Most of us have any number of astronomy reference books and maps in our personal library. Some people mostly use the internet, while still others rely only on their "Go To" devices. Any amateur astronomer worth his salt, however, can hop around the heavens with nothing but his main scope and trusty finder scope. Until I purchased my Orion 12" in the autumn of 2012, I had only used maps to find my way around, not computers. Now that I own a scope with a "Push To" computer, has it fundamentally changed my way of observing?
Thankfully, no. I love maps, and following my way around the sky using them is one of the greatest pleasures of astronomy for me. I will often get to my first object using the computer guidance system (I have to manually move the scope, lining up the arrows on the computer until both sets of numbers return to zero), then star hop for the rest of the time I am in that constellation. If I don't use the computer for 30 minutes, it switches itself off. And it has done so, many times. So this page of short reviews will begin with the best map available to amateurs, namely...
Uranometria 2000 Deep Sky Atlas: All Sky Edition, with Stars to Visual 9.75 Magnitude and 30,000+ Non-Stellar Objects. Wil Tirion, Barry Rappaport, Will Remarklus
Let me begin by saying how unwieldy the earlier versions of this atlas were to use in the field. Thankfully, those days are long gone. The newer all-in-one volume contains not only the entire sky in exquisite detail, but includes a series of close-up charts at the back that dive even deeper into especially hectic areas of several constellations. The current edition I use came out in October 2012, exactly when I upgraded to a 12" scope. The timing for me could not have been better. Looking through this atlas is nearly as much fun as looking through a telescope. Many of the 30,000 deep sky objects plotted will only be of interest to owners of much larger scopes than mine, and to photographers. The number of galaxies is nearly 26,000, so good luck with that observing project.
The thing that truly amazes me about this incredible resource is its accuracy. When you see an object plotted on the chart, there will be something there to see. It omits NGC errors, and even corrects and includes some that are called non-existent. Be certain that something does exist if it is plotted on the atlas. I have only found one serious error in almost three years of using the atlas. On Chart 145 (and close-up chart A17), NGC gn 6526 is placed a degree north of M8, the Lagoon Nebula. A large border is drawn for this object, but nothing exists there. 6526 is actually a small part of M8 (NGC 6523). I'm certain that other errors exist; there is so much information in these pages it would be a miracle if there weren't. But the overall accuracy of this thing is scary!
There are several useful appendices in the back, including lists of the main Bayer stars in each constellation and on which page they may be found. If I am quickly trying to locate Delta Auriga, I am led to Chart 27. Nice touch. Next comes a list of stars by their names, and the chart they are on. Megrez is on Chart 24, I am told. A Messier Objects list and where they are located is always useful, and is included along with the proper chart number. Fourth is a list of objects by their common names, and where they can be found in the atlas. The Gum Nebula, for instance, is on Chart 187. Lastly comes an exhaustive list of IC and NGC objects plotted, and where to find them. They are charted down to Mag. 15, so not every single NGC object is listed, but the list is virtually complete for deep sky observers.
Inside the front cover are a series of six index charts. An earlier version of mine had a second, larger and more detailed set of index charts. This volume does not include that intermediate set of charts, and I really miss those. I hope they are re-instated for subsequent reprints. They are useful, much more so than the less detailed set. Following the index charts is a list of all the constellations, and which chart is nearest the center of the constellation. This is quite handy in the field.
Three plastic sheet layovers are also included, so one can locate and/or plot stars on the charts down to one minute intervals of right ascension and ten minutes of declination. These take up two of the overlays. A third sheet gives measured circles of a viewing field, including ones of 3 degrees, 2, 1 3/4, 1 1/2, 1, 45', 30' (about the size of a full moon) and 15'. This is a brilliant touch, helping the observer see ahead of time which portion of a chart will be viewable in certain eyepiece fields. For example, if I am using my 25 mm eyepiece (60x), I can use the overlay and see the star field (or galaxy field) exactly as it is appearing in my field of view. If I move the field over one eyepiece field (30'), then I can see on the charts what lies next door, or north or south.
Inside the front cover are a series of six index charts. An earlier version of mine had a second, larger and more detailed set of index charts. This volume does not include that intermediate set of charts, and I really miss those. I hope they are re-instated for subsequent reprints. They are useful, much more so than the less detailed set. Following the index charts is a list of all the constellations, and which chart is nearest the center of the constellation. This is quite handy in the field.
Three plastic sheet layovers are also included, so one can locate and/or plot stars on the charts down to one minute intervals of right ascension and ten minutes of declination. These take up two of the overlays. A third sheet gives measured circles of a viewing field, including ones of 3 degrees, 2, 1 3/4, 1 1/2, 1, 45', 30' (about the size of a full moon) and 15'. This is a brilliant touch, helping the observer see ahead of time which portion of a chart will be viewable in certain eyepiece fields. For example, if I am using my 25 mm eyepiece (60x), I can use the overlay and see the star field (or galaxy field) exactly as it is appearing in my field of view. If I move the field over one eyepiece field (30'), then I can see on the charts what lies next door, or north or south.
Although not even three years old, my atlas has received such heavy use that it is nearly time to order another one. The price is certainly right, and within the United States the shipping is free. Go to William Bell and order yours if you haven't already. You will thank me.
Favourite Chart: 91--all those galaxies!
Favourite Close-up Chart: A17.
Favourite Chart: 91--all those galaxies!
Favourite Close-up Chart: A17.
URANOMETRIA 2000 Deep Sky Field Guide
From the introduction: "The purpose of the DSFG is to provide basic catalog data for each of the more than 30,000 nonstellar objects plotted on the 220 Uranometria 2000.0 Deep Sky Atlas Charts."
That, my friends, is saying a mouthful! I can remember many years ago when I first learned of the NGC catalogue, and searched frantically for a copy in my city library, to no avail. Information like that was simply not available to the average amateur astronomer. With our 4" and 6" telescopes in those days, it was no wonder. Today, not only do I finally have in my own personal library an atlas showing 99 % of the NGC and IC objects, but I have a reference book that gives me brief information on each and every one of them. And much, much more. If I was forced to whittle my astronomy library down to only two books, this would be one of them (the atlas would be the other).
With 30,000 objects to describe, this volume does not waste words. There are no poetic descriptions here, just the facts. If, for instance, I am observing in Hercules, and I am on Chart 67 of the Uranomteria atlas and I wish to observe eg 6628 on an upcoming night, I open the volume, ordered by Chart number like the star atlas, to the information for Chart 67. This particular page has headings for Galaxies, Open Clusters, Globular Clusters, and Planetary Nebula. Under galaxies I find the NGC grouping (there are four galaxy catalogues represented on this chart) and locate 6628. I am given (in the following order) the RA, Dec., Name, Mag (V), Dimensions, Mag (SB), Type Class, Position Angle, and Notes. All of this information fits on one compact line.
There are no photos or sketches of objects, and no flowery descriptions. Just the facts. This book is not as much fun to peruse as the atlas, but it sure contains a wealth of information. The appendices are the same as at the back of the atlas, with one notable improvement: whereas the atlas I have listed only the IC and NGC members included in the undertaking, this volume also includes all of the members from all of those other catalogues, such as King, Berkeley, etc. etc. This is very very handy, and I can quickly ascertain on which chart to find a very obscure cluster or galaxy or planetary nebulae. With the RA and Dec. listed, I can find it on the atlas in no time at all.
These two books are the only ones amateur astronomers of deep sky objects really need. However, if I could add a third volume that included information on the double and multiple stars, along with the variable stars plotted on the atlas, then all would be well. Perhaps William Bell publishing will undertake such a project someday. In the meantime, these volumes are indispensible to my observing program.
Mapman Mike
With 30,000 objects to describe, this volume does not waste words. There are no poetic descriptions here, just the facts. If, for instance, I am observing in Hercules, and I am on Chart 67 of the Uranomteria atlas and I wish to observe eg 6628 on an upcoming night, I open the volume, ordered by Chart number like the star atlas, to the information for Chart 67. This particular page has headings for Galaxies, Open Clusters, Globular Clusters, and Planetary Nebula. Under galaxies I find the NGC grouping (there are four galaxy catalogues represented on this chart) and locate 6628. I am given (in the following order) the RA, Dec., Name, Mag (V), Dimensions, Mag (SB), Type Class, Position Angle, and Notes. All of this information fits on one compact line.
There are no photos or sketches of objects, and no flowery descriptions. Just the facts. This book is not as much fun to peruse as the atlas, but it sure contains a wealth of information. The appendices are the same as at the back of the atlas, with one notable improvement: whereas the atlas I have listed only the IC and NGC members included in the undertaking, this volume also includes all of the members from all of those other catalogues, such as King, Berkeley, etc. etc. This is very very handy, and I can quickly ascertain on which chart to find a very obscure cluster or galaxy or planetary nebulae. With the RA and Dec. listed, I can find it on the atlas in no time at all.
These two books are the only ones amateur astronomers of deep sky objects really need. However, if I could add a third volume that included information on the double and multiple stars, along with the variable stars plotted on the atlas, then all would be well. Perhaps William Bell publishing will undertake such a project someday. In the meantime, these volumes are indispensible to my observing program.
Mapman Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment