RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Yes, that's what I saw last...only 2 left!!!
But they're going to reorder!!!
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Just wanted to let you all know!!!...my copy of "The Six-Inch Lunar Atlas" arrived today...in excellent condition!!! Carl, be on the lookout for yours!!!!  
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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 641
Loc: Northeast, Florida
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Robert, you beat me to it. Just opened mine up. I am just now going through it and flipping pages. So what do i think of it so far...   stay tuned....
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Richard H.
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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mmmmm.....I would make a few MINOR improvements...but not many!! I do like the very handy size (roughly a 5x8 in. format) and it's very well put together!!
I definitely could see myself using it out in the field; and I probably would've purchased it had I seen it in the bookstore...not really a bad price!!
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1207
Loc: New York City
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I received my The Six-Inch Lunar Atlas and will be returning it for a refund. The photographs and the mirror-reversed pictures are the worst I've ever seen. They're all fuzzy or pixelated. I hope it's just a printing error. I'm shocked that the photographs are supposed to be representative of a six-inch telescope as I get clearer and sharper images in a 66mm refractor.
I'll stick with my Rukl's Moon Mars and Venus as my pocket field guide.
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Teeter's 15" f/4.5, Teeter's 10" f/6.0
Sundry Reflectors, Refractors, and Binoculars
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Sarkikos
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1727
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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I ordered mine back on March 31st. I just got an email saying that the estimated delivery date is September 22nd, next Tuesday. Six months. Not too bad. 
I wanted to use the atlas with my 6" Mak. Maybe it will encourage me to take the Big Mak out more often. The cool-down period can be pretty lengthy.
Mike
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C10-NGT on 1stBase (DSO); Z8, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO); 6" f5 Newt, 4.5" f4.4 Ball (Handheld RF w/GLP); C4-R, 130ST (NSO/RF/DS); 90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS); ST80+Crayford (RF/DS); SkyMaster 25x100/15x70; Zhumell 20x80; Barska XWA 10x50/8x40 (9.5°!); CV 2.3x40 (26°!); BV-125C; CG5, CG4 (2d); SV AZ, 501HDV on 055XB, P+ on Oberwerk; QuikFinder, Telrad; 11x70 RACI Finder; Dynamo Pro, Dew-Not; Orion 5-Filter Wheel; ES 14 100°, Baader Zoom, Baader GO 9mm, Plossls, Orthos, Kellners; Barlows, Reducers
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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bsim, I too am disappointed with the maps/photos...but in the beginning of the book, the author explains the quality of the images in the "How to Use This Atlas" chapter. Yes, however, my issues are also with the quality of the photos and the need for 3 of each image.  I'll still hang onto it, though!
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1207
Loc: New York City
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I read the explanation by the author but the Photoshop manipulation doesn't make the pictures look like hand-drawn pictures. If anything, the pictures are hard to look at. They're useless at the eyepiece. If I want hand-drawn I'll stick with Rukl.
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Teeter's 15" f/4.5, Teeter's 10" f/6.0
Sundry Reflectors, Refractors, and Binoculars
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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 641
Loc: Northeast, Florida
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Hi all,
After a long wait for this book it finally arrived here today. The first flip through impression was disappointing. The book is a very pocket-able size measuring about 5"x8". After looking through the book and reading the first few pages I am disappointed in the book's images. The Six-Inch Lunar Atlas by Don Spain should be retitled as a guide and not an atlas. To me an atlas is more along the lines of Rukl's Atlas of the Moon or the Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas, etc. but maybe I'm wrong???
The book has three images of a full moon representing views as looking naked eye and with binoculars, then with a Newtonian, cat and refractor without a diagonal, and finally the view for a cat or refractor with a diagonal. These images are mediocre at best. These same images are used as "finder" charts marked with rectangles covering the sixty main features. The sixty main features are then imaged by the author with his six inch Newtonian. Some of the images are fair but for some reason I was expecting much better, maybe this is my fault.
Each main feature has a short introduction discussing size, age, and other details about the feature. The images are labeled and then three additional images are shown as seen from binos, cats, newts, refractors with and without diagonals. But these additional images are manipulated using Photoshop Elements into a ink-line outline giving the appearance of the area in contour-like lines, almost topographical. Its an interesting digital image but not what I was expecting at all.
I will more than likely keep this book and add it to my astronomy library. I would not recommend this book as a lunar atlas because there are better examples out there. For a pocket sized atlas nothing beats Rukl's Moon Mars and Venus if you are in the market for a true atlas.
peace & clear skies,
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Richard H.
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 641
Loc: Northeast, Florida
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OK I added three images to my book review on my blog. Those interested in seeing what the layout looks like should get an idea from the three images posted in the article, IMO Book Review: Six-Inch Lunar Atlas.
peace & clear skies,
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Richard H.
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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That was a great review, Carl!! I guess I was trying to play it safe and not offend anyone!! Like I said, I also was not happy with the images in the book!!
I will try to track down a copy of Rukl's Moon, Mars, and Venus. Everyone seems to give that book "high marks"!!
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Yikes!!, I saw that Moon,Mars and Venus by Rukl goes about $65.00 used on Amazon!!!!!  
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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 641
Loc: Northeast, Florida
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Robert keep looking for MMV. You will come across a cheaper copy. Check Ebay. I bought Rukl's MMV plus his Constellations book for much less. Have a look at Pocket Lunar Atlas?, in the Lunar forum here. There are images I uploaded so you can compare it to Rukl's larger lunar atlas.
peace & clear skies,
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Richard H.
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1402
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Will do!! Thanks, Carl!
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Rick Woods
Postmaster
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 6267
Loc: Inner Solar System
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Quote:
Yikes!!, I saw that Moon,Mars and Venus by Rukl goes about $65.00 used on Amazon!!!!!
Try Bookfinder.com. I got one in perfect condition for about $15 a few months ago.
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
Dyslexics Untie!
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Sarkikos
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1727
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Carl,
I agree with your mini review of the book here in your post. I was disappointed and even angry when I opened "The Six-Inch Lunar Atlas" and saw the poor quality of the images, especially after waiting patiently for six months.  What was the author thinking? Doesn't he realize that these are NOT clear? They are fuzzy even before he processes them in his computer to produce the faux "topographical" images. In the preface he says, "With the introduction of a dedicated digital camera for lunar and planetary imaging I began to take literally thousands of images with the big refractor. After processing and editing with software I was amazed by their resolution and clarity." After taking thousands of photos you would think he'd have figured out how to bring them to a sharper focus. It's not even funny. Either the publisher did something wrong when adapting the photos to print, or ... Never mind. My comment would be edited out anyway. 
I am tempted to return the book for a refund just on principal. But I'll probably keep it and try to wring some usefulness out of it. The text descriptions of the photos aren't bad. It's just that the photos are terrible. In addition, since he went to the trouble of setting up photos oriented in the manner of different astronomical instruments, he should have had the corresponding cardinal points noted around each photo. An explanation of the difference between east and west on the Moon versus east and west on the celestial sphere would also have been useful.
By the way, I have a copy of Rukl's MM&V. I bought it a couple years ago from a vendor in England for about $15. Not bad, but I would like to see the same sort of lunar atlas with dew-proof pages. So far I've resisted the temptation of ripping it apart and putting the pages in protective sleeves. I can always copy the pages or print them out from online.
Clear Skies,
Mike
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C10-NGT on 1stBase (DSO); Z8, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO); 6" f5 Newt, 4.5" f4.4 Ball (Handheld RF w/GLP); C4-R, 130ST (NSO/RF/DS); 90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS); ST80+Crayford (RF/DS); SkyMaster 25x100/15x70; Zhumell 20x80; Barska XWA 10x50/8x40 (9.5°!); CV 2.3x40 (26°!); BV-125C; CG5, CG4 (2d); SV AZ, 501HDV on 055XB, P+ on Oberwerk; QuikFinder, Telrad; 11x70 RACI Finder; Dynamo Pro, Dew-Not; Orion 5-Filter Wheel; ES 14 100°, Baader Zoom, Baader GO 9mm, Plossls, Orthos, Kellners; Barlows, Reducers
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Sarkikos
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1727
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Carl,
Quote:
There is some good news though, I did stumble on something of note at Springer, another lunar observing book titled, Moonwalk with Your Eyes: A Pocket Field Guide. The info page has some enticing features mentioned like, Imagine yourself at the telescope "crater hopping" to new challenges and being able to instantly identify Moon features. and Charts will help guide you to specific lunar features, as well as annotated photographic maps that pinpoint important or unusual craters. I pre-ordered it from Amazon today with a publish date of October 2009. Hope it's worth the wait.
Now I'm starting to think about ordering THIS book. Hmmm... sounds good. I noticed, though, that Springer has changed the availability date to December 4th. I hope it won't be another disappoint like the "Six-Inch" book. Well, you can't have too many Moon books, can you? 
Mike
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C10-NGT on 1stBase (DSO); Z8, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO); 6" f5 Newt, 4.5" f4.4 Ball (Handheld RF w/GLP); C4-R, 130ST (NSO/RF/DS); 90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS); ST80+Crayford (RF/DS); SkyMaster 25x100/15x70; Zhumell 20x80; Barska XWA 10x50/8x40 (9.5°!); CV 2.3x40 (26°!); BV-125C; CG5, CG4 (2d); SV AZ, 501HDV on 055XB, P+ on Oberwerk; QuikFinder, Telrad; 11x70 RACI Finder; Dynamo Pro, Dew-Not; Orion 5-Filter Wheel; ES 14 100°, Baader Zoom, Baader GO 9mm, Plossls, Orthos, Kellners; Barlows, Reducers
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Scott Regener
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 1030
Loc: SE Minnesota
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How do the photographs compare with the free pdf book at http://www.alanchuhk.com/ ?
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Orion SkyQuest 4.5XT
Orion SkyQuest XT10i w/COL
Urban (red) skies
Limiting Mag 3.5-4.0 Average
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1207
Loc: New York City
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Quote:
I am tempted to return the book for a refund just on principal. But I'll probably keep it and try to wring some usefulness out of it.
I'm surprised that people are going to keep the book. Return it. I did. If you ordered from Amazon it's very painless.
No need to destroy your Rukl book. You can print these Rukl images, place them in a binder or plastic sheet, and use them at your scope.
Rukl Atlas
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Teeter's 15" f/4.5, Teeter's 10" f/6.0
Sundry Reflectors, Refractors, and Binoculars
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1207
Loc: New York City
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Quote:
How do the photographs compare with the free pdf book at http://www.alanchuhk.com/ ?
Not even in the same league. Do yourself a favor and download the Alan Chu Moon Book. It's a great book and it's free.
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Teeter's 15" f/4.5, Teeter's 10" f/6.0
Sundry Reflectors, Refractors, and Binoculars
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