that next.
I am looking into the Sky Atlas 2000 and I think I might get it next, but I am not sure.
All input is appreciated and I hope this post isn't too long to read!
Thanks,
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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JayKSC
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/01/05
Posts: 753
Loc: Florida
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Hi again, Peter.
It sounds to me that Uranometria as a star atlas plus its supplement (The Deep Sky Field Guide) would do well for you. I use the Uranometria charts to preplan what patch of sky I want to look at and then consult the Deep Sky Field Guide to determine which objects may be visible given my telescope aperture. Finally, I consult the STScI Digitized Sky Survey to get some uniform pictures of the deep sky objects that I seek to observe, that way I can better know what I'm looking at and what detail to try and spot.
STScI Digitized Sky Survey
The IAAC website has a great searchable database for object observations. Such noteables as Sue French and our own Ron Bee have added their observations to the IAAC's databases... it's a good site and helpful too.
Jay
KSC FL
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Refractor manic.
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10955
Loc: Los Angeles
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And, the 2-volume set "The Night Sky Observer's Guide" by Kepple and Sanner--over 5000 deepsky objects, sorted by constellation, with descriptions of each and how it appears in different sized scopes.
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Thanks Jay and Don.
Jay - thank you for your suggestions. The Uranometria atlas looks really good, and it sounds like it does go well with the field guide.
However;
Don - 'The Night Sky Observer's Guide' sounds like just what I want (from what I have been reading). It (now) has some charts etc. and good descriptions of each object ordered by constellation.
There is one BIG problem. I cannot find ANYWHERE in the UK that sells the two books at all 
Thanks again,
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10955
Loc: Los Angeles
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They can both be ordered on-line at:
http://www.willbell.com/
Don
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
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mister_wavey
member
Reged: 09/11/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Abergavenny, Wales, UK
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Quote:
There is one BIG problem. I cannot find ANYWHERE in the UK that sells the two books at all
I bought both NSOG vols _from stock_ at www.earthandsky.co.uk
phone your order, their email is the only proven supermassive black hole.
Cheers,
Stuart
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16" Stargazer
Orion XT10
Orion 10x50
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Thanks Don and Stuart
I have found them onlie at earthandsky so thanks Stuart for the link
Quote:
phone your order, their email is the only proven supermassive black hole.
I am really seriously thinking of getting these two HOWEVER - I now have a choice between these two and the sky atlas 2000. For the minute I will be getting one or the other.
Remember I have the CN sky charts but I am not sure whether these will be detailed enough.
Thanks again for all your input,
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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John Flannery
sage
Reged: 12/03/04
Posts: 303
Loc: Dublin, Ireland
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hi Peter,
a book I got last year is the "Collins Atlas of the Night Sky". It is written by Storm Dunlop and has a set of all-sky charts to magnitude 6.5 but then a deeper set constellation by constellation to magnitude 7.5 (I think). It also highlights the best deep sky objects in each constellation.
as a bonus, it also has a set of lunar charts by Antonin Rukl based on his original Atlas of the Moon.
there was a discussion on the book in the Stellar Media forum and some notes about errors on the charts unfortunately (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/697864/page/2/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1)
Amazon UK have it at http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007172230/qid=1145380195/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl/026-6787462-3356468
I'd also recommend Erich Karkoschka's "Observer's Sky Atlas" . . . no detailed notes about each object or ordered by constellation but the best DSO book I've ever owned! The charts are just brilliant for use with the giant binoculars.
atb,
John
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Oscail do Shuile D'iontas na Cruinne/Open Your Eyes to the Wonder of the Universe
Bliann Idirnáisiúnta Réalteolaíochta 2009/International Year of Astronomy 2009
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Thanks John - I will look into it.
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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JayKSC
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/01/05
Posts: 753
Loc: Florida
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Uranometria's charts go "deeper" than SkyAtlas 2000, and are more detailed. SkyAtlas 2000 is arguably a little easier to use, however.
- Jay
KSC FL
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Refractor manic.
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thelittleman
Vendor (Peter's Actions)
Reged: 05/21/05
Posts: 4077
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Now that I didn't realise. I do like the Sky Atlas because of its portfolio design with sheets rather than a book, but that is an interesting point - thanks Jay.
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Clear Skies,
Peter
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10955
Loc: Los Angeles
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Quote:
Thanks Don and Stuart
I have found them onlie at earthandsky so thanks Stuart for the link
Quote:
phone your order, their email is the only proven supermassive black hole.
I am really seriously thinking of getting these two HOWEVER - I now have a choice between these two and the sky atlas 2000. For the minute I will be getting one or the other.
Remember I have the CN sky charts but I am not sure whether these will be detailed enough.
Thanks again for all your input,
The free magnitude 8.5 star atlas (146pgs) linked here on Cloudy Nights (top of the Stellar Media Forum) is at least as detailed as the Sky Atlas 2000.0 I'd download that, print it, put it in transparent sleeves in a 3-ring notebook, and buy the NSOG for a supplement.
Then, later, if you need or want a more detailed atlas, get Uranometria 2000.0, which has over 31,000 DSOs in it.
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
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