AAVSO Variable Star Atlas

Hello,

I am thinking to get the AAVSO Variable Star Atlas to
use for both variable star observing, and as a general
deep-sky atlas. Some reviews I found on the Net say it
is OK for both purposes, but I'd like to get input from
someone who is using it first hand.

Is it good enough for regular deep-sky observing -
nebulae, galaxies? When it comes to observing variable
stars, are the charts detailed enough not only to be
used to find the star in question, but also to allow
reasonable magnitude estimation - do they generally have
enough comparison stars with plotted magnitude around?
Any other comments?

Thanks,

- Alex

Alexander Avtanski wrote in message ...

Is it good enough for regular deep-sky observing -
nebulae, galaxies?

Certainly. It was the first detailed atlas that I used, and it
worked just fine. The cartography is fairly crude, the number of
DSOs charted is modest, and only the Messier objects are labeled.
But if you know the RA and Dec of the objects you want to look at,
it certainly shows enough stars to find them.

Uranometria or Sky Atlas 2000 do much the same job with vastly
better cartography and labeling. SA 2000 doesn't show as many stars,
though, and Uranometria costs a lot more.

When it comes to observing variable
stars, are the charts detailed enough not only to be
used to find the star in question, but also to allow
reasonable magnitude estimation - do they generally have
enough comparison stars with plotted magnitude around?

Of course! That's the whole point of this atlas -- that's what
it's designed to do.

- Tony Flanders

"Tony Flanders" wrote in message
. ..
Alexander Avtanski wrote in message
...

Is it good enough for regular deep-sky observing -
nebulae, galaxies?

Certainly. It was the first detailed atlas that I used, and it
worked just fine. The cartography is fairly crude, the number of
DSOs charted is modest, and only the Messier objects are labeled.
But if you know the RA and Dec of the objects you want to look at,
it certainly shows enough stars to find them.

Uranometria or Sky Atlas 2000 do much the same job with vastly
better cartography and labeling. SA 2000 doesn't show as many stars,
though, and Uranometria costs a lot more.


I'm really liking the Herald-Bobroff AstroAtlas. The other night I just
_knew_ I had an opportunity to bag one of the last Messisers on my now three
year long Messier Marathon, M55. Being at the southern most declination of
all the Messiers, I have but one chance to get it at its most visible in my
backyard.

So, what's that go to do with it? Well, if you're over 40, and have every
seen the DSO labels in StarAtlas 2000, you surely realize how difficult they
are to read without your over-40 reading glasses.

OTOH, open the Herald-Bobroff AstrAtlas, shine the red LED light on the
master chart page, find the "Bn" (bright star) chart that has the
constellation in question, go to the Bn chart and get the "Cn" (detail)
chart for that area. Turn to the Cn chart and there, in easy view, are all
of the M's with nice, big alphanumerics. No glasses necessary, stars to
magnitude 9-ish (not all charts in the Altas go the same depth, some are
deeper).

Anyway, that's my experience. Love the H-B out under the stars. The paper is
unbelievably water-resistant... and, it is an excellent desktop reference
chart as well.

Lymax has them (or they did). Best astro-money I've spent in a long time.

Stephen Paul

Alexander Avtanski wrote in message ...
When it comes to observing variable
stars, are the charts detailed enough not only to be
used to find the star in question, but also to allow
reasonable magnitude estimation - do they generally have
enough comparison stars with plotted magnitude around?

You can also directly download individual AAVSO charts over the
internet. Go to:

http://www.aavso.org/

and enter a variable star name like "FG Sge", or go directly to the
charts page at:

http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/

Sample charts showing stars for estimating magnitudes, in the AAVSO
"D" format, are -

For FG Sge -
http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkw...GE/FGSGE-D.GIF
For TZ Tau -
http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkw...AU/TZTAU-D.GIF

Charts are usually available in several formats (direct), reverse,
different sizes of field of view. See -

http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/howtouse.shtml

Good hunting. - Canopus (Kurt)

Hi Canopus,

Canopus wrote:

Alexander Avtanski wrote in message ...

When it comes to observing variable
stars, are the charts detailed enough not only to be
used to find the star in question, but also to allow
reasonable magnitude estimation - do they generally have
enough comparison stars with plotted magnitude around?


You can also directly download individual AAVSO charts over the
internet. Go to:

[ ... ]

Thanks, I know. That is what I'm doing now. However, I was going
to get the AAVSO atlas in order to stop downloading all the time.
What usually happens is that just after I get dark-adapted, I
figure out that I'm missing some chart that I need, so I have to
go to the site, download and print the chart, etc... After time
it gets very, very annoying.

What I was worried a bit is that maybe the atlas will not go into
such details, and even with it I'll need to download the charts,
but it seems it is quite useful.

Regards,

- Alex

Canopus wrote:

[ ... ]

I do not know the answer your question. It's been a year since I last
looked at a copy of the 2d edition at my local university library.
Maybe someone else can jump in here.

[ ... ]

You gave me an idea - I should look at the library too. There are
shelves and shelves of astronomy books there, I just forgot that they
may have the atlas too.

Thanks,

- Alex