ruachsheavens
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/17/05
Posts: 766
Loc: Northern IL
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I'm getting tired of looking at my computer screen and am considering stepping back to using an atlas for observing. I have a 10" DOB - please give me some help in choosing a good one - would prefer laminated pages
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There is no "high" like the Most High
Edited by ruachsheavens (09/21/09 05:37 AM)
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propelller fan
member
Reged: 08/08/09
Posts: 29
Loc: PNW...the wet side
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Sky Atlas 2000 is a good atlas to start with for DSO observing. It comes in several sizes and versions including laminated versions. You'll also want to get an atlas companion that list DSOs descriptions such as Mag, size etc.
For a more advanced atlases for the really advanced observer, check out The Herald-Bobroff astro atlas. I do not recommend this for the beginner.
The Herald-Bobroff astro atlas. This atlas is worth a look for advanced observers. This has an incredible amount of info in it due to several series of sky charts and detail encoded in the DSO symbols. One series of charts shows the brighter DSOs, another series shows most of the DSOs that can be seen with amateur scopes. There is also a series showing all stars' magnitudes down to 6. There are also a number of specific charts. My only real complaint is that the detailed charts show a narrow view of the sky.
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Meade 5.25" ETX-125
Meade 8" LX200
Meade 10" LX200
Meade 6" LXD55 Refractor
Orion 10" classic DOB
Meade 16" Lightbridge
Nagler 5mm, 7mm, 13mm, 16mm and 17mm
Ethos 10mm and 17mm
Custom built DEW prevention system
5.6 magnitude backyard skies
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MikeRatcliff
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/12/04
Posts: 1327
Loc: Redlands, CA
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The sky atlas 2000 has laminated pages in some versions, but it makes for a heavy set, and it needs a good sized table to use. Now I'm using the S&T Pocket Sky Atlas quite a bit. Not as deep as SA2000, but a lot more convenient. Haven't used the PSA in heavy dew though.
Mike
Mike
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16" f/4.9 dob, 1.25" Paracorr, 24 TV Widefield, 18 Circle T ortho, 13 Nagler T6, 12.5 UO ortho,
9 Circle T ortho, 2x TV Barlow 1.25"
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HellsKitchen
sage
Reged: 09/05/08
Posts: 356
Loc: Melbourne Australia
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I'd go with the Millenium Star Atlas. Lots of DSOs and enough stars (1 million down to mag 11) for star hopping. Anything less IMO is not adequete for star hopping to DSOs.
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S 38º 00' E 145º20'
Custom 12" F/4.6 dob
10" GSO dob
Intes M500 Mak
4.5" Meade Newtonian
Set of Vixen LVWs + TV barlows + powermates
Astronomik 0III, UHC, H-beta filters
Edited by HellsKitchen (09/21/09 02:01 AM)
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8275
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
I'm getting tired of looking at my computer screen and am considering stepping back to using an atlas for observing. I have a 10" DOB - please give me some help in choosing a good one - would prefer laminated pages
If you want something quick and simple, Sky Publishing's Pocket Sky Atlas is pretty good. Otherwise, for those who want to start to go deep but are not yet pushing the limits, the 2nd edition of Sky Atlas 2000 (Deluxe Laminated edition) is probably the one I would recommend. For a deeper atlas, since the HB atlas is no longer available, I would recommend the 2nd edition of the 3-volume URANOMETRIA 2000.0 if you want something serious and comprehensive. The atlas is easier to use than it once was, and covers about every object you might want to see in a 10 inch (plus many more). Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Edited by desertstars (09/21/09 05:18 PM)
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JakeSaloranta
sage
Reged: 09/18/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Sisu, Sauna, Sibelius...
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Use Tri Atlas and print out your own maps. Pages are not laminated (unless you make it so of course) but the atlas is a good and a free one.
http://www.uv.es/jrtorres/triatlas.html
I personally use Uranometria (printed maps) + Megastar with my 8". Anything made out of paper cannot stand the usual 90% humidity.
/Jake
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Jim Curry
sage
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Maine
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I use both the Sky Atlas 2000 because it has the wide field view and pull out the Uranometria when I need to star hop too far from what SA shows.
Jim
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Vixen 140 refractor
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Donsell
sage
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 243
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Do yourself a favor and get 2 atlases. Something like Sky Atlas 2000 and this one, the Pocket Sky Atlas:
http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253541784&sr=8-1-spell
It's less than $15 and very easy to use at the scope where the others are too large and unwieldy. As other have said it doesn't go as deep as the big guys, but many nights it's the only atlas I use.
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Meade 12" Lightbridge
Prairie Astronomy Club:
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/
Hyde Observatory:
http://www.hydeobservatory.info/
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8275
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
I use both the Sky Atlas 2000 because it has the wide field view and pull out the Uranometria when I need to star hop too far from what SA shows.
Jim
The new 2nd edition of Uranometria 2000.0 has a very nice set of wide-area star maps which show stars down to magnitude 6.5, the Messier objects, and the brighter NGC objects (sort of an "atlas within an atlas"). The maps also show the boundaries of the regular high-resolution charts in the atlas, so for me, there is no longer a reason to have to have Sky Atlas 2000 open just to "get my bearings". I can run on Uranometria 2000 alone (or just jump back to the Pocket Sky Atlas if I am just out for a quick look). Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
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Jim Curry
sage
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Maine
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David:
I didn't know that, many thanks. I know the charts are now assembled in the "correct" order but you're tempting me with this new info....
Jim
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Vixen 140 refractor
Edited by desertstars (09/21/09 05:19 PM)
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knuklhdastnmr
Fumble feet
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4593
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Are you using a telrad and a finderscope or do you have something like an Argo Navis?
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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azure1961p
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/17/09
Posts: 731
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I'm a big fan of Sky Atlas 2000, however I'm a diehard Uranometria fan. That said - I ALWAYS find something cool in the very well done Cambridge Star Atlas. Its simply a very very well done thin little book. Sometimes I dont want the physicality and depth of Uranometria - especially observing "on the fly" with my 70mm refractor. Outcomes Cambridge. Unlike Urano too, Ive written notes all over it.
Just a simple handy item that packs a lot. My serious GO-TO thing though is Uranometria. I understand it has more deepsky than Millenium which has a very strong following here. Its lean is stars - true to its title. I just cant get excited over it having used - and dont laugh - BONDED - with Urano so well.
Pete
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Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1985
Loc: Prescott, AZ
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I used to use SA2000 and U2000 in the same way, but the Version 2 "Atlas within and Atlas" Uranometria has all but retired my SA2000. It's killer.
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Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
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ruachsheavens
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/17/05
Posts: 766
Loc: Northern IL
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thanks to everyone for their input - I've lots to look at now!
And Jeff - what is the "atlas within an atlas" feature of the new uranometria ?
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There is no "high" like the Most High
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bicparker
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 1703
Loc: Plano, TX
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atlas within an atlas is what David K. was referring to... multiple scales of atlases. There is a bright star atlas after the key sky index that is sort of an "in-betweener" atlas.
Quite frankly though, with the U2K 2nd edition, I am able to go straight from the key index sky map to the individual sky charts most every time. There are enough bright stars to make the match.
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Bic Parker
17.5" f/5 dob
10" f/10 SCT
5" f/8 refractor
80mm f/6 refractor
66mm f/6 refractor
Plus a few others out of the rotation
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Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1985
Loc: Prescott, AZ
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Quote:
atlas within an atlas is what David K. was referring to... multiple scales of atlases. There is a bright star atlas after the key sky index that is sort of an "in-betweener" atlas.
Quite frankly though, with the U2K 2nd edition, I am able to go straight from the key index sky map to the individual sky charts most every time. There are enough bright stars to make the match.
After the index pages there is another all-sky map at a larger scale. Both are gridded to show which of the main charts covers that area of sky. The middle atlas includes fainter stars than than the all-sky index, which shows little more than constellation stick figures.
Most of the time I also go from index to main chart, but there are main charts with only a couple of very faint naked eye stars. In these cases, the middle atlas can be helpful. Probably more so for suburban astronomers.
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Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
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knuklhdastnmr
Fumble feet
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4593
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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If you're using a telrad and a finderscope, I'd have a look at Jim Holder's Old Starhopper's Finderscope Atlas. It comes with a template that matches the Telrad bullseye and the field of view of most finderscopes. Contact Jim Holder at
oldstarhopper@yahoo.com
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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knuklhdastnmr
Fumble feet
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4593
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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P.S. Covers are laminated and it's printed on waterproof paper. Charts are sized to human perception scale. I'm really enjoying mine and I have an Argo Navis. It's a help to finding good stuff to look at.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
Edited by desertstars (09/23/09 01:55 PM)
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ruachsheavens
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/17/05
Posts: 766
Loc: Northern IL
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Hi rick -
I do use a telrad and do have dsc's as well - sounds really good -is there any chance to see some pictures of the charts? is it spiral bound as well?
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There is no "high" like the Most High
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knuklhdastnmr
Fumble feet
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4593
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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It is spiral bound. I'll see if I can snap some decent photos of one of the charts.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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