7 replies to this topic

[matt gray]

Which of the three versions have the telrad overlay?
Just the unlam. field edition, or all three.

Also, does anyone have any comments on Orion's Deep map?
(folds like a road map)

Thanks for helping

matt
xt10

[ArizonaScott]

Well, the store at Sky & Telescope shows all of them have the overlay so I'll assume that's correct. I have the Deluxe Edition that does include it.

I had a Deep Map a few years ago but mailed it off to another observer since it wasn't getting much use. I think it's a pretty neat map, but wasn't detailed enough for my purposes. I will say that the object lists would be fantastic for use with a GOTO scope, but for starhopping in light polluted skies I found SA2000 to be perfect.

Just my worth, OK?

[Starman1]

If you need a simpler map than SA2000, I suggest downloading the Mag 7 star atlas which is on this forum. It's free.
It's easy to use because the constellations are drawn in.
The SA2000 is, you'll discover, a little compressed.
For example, it makes it look like M97 and M108 are right next to Beta Ursae Majoris, but in a lot of scopes they are 2 or 3 eyepiece fields away.
When I started hunting really faint objects, I found I needed the larger scale of Uranometria 2000.0.
At times, even that's not a large enough scale, and I print a page from Megastar, with a 1 to 1-1/2 degree field on an 8.5x11 page!
If you get the laminated version of the SA2000, I suggest the laminated desk edition--it's just easier to read under dim red light.

[matt gray]

Thanks alot for responding.
Im still at the stage where the bright stuff knock's my sock's off, but my beginner book's have taken me as far as they can, so the sky atlas is now on the way.
thanks again,

matt
xt10

[Star*Hopper]

SA2K carries stars down to ~mag 8.5 if memory serves, which might not seem like much but practically doubles the coverage from a magnitude brighter. You won't regret getting yourself a copy...and I recommend the Deluxe version also. I believe they all carry the Telrad overlay - it's a part of the finer arc-divisions grid sheets.

Here's a little tip on a handy li'l tool I made. Using your regular 'cruising' eyepiece, find a pair of stars that will just fit into the eyepiece, across its widest diameter. Find those two stars in the Atlas....and measure the span. Using that measurement, a fine-tip Sharpie (waterproof, permanent ink) marker, a circle stencil or roto-compass, and heavy-ish transparent mylar, make yourself an overlay that will show the EP's field of coverage. This tool can then be used anywhere on the Atlas to represent a pretty accurate FOV for that EP. You can of course add circles to represent other EPs as you like.

Also draw a contiguous series of half-circles along one side of your 'ruler' to represent the EP's span, to be used for gaging starhops.

A pic's worth a thousand words, as they say -- here's an example of one I made when I was using a 4.5" Newt...the circle represents my 30mm Plossl view. This example shows the jump from Gamma (47) Hydrae to reach M83/NGC5236, with the representive view of each of the 5 hops along the side - easy to compare with actual EP views along the way.

As you can also see I added a 'crib note' section for the Greek alphabet, to help me learn the Bayer symbols which usually appear on charts. ~8)

Clear'ns!
~Star*Hopper

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[Starman1]

Star*hopper,
That is a Terrific idea for star hoppers.
I hope a lot of people see your post.

[desertstars]

What an amazingly simple idea! Thanks for sharing that. (There's no telling how long it would have taken me to think of that on my own... )

[Star*Hopper]

Yeaaahhhh....I's so bright muh Daddy called me "Sun".


(You know what they say about blind hogs & acorns....)
~S*H