Rating: 
Summary: Too much info for novice
Review: As an amateur, I was looking for something a little easier to digest. I have found that this is a remarkable book with tons of information, however, it is geared to the "amateur" who has been doing it for ten years, not someone relatively new to backyard astronomy. Let me play around for a few more years and then I will give it addiditonal stars!
Rating: 
Summary: Best atlas I have for 3 or 4 inch refractor
Review: I just love this sky chart. Full of useful info, clear charts, compact, not overly detailed with stuff you never will be able to or want to see.
Rating:
Summary: This little Star Atlas is Top Notch!
Review: I like this Atlas because it is handy and complete, in a small package. Whether I am using my 10" Dob reflector telescope, or my 7x50 binoculars, this Atlas is with me.One problem I had when I started in the hobby of astronomy was finding star charts showing dim stars to "steer" or star-hop my telescope by. The charts showing very dim stars are expensive and too detailed. Less-expensive and more popular star atlases were not detailed enough to find my way among the stars. This Atlas solves the problem by offering, right on the chart page, a handy, detailed inset showing the dimmer stars in the immediate area of many objects sought out by star-gazers. Give this Star Atlas a try; it is simple to use, handy in size, and accurate. It will enhance your star-gazing experience. Thank you, E. Karkoschka!
Rating: 
Summary: A very handy field book for the non-novice
Review: I looked forward very much to getting this book. I had a copy of the first edition and lost it on a trip to Chile. Among the several atlases I own, I found this one to be the most convenient for general observing. When I received the new edition, I was at first, disappointed. The older edition was printed on glossy paper that resisted moisture very well while using it in the field and the new version is not. Nevertheless, it is still printed on good paper and may hold up well. Time will tell. One of the other things I liked so much about the older version was the pocket size, and the new edition is about an inch larger in both directions. Again, it is still more handy than a hardbound book like the "Cambridge" or "Norton" atlases. Neither is it so thick that it is difficult to hold open like the "Peterson's" guides. After examining the contents I saw that the added size was put to good advantage. The same basic charts are there from the first edition, but just a little larger in scale. And now there is quite a bit more information packed on the opposing pages that describe the objects to be viewed. Binary or multiple stars with significant relative motions are plotted so that you can see how the relationship will change over the next 20 years. A visual plot is given of the position angle of these stars rather than just a number. Little thermometers indicate the relative temperatures of each component to give an idea of the color difference to be expected. For regular variable stars a small waveform is often included that describes the period and change in brightness of the star. A set of symbols is now used to describe the ease of visibility of objects and objects with low surface brightness are noted using the same symbols. Several other columns have been added that are to assist in finding an object on the adjacent chart and to identify its magnitude. Although I did not find these particularly useful, others may. At the beginning of the book there is a chart that I do not remember from the first edition that describes how natural and man-made light pollution affects the view of objects and shows how many objects can be seen under what conditions. All together the books positive changes balance the negative ones nicely. It will still be my first choice at the telescope. One negative that might exist for users new to the sky is that now there may be too much information on each page. I do not think that will be a problem for most. Thanks for the new edition!
Rating:
Summary: A constant companion
Review: I read the reviews here and decided to see for myself. This altas is the best. I looked through many star guides to find one like this one. They are either too simple, too small, too large, or too nice to use in the field. This book is in my left hand, my flashlight in my mouth, and my right hand focusing my eyepiece. It definately helped me get through the Virgo cluster in under three hours. This thin volume is has great value.
Rating:
Summary: A constant companion
Review: I read the reviews here and decided to see for myself. This altas is the best. I looked through many star guides to find one like this one. They are either too simple, too small, too large, or too nice to use in the field. This book is in my left hand, my flashlight in my mouth, and my right hand focusing my eyepiece. It definately helped me get through the Virgo cluster in under three hours. This thin volume is has great value.
Rating:
Summary: The best of both worlds
Review: I shopped & researched long and hard before I bought a new star atlas. I paged through every one I could find, but I had never seen this one in-person. All of the glowing online reviews sold me - and I ordered it. Initially I was disappointed. However, the more I looked through it - and evaluated its contents - my opinion change for the positive. It's handy & convenient (small sized & nice for use at the scope). It details stars to magnitude 6 (naked eye limit is ~ 5.2). It includes detailed insets on each chart detailing stars to magnitude 9 (a magnitude limit only found in the "big boy" atlases). And I found the data tables - opposite each page's chart - concise yet informative. Drawbacks: sometimes it's too small (one cannot get a "regional feel"). Sometimes it's annoying that a constellation or "region" of the sky is split over two different charts (because the charts are organized in "sidereal time", e.g. Andromeda is Chart "N0" but Pegasus is chart "E23"; Ursa Major is chart "N8" and "N10"). Is there a perfect star atlas? Unfortunately, "No". But this little guide has a little of everything for the amateur astronomer. If you're comet hunting, well ... buy an atlas like the Herald-Bobroff (if you can find one!). But for the armchair astronomer up to the amateur with an 6"-8" telescope, this little atlas fills a niche that wasn't completely filled before it came along. And when used with other aids in the field - like a good planisphere for that "regional feel" - it's extremely valuable. Some of you very serious observers might need another, larger atlas for reference and/or desk use. However, you can't go wrong with this little book. Call it a professional atlas that's been on a strict diet. Lean & mean. Someday you might find this little book on one of those "sandwich commercials" - look out Jared :)) P.S.: Since it's not perfect for me, I gave it a solid 4-star rating. Realistically, it could easily be a perfect atlas and a 5-star to many (depending upon your need).
Rating:
Summary: The best of both worlds
Review: I shopped & researched long and hard before I bought a new star atlas. I paged through every one I could find, but I had never seen this one in-person. All of the glowing online reviews sold me - and I ordered it. Initially I was disappointed. However, the more I looked through it - and evaluated its contents - my opinion change for the positive. It's handy & convenient (small sized & nice for use at the scope). It details stars to magnitude 6 (naked eye limit is 5.2 - 6.0). The book includes detailed insets on each chart detailing stars to magnitude 9 (a magnitude limit only found in the "big boy" atlases). And I found the data tables - opposite each page's chart - concise yet informative. Drawbacks: sometimes it's too small (one cannot get a "regional feel"). Sometimes it's annoying that a constellation or "region" of the sky is split over two different charts (because the charts are organized in "sidereal time", e.g. Andromeda is Chart "N0" but Pegasus is chart "E23"; Ursa Major is chart "N8" and "N10"). Is there a perfect star atlas? Unfortunately, "No". But this little guide has a little of everything for the amateur astronomer. If you're comet hunting, well ... buy an atlas like the Herald-Bobroff . But for the armchair astronomer up to the amateur with an 4"-8" telescope, this little atlas fills a niche that wasn't completely filled before it came along. And when used with other aids in the field - like a good planisphere for that "regional feel" - it's extremely valuable. Some of you very serious observers might need another, larger atlas for reference and/or desk use. However, you can't go wrong with this little book. Call it a professional atlas that's been on a strict diet. Lean & mean. Someday you might find this little book on one of those "sandwich commercials" - look out Jared :)) P.S.: This atlas deserves at least a 4-star rating; it could easily be a 5-star rating depending upon the user's need(s).
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Little Atlas
Review: I take this little book with me every stargazing night. It is small and fits right in my eyepiece case. The best thing about this atlas is not the maps, it is the list of the best objects to view that accompany each map. Each list includes the best deep sky objects--Messier and otherwise, the best double stars, and the best variable stars. This quick reference guides you to the best objects in any sector of the sky. I use it as a check list to check off objects as I view them. I have half a dozen star atlases. This one always goes where I go. Great for binoculars or telescopes. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Best atlas I have for 3 or 4 inch refractor
Review: Looks small and unimpressive, but WOW! By far the most useful single sky guide I've found. What makes it special? First, the trick of showing additional detail and fainter stars for only selected areas of the sky, along with full-sky coverage of brighter stars...if you use binoculars or a telescope to hunt down faint objects, you will see lots of faint stars too, and showing them on the charts is a big help to orient you. Second, the scaling of the charts and of the plotted stars is unusually well matched to what you actually see through binoculars or a telescope at low power, making it easy to match your eyepiece view to what the chart shows. (Indeed, I find it superior to either the Sky Atlas 2000.0 or Uranometria--much larger and more expensive charts--in that regard.) Third, the format of listing interesting objects with associated data on pages facing each map is very useful and convenient. Fourth, the inclusion of hundreds of NGC objects besides the full Messier list makes this a reference that a beginner will not soon outgrow, and a veteran will continue to find it useful through the years. Fifth, the information regarding the types of instruments needed to view each object (small binoculars, large binos, small scope, medium scope) is the most accurate and practical I've seen. Sixth, it's so portable you can take it out on every viewing session--it even fits into a binocular case. Downside? Only that so few dealers carry it! ...and you've found one here. Good work, Amazon.
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