50 replies to this topic

[NightSkyGuy]

well, we've lost one of the true masters of celestial cartography. the Sky & Telescope staff has just learned that Wil Tirion died on Friday (July 5th) at the age of 81. according to his son, Martin, Wil had been very active until a few weeks ago, when he got very ill and deteriorated quickly. funeral services will take place on Monday, July 15th. Martin says that you can express condolences via his email (martin.tirion@live.com) or using Wil's (wil@wil-tirion.com), which will remain active for some time.

 

clear skies,

Kelly

Edited by NightSkyGuy, 08 July 2024 - 03:24 PM.

[Astrojensen]

I am at a loss for words. May he rest in peace among the stars. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[dcornelis]

Spent untold hours in his great publications. I recollect how I cherised his work when Uranometria 2000 came out!

[havasman]

His work made us all better observers.

[Bill Jensen]

Kelly, thank you for sharing that sad news. His drawing guided me to many wonders thru the years. 

[baker_belays]

Every time I'm in dark skies, the Atlas is close at hand. Truly lost a treasure for hobbyists and professionals alike.

[Jbond]

This is very sad news. There is a quality to his work that is all too rare and we all feel the loss of this great man. 

[Tom Polakis]

Even when Bright Star Atlas, SkyAtlas, and Uranometria aren't being used in the field, perusing them at home is like browsing the best maps of National Geographic. The aesthetic beauty and usefulness of Tirion cartography is unmatched.

 

Tom

[rmollise]

I had the pleasure of having dinner with Wil and his wife many years ago. Lovely couple, and he was a master. 

[herschelobjects]

This is very sad news, indeed. You would be hard pressed to find an amateur astronomer, living or otherwise, who has not been guided through the universe by Mr. Tirion. Some of his books...

 

 

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[herschelobjects]

...not all of the publications he was involved with, however. This one, part of a series of nature books published by the Discovery Channel in 1999, featured constellation charts by Wil Tirion. I was hired freelance, literally at the last minute, when the publishers couldn’t find anyone to write the “deep sky observing guide” portion of the book. It was completed in a month and the book was published on time. This was my closest brush with greatness...

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Edited by herschelobjects, 08 July 2024 - 05:45 PM.

[desertstars]

I just saw a post on Facebook announcing this.

[KidOrion]

Sky Atlas 2000.0 was a huge part of making me the observer and person I am today; Uranometria 2000.0 just refined me.

 

From the Cosmos we are made, and to the Cosmos we return. Thanks you, Mr. Tirion, for a lifetime of inspiration.

[Dave Mitsky]

This is sad news indeed.  I met Wil Tirion at NEAF back in 2005.  He autographed several of my copies of his atlases.

There's a short article that discusses some aspects of Mr. Tirion's work at https://skyandtelesc...astronomy-club/

[Jon Isaacs]

...not all of the publications he was involved with, however. This one, part of a series of nature books published by the Discovery Channel in 1999, featured constellation charts by Wil Tirion. I was hired freelance, literally at the last minute, when the publishers couldn’t find anyone to write the “deep sky observing guide” portion of the book. It was completed in a month and the book was published on time. This was my closest brush with greatness...

 

I believe I have that book in the motorhome.  Wil had a special way with his charts.

 

There is an app called Star Charts by Wil Tirion. It's simple but has Wil's magic.

 

 

Jon

[Dave Mitsky]

https://wil-tirion.c...m/Homepage.html

 

https://wil-tirion.c.../Biography.html

[R Botero]

Desperate sad news.  Condolences to his family and friends.  He joins the great Bayer, Flamsteed, Hevelius, Bode and others amongst the great celestial cartographers.

 

Roberto

[macpurity]

I hope his name is advanced to the IAU as a candidate Lunar crater name. Tirion was quite the master of charting in our age.

 

Desperate sad news.  Condolences to his family and friends.  He joins the great Bayer, Flamsteed, Hevelius, Bode and others amongst the great celestial cartographers.

 

Roberto

[flyboyu777]

well, we've lost one of the true masters of celestial cartography. the Sky & Telescope staff has just learned that Wil Tirion died on Friday (July 5th) at the age of 81. according to his son, Martin, Wil had been very active until a few weeks ago, when he got very ill and deteriorated quickly. funeral services will take place on Monday, July 15th. Martin says that you can express condolences via his email (martin.tirion@live.com) or using Wil's (wil@wil-tirion.com), which will remain active for some time.

 

clear skies,

Kelly

RIP Will-you served the Astronomy community, blessing us with your creativity and beautiful charts. 

[russell23]

Sky Atlas 2000 was how I started really learning the sky in the 1980’s.  I still have that original white stars on black background set of charts.  
 

RIP Wil!

[kgb]

Oh man! What a profound loss.

[Andrea Salati]

My first atlas, back in 1983, was Sky Atlas 2000.0 Field Edition (recently passed on to a friend). I have been hoping to buy his latest opus magnum, Uranometria 2000 All Sky.
What a loss. He "ruled" the field for decades.

[deSitter]

This is very sad news, indeed. You would be hard pressed to find an amateur astronomer, living or otherwise, who has not been guided through the universe by Mr. Tirion. Some of his books...

Missing here is what I consider to be the most useful atlas ever - the Cambridge Double Star Atlas. It's a regular mag 7.5 atlas like SA2000 but with many hundreds of doubles also plotted in a convenient light green that blends into the background for inside reading, but stands out prominently in red light. Little touches like that were characteristic of his work. Cartography involves as much artistic skill and good taste as factual information. RIP, a life well spent.

 

-drl

[BoldAxis1967]

I bought my first astronomy book about 20 years before I purchased my first telescope, thinking that this book will be useful to me someday and it was. 

 

That book: "Observing the Constellations: by John Sanford (1989) with charts by Wil Tirion.  I love that book.  It is a wonderful introduction to the night sky as each constellation is described and its objects. 

 

Yes, a true giant in the field. 

 

L.

[Dave Mitsky]

I bought my first astronomy book about 20 years before I purchased my first telescope, thinking that this book will be useful to me someday and it was. 

 

That book: "Observing the Constellations: by John Sanford (1989) with charts by Wil Tirion.  I love that book.  It is a wonderful introduction to the night sky as each constellation is described and its objects. 

 

Yes, a true giant in the field. 

 

L.

I have a copy of that book and agree completely.

 

https://www.amazon.c...r/dp/0671689274