Rating: 
Summary: Great reference
Review: A great reference. Binding makes it easy to set out on the table or the ground at night while looking at the stars. No complaints!
Rating:
Summary: Great reference
Review: A great reference. Binding makes it easy to set out on the table or the ground at night while looking at the stars. No complaints!
Rating:
Summary: Unrivaled as a field reference
Review: An atlas is intended as a reference rather than a tutorial device. As such, an atlas is not something one can "learn astronomy" from, or use to gather information about celestial objects. An atlas is quite simply a celestial road map. A tool you can use to plan or plot your way around the night sky. And a good one is a vitally important tool for any serious astronomer - amateur or professional.There are a few modest atlases available, which are ideally suited for the novice and the beginner. Noteworthy are The Cambridge Star Atlas; The Constellation Guidebook; and The Observer's Sky Atlas. Instructions on how to use them, plus a glossary or lexicon and some rudimentary coaching, (i.e.: - commentary on celestial coordinates and proper motion) distinguish these as "quick references", which are easier for the beginner to grasp, and are handy for advanced users because of their small size and portability. However, for the serious amateur with a small or medium telescope, the Sky Atlas 2000.0 is absolutely unrivaled as a field reference. In fact, we find it so remarkable, that we've given it "Honorable Mention" status on the Belmont Society's Required Reading list for the amateur astronomer. We prefer the Deluxe Version, with black stars on a white background. Deep sky objects are color coded, with red ellipses representing galaxies as they appear to our line of sight. The Milky Way dominance is portrayed in varying shades of blue. The handsome "leather-look" burgundy cover is spiral bound - a very stalwart arrangement. The pages are well suited for pencil notes, (ours are chock full) for things like the personal endorsement of a certain eyepiece or filter for a particular object or area. One member notes film types and exposure times. The paper is not "dew proof", but if allowed to dry properly, will remain like new. All 26 charts (plus appendices) are fold-outs in left-to-right format. We appreciate the Chart Key (overall sky map) being on the last page, as it allows any selected chart to overlay it, and thus is more handy for back-and-forth maneuvers. The appendices render detailed (closer) views of some popular items or areas (i.e.: - central Orion and the Pleiades). A transparent overlay is provided for measuring coordinates, adding new coordinates, or plotting comets and asteroids. Included on the overlay is the correctly sized bulls-eye pattern of a Telrad finder. Very handy at times. The limiting magnitude of 8.5 makes it ideally suited to medium aperture telescopes, and 8X50 binoculars. That's not to say it isn't appropriate for larger instruments. On the contrary, users of bigger "light buckets" will benefit just as well. The larger apertures will simply pick up more field stars of fainter magnitudes. The Sky Atlas 2000.0 Deluxe Version is a no-nonsense tool, and a superb addition to any amateur's library. If you can look at the night sky and identify a few constellations, and if you can successfully find some objects within them, then you are ready for such a tool. And if you're an advanced amateur, with a keen ability to grab objects at will, or to star-hop to them with confidence, then this atlas is a MUST, no matter what size aperture you have. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing guide to locating stars...
Review: As an amateur astronomer I cant say how much Im amazed by this book. This atlas covers upto 8th magnitude of stars, which will keep me engaged for several years to come. For very serious astronomers may be the Uranometria 2000.0 is more helpful, but that is also a bit expensive. The atlas also carries a transparent sheet to accurately measure the RA and Dec, using which I was able to find some faint stars from my lighted backyard. I would recommend a deluxe edition with color pages and a nice cover to avoid wear and tear in the wild. For [this price] you cant beat this atlas.
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Summary: A New Version of a Classic Star Chart
Review: As members of the Astronomical League, we have all participated in one or more of the League?s many observing programs. Whether it is the Messier Program, one of the Herschel programs, or one of the many binocular programs, they all have one thing in common: you need a good star chart to make any progress. Since 1981, Wil Tirion?s Sky Atlas 2000 has been the standard sky atlas for amateur astronomers. It is the one we all grow into as we learn the sky and become experienced amateurs. It is also the one we all come back to, even since the Uranometria and the new Millennium Star Atlas have come out. Now, Sky Publishing Corporation has published a new 2nd edition of the Sky Atlas 2000, and it?s a beaut! The new version retains all the features that made the 1st edition a best seller and adds many new ones. The first thing I noticed when my copy came through the mail is the size. In its elegant dark maroon cover, instead of the original black, the deluxe edition is a full inch larger than the original version. And the charts are more accurate, since they have been plotted by computer, based on the European Space Agency?s Hipparcos catalog, instead of by hand as in the original, based on the older SAO Catalog. On first glance, the obvious cosmetic differences aside, the two atlases look pretty much the same. But several significant changes have been made. The most important is a stretch in the magnitude limit from 8.0 to 8.5. This one-half magnitude difference means that almost twice as many stars are plotted, 81,312 in the new version, vs. 43,000 in the original, so that it is easier to identify star patterns when you go star hopping to find that faint galaxy or elusive planetary nebula. The increased coverage of stars was easily apparent to me when I compared the charts of Sagittarius on page 22. The 26 charts are still numbered the same, and cover the same areas of sky. But there is now the addition of two extra chart pages, providing detailed maps of both poles, the Pleiades, Barnard?s star, Proxima Centauri, the Virgo Cluster, and the Central Part of Orion. These last two should be of great help for both Messier and Herschel hunters. There is an Introduction explaining all the new features of the Atlas, and an index in the front for all the Messier objects, showing on which page(s) they can be found. Star dot sizes are crisper in the new version, and are drawn by the computer according to a continuous magnitude scale. In the old version, star dots were ?binned? in half-magnitude steps. The shapes of nebulosities, galaxies, and Milky Way isophotes also seem to be drawn with more detail. There are still a few things I will have to do to make my Atlas more useful. In my old copy, I hand drew in all the constellation figures with a pencil. Now I am going to have to draw them all over again. I also penciled in page numbers on the outside corner of each chart, to help find the right page in the dark. They tried to correct this deficiency in the new edition by folding the charts so the number shows up in the upper left hand corner. But I am still going to have to pencil in those page numbers on the right corner. Sky Atlas 2000.0, 2nd Edition, is available in five versions: Deluxe (black stars, white sky, deep-sky objects color-coded by type, Milky Way isophotes, spiralbound, $49.95), Field (white stars and deep-sky objects, black sky, loose charts, boxed, $29.95), Field Laminated (same as Field, but laminated and spiralbound, $69.95), Desk (black stars and deep-sky objects, white sky, loose charts, boxed, $29.95), and Desk Laminated (same as Desk, laminated/spiralbound, $69.95). I do not recommend the version with white stars on a black background for field use. Ed Flaspoehler, REFLECTOR Editor, Astronomical League
Rating:
Summary: This is the one you want for field use!
Review: Been through several others - this is the definitive one. The black background white stars are perfect for field usage. I hold my flace a suitable distance to make it the same scale as the sky. It actually works. If you dim your light (or squint your eyes), the lower magnitude stars disappear - instant recognition of what you can see through your finder. It includes overlays for a Telrad (heads up bullseye 1x finder). Other overlays include co-ordinates to use with your setting circles (or DSC style counters/readouts, etc). This is a must have, no matter what scope you use. I use this with my Meade LX90. Even if your scope is computer controlled (like my LX90), you will want and need a good star chart. Believe it or not, this star chart is so good it inspired my wife, using only a pair of 16x50 binoculars. The lamination is important. Nothing worse than the inevitable bug smears on a star chart. You can sponge these off. Combined with a decent book like the Sky Atlas Companion you are armed for year round viewing. They are so beautiful and complete, on a cloudy night you can enjoy reading them and preparing a night's journey for clear skies. Get this one - you will never regret it.
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Summary: Best All-Around Star Atlas Available!
Review: Having owned the old Desk Edition of SkyAtlas 2000.0 and selling it because I didn't like the loose charts, I recently bought the new spiral-bound Deluxe edition directly from Sky Publishing. Upon receiving the atlas, I was amazed by the wealth of detail contained on the charts, as well as how attractive the deluxe edition. Dark maroon cover, color charts, etc. make this an eye-pleasing addition to your astronomy arsenal.
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Summary: Superb Reference Charts
Review: I have now owned this book for about six months. I would call it my definitive desk chart reference. Although it is quite large and "too nice" a set of charts to take outside at night, I repeatedly find myself coming back inside at night to compare these charts to the objects visible in my 6x30 finder and the eyepiece. It has assisted me in star-hopping more than any other book I have. The scale is very large (Leo fills a full 8 1/2 x 11 copy I've made to write all over and keep in my field binder). This allows easy measurement of coordinates using the supplied transparent overlay. For the observer who has a good understanding of the celestial coordinate system, this provides the means to use these charts to establish a jumping off point hen star-hopping just won't work to find those deep space objects that are not quite near enough to a bright star for a simple turn of the dial. The plotted objects in these charts are so accurate that I have used the transparency to measure the needed turn of RA and Dec from a star to an object in a void area of the sky, and then gone right back outside and found the object. A good handbook is a necessary companion to get the detail on doubles, clusters, nebula and galaxies. But for a set of charts that will show you where to find objects, this atlas rates right up there with the best.
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Summary: What Atlas Should I buy?
Review: I just bought Sky Atlas 2000.0 Deluxe from amazon.com and wanted to write a review to help other buyers in making the right decision. I couldn't decide between the Spiral bound edition($49.95) or the Deluxe (paperback) edition ($39.95). Both of these sound like one and the same version (except for the names that amazon.com gives them), and I know that Sky Publishing/Cambridge University Press sells only one Deluxe non-laminated version. But amazon.com sells these as two different items at two different prices. Still confused, but rather confident, I bought the Deluxe version ($39.95), and it IS the Deluxe version that is sold elsewhere. In other words, DON'T BUY THE $50 VERSION until you contact amazon.com to see if there is a difference between the two! As far as I know, (and I could be wrong) it is the exact same as the paperback (Deluxe) version, so don't waste your money needlessly! It is color coded with 8.2mm per degree, a maroon colored cover, and spiral-bound foldout charts. I am absolutely thrilled with it, I am amazed at its quality, it's sure to be an invaluable guide for years to come. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! One more note, if you are considering the deluxe laminated version, you should think twice, because you could buy the regular deluxe version and the laminated desk version for the same price (apx $120) as the laminated deluxe! Another option (this is what I've done) is to buy a piece of clear plexigass to cover your charts when outside. This will keep the dew off the front of your charts. And when observing, flip the dew resistant cover over the plexiglass to keep the other charts dry. This is a cheap way of protecting your charts from dew without having them laminated. 6/12/00
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Summary: Loaded with info
Review: I just recently got into backyard astronomy,and some friends who have been at it awhile suggested that I get this amazing atlas.Every page is crammed with the most amazing charts! I can't think of anything better.Be sure to get the companion to this,as well.
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