Customer Reviews:
Great Star Atlas.......2007-09-21
This is a wonderful little star atlas. Very useful for doing the Astronomical league's Messier Club. In the back of the book (last page, very easy to find) is the messier list with the page number of the item.
In the front of the book are other lists.
It's very portable but at the cost of small pages and constellations often run off the page. The pages do have a decent amount of overlap which helps when star-hopping.
The one thing I wish it had and was why I gave it four stars instead of five, I wish the pages were somehow coated so that dew wouldn't make the pages soggy. The pages are tougher than standard paper, but not dew proof.
Great Little Atlas.......2007-09-01
This atlas fills a real need for a pocket atlas that is easily carried and consulted in the field. Highly recommended.
Great Pocket Atlas.......2007-06-27
Features I like:
+ Highly detailed & labeled however not over-detailed.
+ Spiral bound is very handy.
+ Made of good quality paper.
+ Small (like medium notebook) and light weight - great for backyard observations. You don't sprain your hand when you carry it.
+ Great bargain for small price!
+ Good Index including Messier objects.
+ Detailed maps of pleaids, Virgo clusters etc.
Features I like less:
- Its size is also a disadvantge: divided to many charts that sometimes makes you confused. Can be difficult to navigate if you don't have a basic knowledge of sky.
- The spiral bound might cause pages to deteriorate in time.
- Lack of monthly maps that show the sky and the constelations change.
In a nutshell: Great bargain for the price. Very handy for observations. Best for the average stargazer.
Pocket Sky Atlas "For Large Pockets!".......2007-03-14
This rating should probably be closer to a 4 however I just can't get over the misleading description "Pocket" Sky Atlas. Over all it is what you would expect from a sky atlas. Decent easy to read maps, affordable price. However if you want a true "pocket" sky atlas to take in the field that will fit in your pocket, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
A great little atlas.......2007-03-08
I am an active amateur astronomer with several star atlases. I bought this atlas almost a year ago, and I have ended up using it more than any of my other atlases. The format is compact and convenient, it points out the major sky features very well (even providing outlines of larger nebulae), and is a great complement to a medium- to small-sized telescope. I even find this atlas makes interesting bed-time reading, helping familiarize myself with the locations of objects that I haven't commonly observed in the past, like carbon stars (cool, deep-red stars that are particularly beautiful in a low-power star field). The atlas is quite sturdy and has held up well. My only quibble is that in the edition that I have, there are a few small areas (roughly a half-inch in diameter) on a few of the maps that are blanked out, as if a small piece of scrap paper were in the way during printing. I believe this error may affect many or most copies of the first edition, but I am not certain about that.
Book Description
The Night Sky is a rotating star finder (planisphere) that allows the user to recognize the constellations for any time of night, any day of the year. The sky appears to rotate (due to the rotation and orbital motion of the earth), so to be successful recognizing the constellations a beginner needs to know which stars are above the horizon at any time.
This is the full-sized version of The Night Sky suitable for the 30°-40° latitude zone (southern half of the US, North Africa, Middle East, etc.). We have versions for the following latitude zones: 50°-60°, 40°-50°, 30°-40°, 20°-30°, and the Southern Hemisphere. We also have pocket-sized versions available for the same latitude zones.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely Helpful for Beginner Astronomy Class.......2007-10-03
This is an awesome product for any student who is taking any type of Astronomy Class. I've been able to find so many constellations. Great tool.
Night Sky.......2007-05-12
The product functions as represented. It was received on time in good condition and I am well pleased
Excellent tool.......2007-03-29
Very well constructed, and easy to use. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in astronomy.
Star gazing.......2007-02-06
Superb product. The prduct is made of sturdy material(plastic?) not like the cardboard one I owned in the past. I love the clear plastic cover which can keep the dew and my fingerprints at bay. The chart itself, in addition, to the constellations locates Messier objects and nebulae.
This is great item to take on a camping trips or just stash in the glove compartment for impromptu stops to see the stars.
Make sure you buy the chart that is at or near the latitude where you live. The USA runs from 30-50 degrees latitude. So if you live at or south of New York and Denver then get the 30-40. If much above that, get the 40-50 degree latitude
Best In The Night Sky.......2007-01-05
After much careful comparing I found this Plainesphere to be the best one out there. Has a back side which is actually useful. I bought 2 as Christmas gifts and were enthusiastically received. Highly recommended.
By the way - also get a Red LED flashlight to go with these to preserve night vision. Amazon has a great small one at a good price.
Average customer rating:
- I am glad I found the Star Trek Atlas.
- I've always been curious about this...
- Visually rich, but...
- star power
- Very well done!
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Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek
Geoffrey Mandel
Manufacturer: Star Trek
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Similar Items:
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The Star Trek Encyclopedia
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Ships of the Line (Star Trek)
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Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (Star Trek Next Generation (Unnumbered))
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Star Trek Starfleet Technical Manual: Training Command Starfleet Academy (Star Trek)
ASIN: 0743437705
Release Date: 2002-10-08 |
Book Description
"all I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by."
From the earliest days of explorations, there has always been one tried-and-true way to navigate through uncharted reaches and one to find the way home -- the stars. Ancient mariners prized their star charts, knowing that they could guide them safely into a friendly port or lead them to the reaches of the mysterious East. Modes of transportation have changes but the stars are still our constant. When man took his first step into space armed with the very latest in computers, he took with him the same tool for reading the stars that the men who sailed under canvas carried.
When humans launched the first ship designed for long-range missions into the deep waters of interstellar space, the Vulcan High Command provided their star charts for the Enterprise™. But Jonathan Archer was not content with relying on the known. Although he used the Vulcan charts, he also added to them, and greatly expanded Starfleet's knowledge of the galaxy. Every generation of starship captain that followed has built on Archer's first steps.
Follow the course set by Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway. Relive their extraordinary adventures as you find here, for the first time, the star maps that chart the routes these famous explorers took.
Customer Reviews:
I am glad I found the Star Trek Atlas........2007-09-17
Overall, this book was entertaining, and is worth every penny. The color charts are appealing, and informative. I know where wolf 359 was, I know where founders' homeworld is, I know how close Cardassia is to the Earth etc... Now that I have a map, it makes sense why
There were a few things the book should have included: A 3-D map since space is not 2 dimensional; a map of the entire galaxy on a fold-out would have been nice.
I've always been curious about this..........2007-09-16
This is a great trivia item that can give you perspective on the fictional universe of Star Trek.
Visually rich, but..........2007-08-31
This book is glossier than it appears on the website and I was pleasently surprised. It is no doubt a collector's item.
One small observation: The sector numbering system is inconsistent with earth sector being called sector 001 in "Best of both worlds - ST:TNG", The illustrations are very good, the stars and planets are designed nicely. Geographic classification details - worthy of praise. Overall a good reference book for all trekkies.
One word about graphics, though. The typography of page headers and bold lines in diagrams make it look like a kid's book. It is not. Star Trek is NOT a kid's fantasy. It is a great collaborative project of talented writers, scientists, engineers, graphic designers (and evident from this book - maybe even astrophysicists). It is one work of fiction that is made to look and feel like non fiction. I wish this book was designed like the interfaces by Michael Okuda that appear in the show.
star power.......2007-07-16
For any fan this is a must book to get. The info in here are a must.
Very well done!.......2007-06-24
This is exactly what I was looking for! The amount of information contained in this small book is impressive; a primer on stellar cartography, information on many planets from all four quadrants, galactic trade routes, and best of all, a detailed map of Voyager's path through the Delta quadrant (very fun to watch the series and track their progress). Any fan of Star Trek who enjoys the scientific and geographic details of the series will especially benefit from this book. Although I like it, some may not like the fact that it reads similar to a text book or manual. If you enjoy geography or astronomy and are a fan of Star Trek, you'll like this book!
Book Description
Wayne Herschel, in a culmination of 15 years of research on archaeo-astronomy, has unraveled an extraordinary secret. It identifies the origins of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Vitruvian man" human blueprint code with Stonehenge and the pyramid sites around the world. Herschel stumbled on `Da Vinci's secret geometry' at Giza in Egypt and realized that all 50 of the pyramids of Lower Egypt appear to represent the brightest stars forming constellations along the length of the Milky Way. But more importantly, there is the proverbial x that marks the spot and that claims cryptically that human lineage is associated with what appears to be another Sun-like star. The author also proves that Stonehenge has the same cosmic solution and that the pyramid layouts of the Maya, the Incas, the Khmer and many others around the world, all repeat the same star map theme. They all exhibit the same obsession with one nearby Sun-like star in Taurus, a star that the ancients passionately refer to as the star of their gods. This 289-page full-color glossy book takes the reader on a riveting journey from one clue to the next, presenting numerous forgotten ancient texts and artifacts. The Hidden Records presents the strongest evidence to date that humans have never ever been alone in this vast universe.
Customer Reviews:
Rip off?.......2007-09-30
It LOOKS nice...lots of big bright detailed pictures and it reads nice(the author's admits his 'girlfriend' practically wrote the book for him b/c he apparently had bad writing skills...). The information is practically a repeat of stuff found in other books like Robert Bauval's The Orion Mystery...the bibliography for the book is meager...but the author does add an interesting fresh new perspective to some of history's enigmas...he proposes that the Giza pyramids are only HALF of a bigger star map and he inclueds very convincing visuals to show it!
The only thing I found odd were the actual pictures of him and his co-author in Egypt...it looked so FAKE like they were standing in front of a bluescreen or their images were cropped out in photoshop and pasted onto some Egyptian scene. Kinda funny too because they are in this 'Indian Jones' garb with no sweat on them whatsoever...it's as if the author felt he had to sell an image of an 'adventuring archaeologist' in order to sell his book...CHEESY.
All in all beautiful thought provoking book; I had no problem putting down 20 dollars for it and can't wait for the other ones to come in the series...I'm taking it with a cautionary grain of salt though ofcourse ; )
Intriguing, thought provoking, and credible!.......2007-04-13
I was simply amazed at the content that's in this book. It is very thought-provoking, and I find it entirely credible. Mr. Herschel has studied this out thoroughly and generously shares what he has found with each of us. The truths he has discovered will probably upset some, those who are used to thinking inside the box and don't like for their applecarts to be upset... but there is just too much evidence to ignore. He is definitely onto something, one of the major discoveries of our time. I would recommend it to anyone.
Fascinating info, poorly written.......2007-02-07
As intriguing as I find the information presented in this book, I cannot recommend actually READING the thing! I give it four stars for content and overall appearance. It's well-printed on glossy paper with beautiful photographs and great illustrations, but the authors' carelessness with regard to attribution makes me feel that many of the images were simply stolen. I'm not saying they were, but that is how it makes me feel: I was unable to find a single attribution, even when the text stated that some images were photocopied at a library or generated by an unnamed commercial computer program. There IS a fair-sized bibliography, but no indication of what came from where. Perhaps the law is different in South Africa.
As for the writing, it is redundant to the point of ennui, and full of . . . dramatic moments! If you only read the captions, you'll get almost all of the story; there's so much repetition that the body text is unnecessary until nearly the end of the book. A professional editing job--even a copy-edit--would improve the book tremendously. Also, the typeface and leading are atrocious...or am I just getting too old? :) The point size was so small I had to use reading glasses and much brighter light than I normally read by.
I find the main message of the book extremely feasible. Herr Herschel believes that pyramids and other monuments all over the Earth--and even Mars--indicate that intelligent life came from a particular star in the general direction of the Pleiades in the Taurus constellation. (Mr. Herschel believes this intelligent life was human, but I have seen a lot of evidence elsewhere that indicates otherwise. Still, it's plausible that they may have been the progenitors for humanity.)
This star is not nearly as far away as the Pleiades, and is thought to be less than 20 light years from Earth. Frankly, other than its similarity to our Sun, not much is known about it. Mr. Herschel identifies this star for us near the end of the book, showing its catalog number and path over the past 17,250 years or so.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who is open-minded enough to believe we might not be the only thing God created. :)
Read it and draw your own conclusion.......2006-09-26
By far a very thorough and intelligent read. I could not put it down.
The evidence that pyramids all over earth from a lost epoch of man align to specific star clusters is overwhelming in my opinion.
Doesn't take a PhD to realize that if something looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.... chances are it's a duck.
Everthing is presented via full color images and in an easy to comprehend format. It has changed my perspective and at the same time answered many questions for me personally; and of course will raise many more!
An absolute must read!
A new and iconoclastic analysis of coded information presented in ancient or prehistoric structures .......2006-08-11
"The Hidden Records: The Star of the Gods" is a new and iconoclastic analysis of coded information presented in ancient or prehistoric structures such as the pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge, and the ancient edifices of both the Americas. Wayne Herschel presents in vast and colorful detail his painstaking conclusions after many years of study of these diverse 'star-maps' of antiquity. Many color photographs and illustrations help to document his many findings, some of which are shattering to established or conventional science. Readers will want to follow this material closely as further evidence unfolds and is analyzed. The idea of ancient astronauts is perhaps not new; but the evidence is startling and convincingly presented. Profusely illustrated in color throughout, The Hidden Records is a welcome and recommended addition to personal and academic Metaphysical Studies collections, as well as supplemental reading lists in the fields of astronomy, mythology, and ancient history.
Book Description
Designed with the beginner in mind and useful to anyone interested in astronomy. Star Maps for Beginners is the classic guide to viewing and understanding the heavens. Its superb maps -- drawn in the shape of two crossed ellipses -- provide the reader with a unique perspective on the sky and have been widely acknowledged as the easiest system yet devised for locating any constellation at any time of the year.
Now revised for the 1990s, with updated planet charts and a new section on spotting meteor showers. Star Maps for Beginners includes:
12 complete maps -- one for each month -- showing the positions of the constellations viewed from every direction
a synoptic table that shows how to choose the proper map for use at any time special tables that give approximate positions of the planets for the years 1992 through 1997
the most up-to-date overview of the solar system available today the latest facts about each of the planets -- orbit, size, atmosphere, internal structure, climate, and terrain
a full chapter on the history and development of the constellations, and the ancient legends and mythological lore surrounding them
a special section on meteors -- how they originate and when and where to spot them.
Initially published in 1942 and now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Star Maps for Beginners has sold more than 450,000 copies.
Customer Reviews:
Star maps.......2007-09-19
My son loved this book of constellations. They were easy to read and had good information.
Expect to Wear Out Your Copy.......2003-01-03
My tattered copy sitting on the shelf as I write this attests to it's value. I'm no major astronomer in any sense of the word, but a major part of what I DO know about the night sky was gleaned from its pages. It is what the title suggests: "For Beginners". It refrains from being too technical, the charts for the months of the year are easy to understand and use, and it's ar less expensive than other books of its kind. If your wish is to begin a hobby in astronomy, or better yet, if you simply are curious as to how to find your way around the night sky, this is a wonderful place to start. You will amaze yourself with what you'll know after only a few nights with this book. However, please note how up-to-date your copy is when buying it here or elsewhere. Hopefully, it will be as much a joy to you as it has been for me these past six years.
best book for beginners.......2002-01-07
I'll echo the comments of the reviewers below. I've looked at many books of star maps and I've written articles on the night sky for local newspapers. This book is by far the best - it's easy to use and the constellations are depicted just as they appear in the sky - without a lot of confusing, unnecessary additions. The accompanying essays are informative, entertaining and easy to understand.
It's a huge shame that this book evidently has not been updated in 10 years. So, yes, the planet information is out-of-date. (But before you learn to find planets you first need to learn to identify constellations and bright stars - that's where Star Maps for Beginners outshines all the others.)
I, too, have given away countless copies of this book. It's great for almost all ages. (Well, let's say for a bright 10-year-old and up.) I'm buying it again as a gift for someone who sells telescopes for a living. He never heard of it and he doesn't know what he's missing.
The most dog-eared sky reference book I have.......1999-10-16
It's true, it doesn't show where the planets are but for identifying constellations and stars, any time from about 6 pm to about 5 am, you can't beat this book. I write a What's Up In the Sky weekly column and I'd be lost without this book. It gives basic information, delineates the differences in the seasons, skywise, and throws in some mythology also. The chart, telling which sky map corresponds to the time of night is invalueable. I can't imagine looking at the sky without this book.
The easiest way I've seen to find and identify stars, planet.......1999-06-15
I'd be hard pressed to say how many copies of this book I have given away. Unlike most other star guides, this book gives clear, easy-to-follow maps and directions for finding stars and planets. A separate star map is provided for each month of the year. Just turn to the month you are looking at stars in and in no time, you can identify what you are looking at.
The historical and mythical background given on constellations is excellent also.
Amazon.com
Steve O'Meara has been called "the best visual planetary observer of modern times." The first to spot Comet Halley on its return in 1985, the first to determine the rotation period of Uranus, he now turns his amazing visual skills to the deep sky.
Charles Messier was one of the best comet hunters of the 1700s, with 12 comet discoveries to his credit. He was frustrated because he kept wasting time looking at fuzzy objects that turned out not to be comets. The list he kept and published of "things that aren't comets" turned out to be his ticket to immortality.
Amateur astronomers of all ages enjoy tackling the Messier catalogue members, because they represent a good sampling of what's "out there," and because finding them helps to hone observing skills. In a sense, the Messier objects are the testing grounds for budding skywatchers.
O'Meara's guide is unique in conveying his approach to observing: "It's an approach based on creative perception and on using the imagination to see patterns and shapes in the subjects seen through the eyepiece. It involves using not just your eye but also your mind's eye to associate those patterns and shapes with things that are familiar with you, to create pictures and even stories." With O'Meara as your docent, you will truly appreciate the art of the universe. --Mary Ellen Curtin
Book Description
If there were a canon for viewing the night sky, Charles Messier would be its author. The galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae cataloged by the famous comet hunter in the late 1700s are still the most widely observed celestial wonders in the heavens. They are the favorite targets of amateur astronomers, with such rich variety and detail that they never cease to fascinate. This book provides new and experienced observers with a fresh perspective on the Messier objects. Stephen James O'Meara has prepared a visual feast for the observer. Using the finest optical telescopes available for amateur work, he describes and sketches the view from the telescope as never before. There are new drawings, improved finder charts, and new astronomical data on each object, including findings from the Hubble Space Telescope. Expand your universe and test your viewing acumen with this truly modern Messier Guide. It is a must for budding night watchers. Stephen James O'Meara is a contributing editor to Sky and Telescope.
Customer Reviews:
Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects.......2007-09-10
Add this reference book to your collection and be ready to observe. Along with this addition Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects (Deep-Sky Companions) and you can't miss.
A Beautiful Guide to Observine.......2007-03-28
The Messier Objects are one of the foundations of amateur astronomy (along with the planets and comets). The name comes from Charles Messier who was a comet searcher. To avoid confusion he created a catalog of some fuzzy objects that might be confused by other comet hunters as being potential comets. He listed 110 objects for comet hunters to avoid. He had actually discovered 41 of them, the others had been discovered by others but were in the list to avoid.
Today's amateur has access to equiptment far in advance of Messier's and these non-comets are among the most frequented things being observed. That's because Messier's objects include star clusters, nebula, as Mr. O'Meara says, the finest showpieces in the heavens.
In this book Mr. O'Meara illustrates the 110 objects with drawings and or beautiful photographs. Here is the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31), 300,000,000 stars, the light from whom began its journey to us 2.3 million years ago. Then, of course, there's M77, 47 million light years away and more than a little bit strange.
After showing all the Messier objects, Mr. O'Meara discusses (but does not show photographs) of twenty spectacular non-Messier objects that he considers to be his personal favorites. This book would be a great present for almost any amateur astronomer.
What a disappointment!.......2007-02-24
O'Meara starts this book out with real promise. Widely acknowledged as an expert observer, his efforts to set out and observe the Messier objects in detail (minimum 3 hours each) and sketch his impressions from a great dark-sky site sound impressive and exciting. After all, who wouldn't want to put their eyes up against the best? Better yet, it's well-known that it is easier to see something if you know exactly where to look for it and what it will look like. And the introduction leaves you hungering to explore these targets rather than punch them off a list in a few seconds.
But then O'Meara ruins it. He puts his own personal "interpretations" on the sketches, drawing bat figures or snakes over the objects - things that are only there in his imagination. For an experienced observer, it may be easy to draw the line between what is fancy and what is reality, but for someone approaching these objects for the first time, the only result is confusion and dismay. Do I look for that wispy segment or not?
A second version of the sketches would have been called for - one without the "extras." Instead, we're left with a book that had a lot of promise, but fails to deliver the very thing we're in need of - great, accurate sketches of the Messier objects as they appear in the eyepiece.
Seeing Messier objects with new eyes.......2007-01-10
After having read a few other books on the Messier Objects, I can confidently say that this one is a winner! Descriptions are both very helpful in preparing you for what to expect, if you have never seen a particular object before, but also provide new insight to those that think they have seen it all. The author describes subtle details, and guides you to persist on watching, until you can really see all that there is to see. After reading the descriptions, you will feel an urge to go to the field and see what you have been missing all the time!
The book also has a lot of historic comments, about Messier himself and the observations he did while compiling his list, that are both fascinating and intriguing to read. As for the drawbacks, I only wish the finder charts were more detailed. You will probably need a more detailed star map to locate the less prominent and obscure of these fine objects.Overall, I would warmly suggest this book to both new and experienced observers.
Making small scopes look good :).......2005-01-31
First of all I have to say that O'Meara is a brilliant writer and a superb visual observer. He manages to capture the spirit of observing and you feel like he is right next to you at the eyepiece when you read the book. But the defining thing about this book is the superbly detailed eyepiece impressions. Indeed he sees more through the eyepiece of a 4" TeleVue Genesis than most people through much larger telescopes. Its all about training ones eyes to see detail. Most of us are mere "peekers", just taking quick glimpses of objects. O'Meara encourages and inspires us to push our vision to the limit, to drink in the faint details of a galaxy's spiral arms. I for one have been inspired. Very highly recommended for visual observers.
Book Description
The Night Sky is a rotating star finder (planisphere) that allows the user to recognize the constellations for any time of night, any day of the year. The sky appears to rotate (due to the rotation and orbital motion of the earth), so to be successful recognizing the constellations a beginner needs to know which stars are above the horizon at any time.
This is the full-sized version of The Night Sky suitable for the 40°-50° latitude zone (northern United States and parts of Europe). We have versions for the following latitude zones: 50°-60°, 40°-50°, 30°-40°, 20°-30°, and the Southern Hemisphere. We also have pocket-sized versions available for the same latitude zones.
Customer Reviews:
Still have yet to impress girls with this thing........2007-10-07
One day, I'll get one of those red LED lights and take a smitten lady out to the middle of nowhere on a new moon to lay on the grass and gaze up at the stars. With this thing, I should have at least the shadow of an idea of what I'm looking at. Why embarrass yourself, calling Cassiopeia "that big W over there"? Face it, we all know what Orion looks like. If you are going to impress someone, you need to pull out the stops and show the ladies your visual spacial "skillz" with this handy chart.
Simple to use. Necessary for beginners........2006-05-08
New to learning the skies, this has helped me greatly. Its really simple to setup and is small and sturdy enough to fit right inside my eyepiece case. A must have.
Star Chart.......2006-03-09
A helpful tool in acertaining the constellations in the night sky any time of the year. Small and compact but easy to use. A definite must have for anyone wanting to learn and know the mystery of the night sky.
Wonderful map.......2005-08-19
This is a truly helpful map of the skies for anyone interested in backyard astronomy. It is very legible, easy to see at night. I am a beginner and was able to find most of the constellations shown. Very durable as well.
Good, functional star chart.......2005-08-18
Chandler's star chart is a classic that is functional, easy-to-use, and valuable for people just learning the night sky. Its main features are its large size and lamination -- important as summer evening dew inevitably turns most paper products saggy. This is recommended for people desiring to learn their way around the night sky and build an understanding of the universe.
Customer Reviews:
Should become a classic!!!.......2001-04-30
Using this book for over two years, I've found all the Messiers and learnt a whole lot from this book. The book starts off with briefly introducing the pre-requisites to stargazing, and the geometric estimation method for locating the deep-sky using a Telrad. The book also tells the story of Charles Messier, and the origins of the Messier Marathon. He then takes the reader on a tour of all the Messier objects. Since this book has its focus on the Messier Marathon, the sequence of the objects is based on his observing sequence during the Marathon. However, as Harvard points out, this book does not necessarily have to be used during a Marathon and can be used any time to locate any of the Messier objects. The finder charts proved to be extremely useful, and I found this book becoming the book I refer to the most. The advantage is, I don't have to flip through other star maps looking for the Messier objects I'd like to observe. Its all included in this book. Therefore, I used this book more than my star atlas while observing the Messier objects. There is a little bit of inaccuracy with some of the charts. For example, in the chart for finding M75, I found I had to extend a little further than the distance from the mouth of the teapot to the lower corner of its handle away from tau Sag. to get to M75. Perhaps it was my problem of not using a powered finder (only the Telrad), but I had to try 5 times before I was compelled to move my scope little further east and north when the dim glow of M75 slid into view. This situation is actually clearly demonstrated in any star atlas, M75 is definitely a little further than the estimate.(I did very careful measurements on a printout of a few star chart program and Harvard's estimation method got to 0.6 to 1 degree from M75 depending on the angle deviation from the gamma Sag. - tau Sag. line, so I'm guessing some people may have troubles) Nevertheless, this is a VERY minor complaint for Harvard's method is based on estimation. Getting as near to the object as possible with the simplest method is what matters. My suggestion to any similar situation is to use a star atlas beside this book too to help with objects that don't seem to show up on first or second attempt. Furthermore, if the object is not in view, do scan around a little (which Harvard did mention). In a real Messier Marathon, don't panic (as I did =) and keep in mind that the less detailed charts are mainly for estimation. Overall, an exceptional book, beautifully written and educating. A book that deserves to be on the bookshelves of all amateur astronomers!
A must-have for serious Messier searchers........2000-09-25
This is an extremely helpful book. I rate it among the very best for helping in your Messier Object search: At the April 2000 Messier marathon, I found 75 objects, and was on schedule to find 105, but I grew too tired to continue. On a recent star party in September, 2000, I found 45 objects before midnight, thanks largely to this book. Buy it while you still can!
The Guide for finding the Messier Objects.......2000-08-08
After trying run my first Messier marathon with charts that I had prepared myself, I wish I had had this book with me that night. I would have seen alot more. Using this book, I have able to locate many objects that I had not been able to find before with certainty.
This book is excellent resource that I now take along with my telescope to every star party. The charts and object sketches are well oriented to the practicing amateur astronomer. Also covered are telescope calibration, observing techniques, and site selection. The only drawback to this book that I have found so far has been that it is not printed on waterproof paper. So, I had to order another copy to cut up and laminate.
Best Intro Book to Finding the Messier Objects.......2000-07-11
This book is exceptional for the beginning backyard astronomer. I found 25 objects in one weekend alone using this book. I'm up to 95 objects total with no doubt in my mind that the book will allow me to find the remaining 15 objects. In dark skies, the Telrad finder charts work extremely well. Over a dozen times I have literally been able to line up the Telrad finder per the book's illustrations and look into the eyepiece and see the desired target. In light polluted areas, where I do most of my observing and where the Telrad is not quite as useful, the star charts in the book provide just the right detail to find the target by either star hopping with a conventional finder or moving along lines of constant declination or ascension relative to a known star. Well worth the low $20 price tag.
Excellent guide for the Messiers.......1999-12-16
this book is written with one purpose in mind-to get the reader(observer)through the Messier objects utilizing various, and well explained, star hopping techniques combined with in-scale drawings of the objects within their given constellations. It also has some very useful techniques for ligning up a telrad type instrument, calibrating the finder and eyepiece, as well as providing an observer's log for the objects and the Messier catalog. Great book and more than worth the money. Being an "advanced beginner" I have found its techniques easy to follow leading to some incredibly successful observations of these beautiful objects. I only wish it included the Caldwell Catalog, but that may have diluted its very narrow and detailed focus on the Messier objects. Highly recommended!
Book Description
This unique and accessible book provides a handy reference to the skies visible from the countries of the southern hemisphere. Amateur astronomers or casual observers of the night sky will have easy access to the star charts of world famous astronomical cartographer Wil Tirion, prepared especially for this volume. Television astronomer David Ellyard has contributed a detailed explanatory text to accompany the charts, together with a general introduction to the study of the night sky. Charts of the whole sky--24 in all--show what is visible early and late in each month. These are followed by details of each section of the sky, with particular attention to the constellations seen in the southern skies. Planet positions are provided up to the year 2010. For this new edition, the text has been thoroughly revised and new charts created to illustrate the legends behind the main constellations.
Customer Reviews:
Friendly and accessible.......2006-06-02
This modest but useful book includes background information on stars, planets and constellations, and star charts with interesting objects pointed out. All from a southern hemisphere perspective. It's written in an informal, conversational style, and the star charts (by Wil Tirion) are clear and well-organized.
The charts aren't the largest or the deepest magnitude, but there are other references for that, like Sky Atlas 2000.0.
A particularly handy reference for us northerners who visit Down Under: I used it myself when planning a trip to Australia. Handy for people who live there, too.
OK to decent.......2004-02-19
This book has well laid out and attractive star charts but is used best as a desk reference and not as a field reference. Like most of Tirion's Atlases, I think the charts are one magnitude from being truly useful. Under very dark skies in the country the charts would be more then adequate to find the deep sky objects, but in a moderately polluted urban environment there is insufficient magnitude detail to star hop adequately. I would say this book is excellent for beginners or newcomers looking for an introduction to the Southern skies. So I give this 4 stars, also partly because there is a lack of such introductory books of the Southern skies.
Book Description
The Night Sky is a rotating star finder (planisphere) that allows the user to recognize the constellations for any time of night, any day of the year. The sky appears to rotate (due to the rotation and orbital motion of the earth), so to be successful recognizing the constellations a beginner needs to know which stars are above the horizon at any time.
This is the full-sized version of The Night Sky suitable for the 20°-30° latitude zone (Florida, Caribbean, S.Texas, Hawaii). We have versions for the following latitude zones: 50°-60°, 40°-50°, 30°-40°, 20°-30°, and the Southern Hemisphere. We also have pocket-sized versions available for the same latitude zones.
Customer Reviews:
Glad we bought it!.......2007-05-06
you don't need a magnifying glass to read it. i'm glad to have it. helpful. has a new feature i haven't seen before. looking north is on one side and looking south is on the flip side. it's a sky chart that is closest to our latitude.
I'm enjoying it a lot........2003-03-19
It is very detailed. As it says, it's very similar to the stars you actually see in the sky.
It works as follows: there is an outter dial with the days of the year, and an inner dial with the hours of day. By aligning them, it is easy to see the stars that are on the sky at any day (night) and hour.
One side faces North and the other side faces South. It has the star coordinate system (the one in hours and degrees), so you can find planets, if you have a table that tells you where to look.
I think you should complement this with a book, such as "40 Nights to Knowing the Sky", in order to know what you are seeing.
Affordable, Convenient, Easy to use!.......1999-07-30
The first and best star chart for viewing the south sky with low distortion! I highly recommend it!
Used it for years........1999-07-17
Having used planispheres for over 40 years, I was very interested when I first saw David Chandler's "The Night Sky". I found it to be the easiest to use, easiest to see and most accurate "sky dial" I had ever used. I can recommend this excellent planisphere to beginner, amateur and professional astronomers alike.
An excellent tool for learning your way around the sky........1999-07-06
The Night Sky for this latitude was useful for me even though I don't live at these locations. In the late 1970's I needed to see how the sky looked from the southern US. This was useful as I was writing articles from their perspective. Since I couldn't travel southward, I used the Night Sky and saw how the sky would look from the southern US. I later learned the Night Sky is very accurate as I received positive responses from my articles.
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