advice on planishperes

Erik wrote:
Oh, as for the planisphere, I imagine the first question is how you
plan on using it. If you are using it as a primary map, you will want
something more detailed (and I imagine the big Levy one might be it,
if I remember correctly).

The Levy is not more detailed, as I recall; it's simply bigger (and
therefore might be easier on the eyes). The Firefly *is* more detailed.

--
Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
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I cannot imagine the type of sky Errol is talking about.

Erik, my biggest regret is that I was not interested in astronomy at
the time. Oh I would sit there and enjoy the overwhelming view of the
sky, but, for all the trips I've made (over a period of 15 years in
that business), and for all the ideal conditions, I didn't even care
enough to bring a pair of binoculars. Makes me sick thinking about it.

Errol

On Feb 17, 6:24 pm, "Erik" wrote:
A dark sky is truly beautiful, though the closest thing I get to it
nowasdays is Mt. Palomar. Problem is, that sky seems to be getting
less dark year by year.

well I am glad mine is getting less darker. but in a the-milky-way-is-
more-prominent sort of way

Oh, as for the planisphere, I imagine the first question is how you
plan on using it. If you are using it as a primary map, you will want

well, consider me new to this. I've guessed the the 7 stars in the
south were orion, now i know for sure. didn't realize that the handle
on the little dipper was so dim compared to the rest, and other such
things.

need to wait till april to get a good warm night to look and find.

On 16 Feb 2007 12:59:24 -0800, "Starboard"
wrote:

I like my David Chandler "The Night Sky" planisphere. It is distortion
corrected and easy to operate and read at night. I have the 8X10 size.

However, I do wish it had more Messier objects on it. It only has six.
I would like one that had at least 25 or so. Like the mini Messier
marathon objects.

Don't like the commercial planispheres? Make your own!

Many years ago I made a large planisphere (12.5 inch diameter) out of
poster board. I marked all the Messier objects with red asterisks,
but omitted labels that would have cluttered things up a bit much. In
red I also added chart boundaries (and chart numbers) for Sky Atlas
2000. The stars and constellation 'stick' lines are in black ink. The
background was left white.

Lines of RA and Dec. are faintly visible in pencil. The ecliptic is
'inked in' looking something like a railroad. The Milky Way was added
using a blue colored pencil.

Under red light my planisphere shows little more than stars and
constellations; but I can use a dim 'white' light to see the red stuff
if so desired. The lack of labels on the Messier objects helps
provide incentive to learn which number corresponds to which asterisk.

I got a bit carried away with this project. On the reverse side of
the northern hemisphere version is a planisphere for the southern
hemisphere -- just in case ;-)
--
Bill
Celestial Journeys
http://cejour.blogspot.com

Don't like the commercial planispheres? Make your own!
Bill

Not a bad idea at all. You know Joe S. posted that site where you can
download, print, and assemble your own.

You got me thinking now.

I might just scan my "The Night Sky" planisphere, scaling it up, and
print it on say, 11"X17". Maybe bigger - 18"X27". Make a working copy
under the fair use law.

Hell, I'd be almost done. I could then touch it up with more DSO's &
double stars and finish it off with some clear packaging tape. Less
work by starting with a sound template. Sounds like a plan..

Errol
pasnola.org

On Feb 17, 6:51 pm, (Brian Tung) wrote:
Erik wrote:
Oh, as for the planisphere, I imagine the first question is how you
plan on using it. If you are using it as a primary map, you will want
something more detailed (and I imagine the big Levy one might be it,
if I remember correctly).

The Levy is not more detailed, as I recall; it's simply bigger (and
therefore might be easier on the eyes). The Firefly *is* more detailed.

Ahh, then my eyes are not the only thing going.... Is the Levy
planisphere then the ginormous one I see in Bookstar/Barnes and Noble?

Thanks for the info Brian.


--
Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner athttp://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page athttp://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page athttp://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) athttp://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.html

socalsw
Erik

Erik wrote:
Ahh, then my eyes are not the only thing going.... Is the Levy
planisphere then the ginormous one I see in Bookstar/Barnes and Noble?

I don't have one handy, but the Levy planisphere I saw was something
like 16 inches across.

--
Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.html