Once you get started in astronomy, you’ll want to get a few maps and charts of the sky. These will help you understand the stars you are viewing, and help you find stars you want to see. There are a variety of maps and charts from which to select.
Planispheres
A planisphere is probably the best sky map for an amateur astronomer. These charts are generally laminated and portable and by spinning the chart you can adjust it for the night sky in any latitude, time, and date.
Naked-Eye Star Atlases
Don’t have a telescope? No worries. Naked-eye star atlases chart the night skies for you, showing you the objects that you can see with your naked eye. Some of the first documented include Poeticon astronomicon and Uranometria. A great modern-day naked-eye atlas can be found at http://www.psychohistorian.org/astronomy/discover.html. This is a free download and a great place to start your stargazing hobby. These charts can also be used when viewing stars with binoculars.
Telescopic Atlases
Most sky maps that you will find are telescopic atlases. These atlases are designed to show stars of a specific magnitude. For example, the Bright Stars Atlas and the Guide to Stars and Planets show stars up to magnitude 6.5, while the Millennium Star Atlas will show stars up to magnitude 11. The larger a star’s magnitude, the brighter that it is. You will want to purchase an atlas that matches the strength of your telescope. If you have an entry-level telescope that doesn’t show deep sky objects well, then you might want to get a chart that shows stars up to magnitude 6.5.
On-line Atlases
There are a handful of websites that provide on-line star atlases. These include www.skymap.org and www.astroviewer.com.
Messier Cards
These cards provide a list of approximately 100 Messier objects. These were compiled by a French astronomer, Charles Messier, back in the 18th century. This compilation was a major milestone in discovery of deep sky objects.
Caldwell Cards
These cards are similar to the Messier Cards, but list 109 deep sky objects that are not part of the Messier collection. These were compiled by astronomer Patrick Caldwell Moore in the 20th century.
Stargazing is a great outdoor activity that doesn’t necessarily require a lot of equipment. You can start with just your eyes and a simple chart. Once you get hooked, buy binoculars and telescopes and charts to match your equipment.
