I'm curious as to what everyone uses at the scope for atlases. I predominant use Uranometria 2000.0 - the Deep Sky edition. I used to use and still do to a point, Sky Atlas 2000.0 - I'm just curious what everybody else uses for sky charts at the telescope.

Scot

It's a case of having an atlas to match the size of your telescope.
When I use my 80mm refractor or 4.5" reflector, I tend to stick to Bright Star atlas.
Sky Atlas 2000 was what I used with my C8.
I never made much use of the old Uranometria, because I liked AstroAtlas better with my 14.5"dob.
And I occasionally use the Millennium Atlas for areas that are confusing in AstroAtlas.
Renato

I have a slightly different take from Renato on when I use which one:

If I'm just looking something up, or answering a question for someone online, I use Uranometria because the book format is quicker and easier.

If I'm doing serious observing (like in my planetary challenge) and am trying to "nail" the location of Neptune, Uranus, or Pluto, then I copy out several different pages of the Sky Atlas 2000. I really like a big, detailed map for this sort of thing even though the FoV is going to cover only a small area. With my eyesight, I need to allow for missing the target FoV by a wide margin!

But when I'm going to a star party to assist with a crowd of visitors, I use Bright Star Atlas because it is small and light but has tons of interesting objects plotted. I learned a hard lesson on the Sky Atlas 2000 so I bought the laminated version of BSA!

I recently found a half-price copy of Serge Brunei's Great Star Atlas, the photographic one. I use that for observing indoors or on cloudy nights.

jb

I'm like Renato in that I usually choose my chart based on my scope size while observing. But I don't observe very often with big dobs so I don't often have a need for the MSA or Uranometria.

If I'm trying to find something new I usually just print a star chart from Cartes du Ciel. Otherwise, I try to find objects from memory. But, you got me thinking, I really should get a good set of star charts.

I use Uranometria 2000.0, but I may have to get a less advanced atlas for when I am observing with my yet-to-be-recieved 102mm Stellar Vue. Y'all just made me think of that....

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

Since I'm still pretty much trying to find my way around the sky, I've only been successful so far with the star charts in the book Nightwatch by T. Dickinson. I think those charts are the best for a beginner, anyway. I have the Cambridge Star Atlas, but that hasn't helped me yet.


You may have to invest in a cheap planisphere, which you can easily hold over your head to match up with the sky.
Having then got some constellations fixed in your mind, bring out your star atlas and compare them to those just viewed from the planisphere.
You may have to again raise the atlas over your head to make them match.
After a while you won't need to do the latter bit anymore.
Renato

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

Since I'm still pretty much trying to find my way around the sky, I've only been successful so far with the star charts in the book Nightwatch by T. Dickinson. I think those charts are the best for a beginner, anyway. I have the Cambridge Star Atlas, but that hasn't helped me yet.


Mo, since you have to travel "light" consider the Bright Star Atlas when you get the chance. You'll like it!

jb

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

QUOTE: Originally posted by chipdatajeffB

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

Since I'm still pretty much trying to find my way around the sky, I've only been successful so far with the star charts in the book Nightwatch by T. Dickinson. I think those charts are the best for a beginner, anyway. I have the Cambridge Star Atlas, but that hasn't helped me yet.


Mo, since you have to travel "light" consider the Bright Star Atlas when you get the chance. You'll like it!

jb


Thanks, Jeff - who puts that out? I just bought "How To Identify The Night Sky". What I like about it is that it also shows an actual photograph of the constellation at the same angle as the star chart. This way I can try to match the actual stars to what I see in the chart. It's pretty cool! It also has a very indepth map of the moon - it seems to label every single crater.



Author is Wil Tirion and publisher is Willman-Bell. I got mine here:

http://www.astrosystems.biz/starchrt.htm

but I bought it at their tent at RMSS in June.

There's one over on Amazon.com right now at a great price, but I don't know whether it's the laminated version. There's also a "used" one over there for more than $70 -- so don't bite!

jb

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

QUOTE: Originally posted by RenatoAlessio

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

Since I'm still pretty much trying to find my way around the sky, I've only been successful so far with the star charts in the book Nightwatch by T. Dickinson. I think those charts are the best for a beginner, anyway. I have the Cambridge Star Atlas, but that hasn't helped me yet.


You may have to invest in a cheap planisphere, which you can easily hold over your head to match up with the sky.
Having then got some constellations fixed in your mind, bring out your star atlas and compare them to those just viewed from the planisphere.
You may have to again raise the atlas over your head to make them match.
After a while you won't need to do the latter bit anymore.
Renato


Thanks, Renato -- but I have a planisphere, and I just don't like it. I don't really have a problem matching the sky as a whole, just finding the objects within the constellations. Need more experience in learning star-hopping, I guess.


I run a program called winstars, a freeware program available at
http://winstars.free.fr/english/index.html It's a nonintrusive program, runs in it's own folder .

I pick what I'm shooting for the set the times and location of observation in and print out the parts of the sky, I'll need then make the objects location on the chart with a X that I can see. The chsrts can be printed with compass direction and elevation angle or with astro cordinents.

Works for me as they don't make charts big enough for the non focusing eye people

Plus at home I study "The Great Atlas of the Stars" by Serge Brunier

Ok , here goes.

I am plannibng on buying a 10" DOB, however the last time I was at a Dark Site, I was lost by the shear quantity of stars visable. The local club meets tomorrow night, I plan to join and go to thier Dark Site with my trusty old Binoculars, and hoepfuly view thruogh as many scopes as I can.
I need a good Star Chart to use to find my way around and also to use with the scope after I make my mind up of what mfg to purchase.

Thanks
Joe

QUOTE: Originally posted by MarionO

QUOTE: Originally posted by joeosborn

Ok , here goes.

I am plannibng on buying a 10" DOB, however the last time I was at a Dark Site, I was lost by the shear quantity of stars visable. The local club meets tomorrow night, I plan to join and go to thier Dark Site with my trusty old Binoculars, and hoepfuly view thruogh as many scopes as I can.
I need a good Star Chart to use to find my way around and also to use with the scope after I make my mind up of what mfg to purchase.

Thanks
Joe



You can download Cartes Du Ciel for free at: http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/

Many people prefer this program. I refer to it in addition to my SNB.

Clear skies!



Thanks MO!!

I downloaded it about three times and kept taking it off my computer begause everything I searched for said it was below the horizon. But, I finally learned how to use it. It is a nice program

Thanks
Joe