Read Guide to the Stars Ken Graun 8601422001235 Books
Download As PDF : Guide to the Stars Ken Graun 8601422001235 Books
The 5th edition (published 2013) of the 16-inch diameter plastic Guide to the Stars chart is an instrument to help you identify the constellations. You simply dial-in your observing time and date to find the set of constellations visible in your sky (this is accomplished by turning the clear top piece). Although this chart is designed for beginners, seasoned amateur astronomers will find it useful, too.
This chart can be used anywhere in the world between latitudes 30 and 60 degrees North, which includes the US and Canada, England, Europe, Northern China and Japan.
The 16-inch diameter is large and easy to read, ideal for families, teachers and seniors! The 5th edition has been improved by indicating more binocular objects and providing more pertinent information on the back, all without increasing clutter or decreasing the text size.
The front chart indicates 70 Constellations, the Names of 55 Stars, the Milky Way Band, the Ecliptic (which is the path of the Sun, Moon and Planets), 54 favorite Double Stars, the Summer Triangle, Winter/Summer Tours and 56 Galaxies, Star Clusters and Nebulae that can be observed with binoculars or a small telescope. Additionally, favorite star patterns are noted, like the Great Square of Pegasus, the Circlet of Pisces, the Northern Cross of Cygnus and others.
On the back side, there are useful tables and other astronomical information, including Mythology, Yearly Meteor Showers, Moon map, Phases of the Moon, Facts about the Planets, A Short history of Astronomy, the 10 Brightest Stars, Information about the Binocular & Telescope Objects (those on the chart), Why Stars Twinkle, additional instructions for using the chart and more.
PLANET NOTE. Most star charts, like this one, do not indicate, on the chart, the position of the Planets or Moon because these objects move through the constellations of the zodiac, along a path in the sky called the Ecliptic (indicated on the chart). Website support is provided to help identify the planets that are visible in the sky.
This chart is also available in a smaller 11-inch diameter (ISBN 1928771-033). And, there is a low-cost kid's version printed in color on sturdy card-like paper (ISBN 1928771-22X), as well as the Equatorial Guide to the Stars for use in and around the equator (ISBN 1928771-777). Finally, there is the Celestial Atlas Menor, 128 pages chock-full of star charts and tables (ISBN 978-1928771883).
Read Guide to the Stars Ken Graun 8601422001235 Books
"Who puts a piece of tape on the clear part of this product, so when you pull it off, it leaves the tape resedue there to get dirty? Amazon, that's who. The guide itself physically dirty as if it was in the floor. That's annoying.
Fortunately, aside from some dirt, it's in good shape. It's a bit of an adjustment to get used to it. I live in a relatively dark area, but one that has a lot of trees. This is a great tool even to help figure out in a partially blocked sky. I bought it to help me find things with my telescope and binoculars for sky viewing, and I suggest it for anyone. I'm just not sure you should buy it from Amazon as I did unless having it be in need of some windex doesn't annoy you as much as it does me.
UPDATE (9/22/12): I have used this now for a few nights, and am finally getting the hang of it. It took a while to line up the stars with what I was seeing, and Google Sky Maps(GSM) was a big help to confirm what was what. I use this to star hop with my 120mm refractor and my 9x63 binoculars. Once I finally got myself aligned, it became easy to find things like Andromeda. Using this guide, it is MUCH easier to find things in the sky. I does take a while, but it is totally worth the investment. To me, I think it's a good companion to GSM, because GSM can help you put the names to what you are seeing. Once I got confident in what I was seeing, then I used the guide more than GSM. GSM is still fantastic to help you find planets. I was able to find Uranus last night as well, but couldn't find Andromeda Galaxy all that well until I figured this guide out. Now, with the guide, it's easy. It really just takes time to orient to the sky as the map shows it. I am new to astronomy; I've had the scope for 6 months, and the binoculars for a few years."
Product details
|
Tags : Guide to the Stars [Ken Graun] on . The 5th edition (published 2013) of the 16-inch diameter plastic Guide to the Stars</i> chart is an instrument to help you identify the constellations. You simply dial-in your observing time and date to find the set of constellations visible in your sky (this is accomplished by turning the clear top piece). Although this chart is designed for beginners,Ken Graun,Guide to the Stars,Ken Press,1928771017,Star Observation,Science / Astronomy,Nature,Nature / Sky Observation,Nature/Ecology
Guide to the Stars Ken Graun 8601422001235 Books Reviews :
Guide to the Stars Ken Graun 8601422001235 Books Reviews
- This is awesome. Very large and easy to read and just one of the most interesting educational things to have. My husband sits outside at night in our back yard with our dogs. While they're running around in the yard (fenced in), he's using this and his little flash light. Now he's naming all the star formations... and he's loving it. Definitely a fun item to have around with kids and especially teenagers... they are all drawn to this wheel map. I love looking myself. Great size, sturdy and well made!
- I knew it would be big but in person it is just so much bigger. [insert "that's what she said" joke here] But no lie, this guide is impressive. I was originally concerned that maybe my dad wouldn't be able to read it with his old, tired eyes, but I don't think he'll have a problem!
I was also impressed with the packaging. Somebody here said something about being concerned on how this guide was shipped/delivered because it is easily bent. However, you can see from my pictures they shipped my guide in a HUGE box with sealed air cushions in it. Nice! - A easy way to learn about constellations. It's a helpful model in explaining how the stars we see in the night sky will change based on the date and time. This was a gift along with Night Sky Playing Cards http//amzn.to/2igB2NR. The star wheel was a much bigger hit.
- I bought this to replace my Night Sky planisphere because I found that it was a tad too small and difficult to read at night. The Guide to Stars is bigger, but not by as much as you might think. While it is physically almost twice as large, it extends further to the horizon, which is not that useful IMO. Spica is 85 mm from Polaris on The Night Sky planisphere, and 114mm on the Guide to Stars planisphere, about 33% larger. Personally I like the Night Sky planisphere because it's easier to hold in one hand while you are fumbling with eyepieces and focusers, but if you have any trouble reading fine print, I'd definitely go with the Guide to Stars.
- I love this planisphere. There's a lot of information packed into it which is very useful at the telescope or with binocs. I like the size as well. You can lineup your objects and then put the guide on your table in the field and use it to find many objects in one sitting. It works for me.
- This is the one to get!
Easy to read. Many details and features. The basic details/facts on the front and the back are a good set of informative facts for beginners.
The only "problem" I have is that it could be a little smaller! (not really that bad).
I have in fact put a finishing nail in my wall and "hung" this by its center ring as kind of "artwork" (my wife wouldn't call it that) that I can take down and actually use. I suppose if you were so "Pinterested" you could make some kind of picture frame with background color/pattern/texture to offset the bold colors and make a nice wall feature which you would actually have a use for.
IMO, this is MUCH better for beginners than the "two-sided" planetspheres. I find those two sided models to be confusing as one is flipping back and forth. I do own one of those too, for what that's worth. I wish, however, that I had bought this one FIRST. - Pretty durable, but also pretty large. I use to buy smaller, heavy paper versions which I preferred. Those also had planet information covering several years-which planets were in which constellations (obviously planets move over time). This has no planet info although I guess one could transfer on-line info onto Guide. Marker may even wipe off. Not sure if it has meteor shower dates. Gift for 10 year old. He hasn't seemed that excited and I didn't use it for very long. 3 1/2 stars more accurate and good quality matches reasonable cost.
- Who puts a piece of tape on the clear part of this product, so when you pull it off, it leaves the tape resedue there to get dirty? , that's who. The guide itself physically dirty as if it was in the floor. That's annoying.
Fortunately, aside from some dirt, it's in good shape. It's a bit of an adjustment to get used to it. I live in a relatively dark area, but one that has a lot of trees. This is a great tool even to help figure out in a partially blocked sky. I bought it to help me find things with my telescope and binoculars for sky viewing, and I suggest it for anyone. I'm just not sure you should buy it from as I did unless having it be in need of some windex doesn't annoy you as much as it does me.
UPDATE (9/22/12) I have used this now for a few nights, and am finally getting the hang of it. It took a while to line up the stars with what I was seeing, and Google Sky Maps(GSM) was a big help to confirm what was what. I use this to star hop with my 120mm refractor and my 9x63 binoculars. Once I finally got myself aligned, it became easy to find things like Andromeda. Using this guide, it is MUCH easier to find things in the sky. I does take a while, but it is totally worth the investment. To me, I think it's a good companion to GSM, because GSM can help you put the names to what you are seeing. Once I got confident in what I was seeing, then I used the guide more than GSM. GSM is still fantastic to help you find planets. I was able to find Uranus last night as well, but couldn't find Andromeda Galaxy all that well until I figured this guide out. Now, with the guide, it's easy. It really just takes time to orient to the sky as the map shows it. I am new to astronomy; I've had the scope for 6 months, and the binoculars for a few years.
