Favorite Star Charts?

Hello!

I have, until now, pretty much stuck to my monthy copy of Sky and Telescope supplemented by the Peterson's Field Guide...

But I have seen these beautifully laminate and/or fold-out star charts in my local astro shop for ~80-120 bucks.

Does anyone use these? Are they worth it? Are they a pain to work with at the telescope? Can you see the colored markings of non-star objects in red light?

Any feedback is very helpful to this relative newcomer!

Thanks,

James

>But I have seen these beautifully laminate and/or fold-out >star charts in my local astro shop for ~80-120 bucks.

>Does anyone use these? Are they worth it? Are they a pain >to work with at the telescope? Can you see the colored >markings of non-star objects in red light?



Hello James,

I have a copy of laminated Star Atlas. I use it only indoors. It is just too big for outdoors. But I use it very rarely. My favourite approcha is to use a good charting software. Finding things is *so* easy compared to printed versions.

Here is a link to a review of the best free software I know:

http://www.licha.de/AstroWeb/reviews_fullsize.php3?iRevId=15

Gute Nacht
Tom
mehr freude. http://www.licha.de/AstroWeb 49° 13' 54" N