Star Charts

[ducky55]

Hi everyone. I just got my dad a telescope for fathers day and we were trying to figure out what would be a good star chart for him. he's never really used one and not looking for anything fancy just something to show him how to look at some planets. Thanks for you help

 

[heyscottie]

If you want planets, then you'll need an online site such as www.heavens-above.com (which is very good) or software such as Starry Night. After all, the planets move, and no book could give you charts with current locations!<br /><br />If you are more interested in stars and deep sky objects like nebulae and galaxies, then I recommend "The Monthly Sky Guide" by Ian Ridpath & Wil Tirion. You can get it for about $15. It has excellent star charts and finder charts for some of the better telescopic targets out there.<br /><br />What telescope did you get? And what types of things are you interested in seeing?

 

[heyscottie]

Oh, and welcome to Space.com!

 

[MeteorWayne]

Welcome Ducky55.<br /><br />Another good option is to subscribe to Astronomy or Sky and Telescope magazines. They include good monthly sky maps with about a month in advance.<br />The investment is worth it as it keeps you up to date with things, gives you some lead time on upcoming events, can be perused at leisure, and<br />for me at least, provides some inspiration.<br /><br />Oh and great Pix, too <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />You can get all that on the web if you are geeks like some of us, but the magazine puts it right in front of you. They are both one of those mags that you pick up and look at as soon as you bring in the mail.<br /><br />For what's happening tonight, there are free resouces that others will mention, I don't have all the links handy, since I have my own astronomy program for that (SkyMapPro).<br /><br />Just my opinion<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

With someone new to observing I'll make it easy.<br /><br /> NightWatch <br /><br /> Bright Star Atlas <br /><br />These are easy to read and use.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[ducky55]

hey thanks everyone for the advice and warm welcome. I'll check out all the stuff. I got my dad a SpaceProbeâ„¢ 3 Altaz Reflector from orion.com. It's not here yet but should be soon. Sounds like my dads more into looking at planets but I think it'd be nice to look at some nebulae although I dont know if that perticular model is strong enough to pick those up. Like I said we're just begginers and never used one before so I tryed to find a easy telescope to work with.