Telescope Reviews: Re: what changes/updates in the Uranometria Volume

I have both the MSA and SA2K.

I prefer the Uranometria (2nd edition) overall to the other 2 atlases. SA2K is good, but if you when you are going for the fainter stuff, those additional field stars, plus the additional marked DSO's in U2K make a difference. Additionally, U2K 2nd Ed has several excellent detailed charts in its appendix for certain dense areas of observing.

As a comparison between the two, here is a case in point that I had at TSP: We were looking for a galaxy in this area of the sky where there were several galaxies and nebulae. We were originally starting with the SA2K, but as we were moving through the field (using both a 17.5" and a 36"), we noted several DSO's that weren't marked in the SA2K, but were in the U2K, so we switched to the U2K as the reference for that area. This resolved a lot of potential confusion when confirming this object.

As for the MSA, well, red ink should be banned in star atlases... I like the MSA as a home atlas reference, but I have not really warmed up to it as a field reference. I don't have anything major against it and, in fact, it does show significantly deeper details in terms of stars, extended objects boundaries and structures, and more highly magnified general fields of observing. However, it is not great as a standalone atlas in the field, primarily because of its chart keys (this is all just my own opinion and has to do to with how I use chart in the field, of course). The chart keys are very, very low density charts and, to top it all off, use red ink to denote the numbered chart outlines. This just doesn't work well in the dark with red lights and even more so if you are trying to find the chart for area of the sky with no constellation asterism component and no bright stars (especially those areas between constellations).

If the MSA had no red ink and more detailed chart keys (more akin to the ones SA2K and U2K use), it could have quite a bit more value in the field.

By the way.. there is a paperback MSA edition out there now (which I don't have). I understand it is the same as the hardcover edition. The only downside to this is that U2K and SA2K have been vetted for a lot of errata through their subsequent editions and I don't think MSA has, yet (nor am I aware of any plans to, either).

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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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