Wouldn't want to go out with out it 
By A1KO24JAY3VCZF on 2006-08-23
There are two small atlases I consider to be absolutely indispensable. Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas is one of them. The charts in this atlas were well chosen. Each covers just the right amount of sky to give both a good perspective of the area you are looking at, and enough detail for star hopping with binoculars or finder scope, (stars are shown down to magnitude 7.6). Stick figures highlight the constellations to provide an easy and intuitive reference for what part of the sky the chart covers. An all sky view key of the charts is provided at the back of the book so that charts are easily located. The charts are well organized and very easy to navigate.
The charts are printed in color and are works of art in their own right. Not only is the atlas useful in the field, but it is a pleasure to browse through anytime.
The construction of the atlas is also very well done. It is spiral bound so that the charts open flat, making them easy to view. The charts are printed on good quality paper that looks as though it will stand up well even on nights when dew is challenging your ability to view.
Although it may seem like a small thing, a nice feature of the Atlas is a scale on the front cover from which one can construct a set of circles based on the field of view of each instrument you observe with. There is even a template showing the circles of a Telrad finder. It would have been even better if a clear plastic template with field of view circles had already been included, but it was easy enough to create my own set of circles.
Overall, this is an outstanding atlas for taking into the field, and I would certainly recommend it. As I said, I consider it to be indispensable; however, unlike others, I do not consider it to be the only quality pocket atlas out there. Another outstanding atlas is The Observer's Sky Atlas by E. Karkoschka. It is a nice compliment to Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas. I like the Pocket Sky Atlas for its big broad views of the sky and it's stunning charts. I like the Observer's Sky Atlas because it has some additional detail (see my review of that book) not available in the Pocket Sky Atlas. Both are ideal as field atlases, and I keep them both very close at hand when I've observing.
I hope you're not in a position where you can only buy one. Choosing between the two would be difficult. As I said, I keep both with me when I'm observing. But if you do have to choose, I would suggest the following. If you want the nicest looking atlas, go with the Pocket Sky Atlas. If you want a bit more detail and you don't mind giving up the glossy color pages and spiral binding, go with the Observers's Sky Atlas. But honestly, you really can't go wrong with either one.
Very Usable and Practical Atlas
By AMO1MLSIJSQOF on 2006-05-08
Roger Sinnott's Pocket Sky Atlas fills a big void and vital niche- one that emphasises portability, usability and practicality. Everything in this little volume is extremely well thought out- from the quality of the book, the practical spiral bound layout, the scale of the star maps, clear and readable printing, intelligent and helpful labelling of stars and deep sky objects (you will appreciate the use of popular names for some DSO's), to a pure user friendly feel. There is even a helpful Telrad target scale and angular distance for quick estimations. Eminently suitable for the field, this is also a great planning atlas for astrophotographers and visual observers alike. For visual observation, this atlas shines when partenered with a Telrad finder (I really hate the flimisier Riger finder!).
The only place I think this atlas comes up short is if you are doing serious star hopping under the telescope. This is understandable given the scale of the atlas. I recommend Uranometria or similar atlases if you are a serious star-hopper.
Sept 2008 Update: I now have 3 copies of this Atlas! One I leave in my car and read it at restaurants during lunch break. The other is in my observing bag and yet one is one my desk at home. I love this atlas. This is perfect for astrophotography and weeknight quick sessions with my TV-85.
This little book stands out well to repeated field use. Mine is looking great after a year of extensive (and rough) use- no pages fallen off, no fade, no issues.
just the perfect friend of every observer
By A3EZKZFVCGOGI8 on 2006-07-02
As a professional astronomer, I have been surfing plenty of sky atlases, ranging from very simple to heavy and complete ones. This book is just great for those observing the heavens with thier own binoculars or telescope, as everything is in your hands, requiring just a little space. The choice to divide the whole sky in RA is a good one, as you have the season maps close each other. You have stars down to magnitude 7.5 and the maps are really accurate and a joy to look at. The milky way is reproduced with two different colours, accounting for the different star densities. You can quickly skip to any other map, thanks to the general index and indications given on each page.
Plenty of double and variable stars, as well as deep sky wonders complete this book, which is going to stay w
very close to my portable telescopes by now.
Pocket Sky Atlas 
By AC5HDS2DZVZRC on 2006-11-07
This atlas is thoughtfully laid out for use at the telescope in the field. The paper is a heavy dull-white stock that does not show reflection under a red light. Because the book is spiral bound, the pages lay flat freeing up your hands. No more trying to find a heavy object to keep the pages from turning.
Inside the front cover you will find printed a sample double page chart layout with a legend. Also printed is an angular distance scale and a Telrad bull's eye. I made a clear transparency copy of this page using an 8 ½" x 11"sheet of overhead projector film by running it through a copy machine. I cut out the angular scale and then I cut the Telrad bull's eye in a long rectangle about 1" x 3" leaving the bull's eye at one end and using the other end as a handle to move the finder around the map. I put these in a small envelope and tucked it inside the atlas.
The contents page lists the best months to view the objects by R.A. range during evening, midnight and mourning and on which chart to find them. Towards the end of the atlas, there are four close-up charts of some of the most observed regions of the sky. The index is broken down by star name, galaxies, open and globular clusters, bright, dark and planetary nebulae. The Caldwell and Messier catalogs are listed separately. The back cover has the chart key for both north and south hemispheres. There are 80 main charts containing 30,796 stars to magnitude 7.6.
The introduction explains in easy to understand detail how the charts are labeled and arranged. The same chart legend appears on the first page of each chart as well as the R.A. range and best time and month for viewing. All the charts are printed in color on a white background for easy reading under a red light. A location guide to constellations and what the Greek star letters mean is also included.
Each page has the same basic layout as any good star atlas. The lines for the R.A and Declination are clearly marked. You will notice that a small blue triangle with a number inside is located on three sides of each page. These triangles point to the adjoining charts that make up more of that part of the sky. The number in the triangle indicate which chart.
There are two printing errors in the atlas on page 55 and on the close-up Chart C. You can download the printable corrected color pages from the Sky and Telescope website.
You can the cut and paste the corrected pages directly over the page in the book. I used spray adhesive.
Bottom line, this is a very compact and easy to use atlas you'll ever come across. It is very user friendly and a must have to "grab and go" with your favorite telescope or binoculars.
Book reviewed by Jack Fox, Richmond Astronomical Society
I'm not WOWED by this Atlas
By AG4D06TQLDFMH on 2007-01-14
The last thing I needed was another atlas. I have several---including all the popular and expensive ones! I also have the basic and inexpensive. I have finder chart books and finder chart cards. I have field guides and beautiful presentation atlases. I have lots of software too---planetarium modeling software and charting software. Did I need this new pocket atlas? No! But I must confess that I enjoy maps and charts so this was a necessary addition to my collection. Keep that in mind: I have a built-in liking for charts so it would take a lot for me not to like a chart book!
First impression. I like the size, the feel of the paper---though not laminated it should be durable---and the design which allows the book to lay flat. Why aren't all atlases spriral bound?! I like the look of the charts---very familiar as it's pretty much a chopped up copy of my Sky Atlas 2000---
Now it gets dicey. The publishers say in the forward that they didn't want pages too small to be useful. I think they missed. In my opinion, the areas covered are annoyingly small. Had a lunar atlas format been followed---i.e., show me a large area divided into perhaps 8 charts, with the overview giving some detail, great. This is is missing. Or at least lacking. There are overview pages but they are not particularly useful unless you know exactly what you are are looking at. And I suppose that is the heart of the matter. If you know where M51 is but need to refine your position a bit by checking a reference, this pocket guide will help you--it certainly is not lacking in detail for a small atlas. But if you are trying to find M51, even with the right chart opened before you, you may have difficulty placing that piece of sky in relationship to what you see over your head.
OK. So what's better? For a pocket guide, I greatly prefer "Objects in the Heavens" by Peter Birren. His pocket guide is far more logically designed and contains much, much more information. I personally have purchased many of Peter's guides and given them as gifts to budding astronomers and each time they just seemed to know what to do with his book. I doubt that will be the experience I have when I give away the extra copy of this pocket guide.
Will I keep mine? Sure. I can make use of it. Do I recommend it? Only if you're a collector of atlases...Try Objects in the Heavens instead.
CoffeeMan
- Most Used Atlas In My Kit
By A2W78H2LYLR16E on 2006-06-25
I work at an observatory and use sky atlases and surveys of all sorts. As a hobbyist I have a collection of various atlases in my field bag. The Pocket Sky Atlas is now the most used atlas I own. Its depth of detail is perfect for medium sized (6-12") telescopes and good for smaller telescopes and binoculars as well. The choice of symbols and colors make this an easy chart to read in red light. It conveniently fits in a small pack or glove box for the observer on the go.
- Best small atlas I've ever seen
By A3DQR00Q5UIZSS on 2006-07-04
This is not the first small-format 7th magnitude atlas to appear on the market. But it is the first that is actually usable. The creators have somehow managed to fit in a compact, affordable package an atlas which includes over 30,000 stars down to magnitude 7.6 with very little crowding or cramping. To achieve the compromise, the charts number 80, arranged in 8 gores (strips of sky from pole to pole), each one covering 3 hours of right ascension, the charts within ordered from north to south. This arrangement works well, as maps of the same season are in the same section. I would have wished the gores to be arranged in order of descending right ascension rather than ascending, but this is a matter of general principle; in this atlas it has hardly any practical effects.
The atlas is superbly useful in the field. It goes considerably beyond the traditional 6th magnitude atlas, revealing three times as many stars, making better use of 6x30 and larger finder scopes, and enabling the user to find bright asteroids and the planet Neptune. The colors used in the charts are not a problem under a red flashlight. Even the stick figures which depict the constellations are drawn so that they are readily distinguishable from the coordinate lines and do not interfere.
It contains a feature overlooked in too many small atlases. At the edges of each chart are the numbers of adjoining charts. Just go out into the field with an atlas that doesn't have them, and you'll understand immediately why they are important.
There are detailed charts of the Pleiades, LMC, Orion's sword, and the Virgo Galaxy Cluster. This last one probably should have been oriented vertically (portrait instead of landscape). At the expense of a couple galaxies on the western fringes, the chart would reach 6 or 7 degrees declination farther south--just about down to the star Porrima--to include quite a lot more galaxies, including M61.
It is small enough to pack alongside a pair of binoculars or in a car's glove compartment. The spiral binding is a useful touch. It allows the atlas to lie open flat without paperweights and also makes it easy to fold back and hold it in one hand. The pages are sturdy and dew resistant. The cover, however, should be tougher.
In places the charts seem a bit busy; this is due not to the scale, which is only slightly smaller than that of the Sky Atlas 2000.0, but to the occasionally lavish labelling. For example, what is the point of adding "Bode's Nebulae" to M81 and M82?
With such small pages, the area covered by each chart is limited. But the designers have managed the resulting problems well. The charts contain enough overlap that when an area of interest falls on the seam between two charts, one of them is likely to include the area in its entirety. The layout of adjacent charts on two-page spreads also helps.
To be sure, the Pocket has imperfections, but many of them are a compromise between competing considerations, and they are handled as well as in any small atlas on the market.
As a space saver, the compilers have omitted the lists of interesting objects. No problem, just buy a separate observer's guide and write out a list of your targets before going out for the evening.
For advanced observers, the Pocket is a great companion to Uranometria or the Millennium, use the Pocket for quick, hassle-free finds of ordinary objects and the big atlas for ferreting out the real challenges.
Users of binoculars and small telescopes have long faced a selection of 5th to 6th magnitude star atlases which show under 10,000 stars and range in quality from OK to poor. There is now no need to worry about the choice. Just get the Pocket.
- Sky & Telescope's Pocket Atlas is now my FIRST reference
By A1EDYQJPXT0F45 on 2006-08-31
Having had it for two star parties now, it's become my favorite reference.
Well indexed and easy to read under red light, it is terrific for 90%+ of my needs. It sure beats dragging around a HUGE atlas at the telescope.
I highly recommend it for portable use. A large format star atlas is still a terrific tool, but the portability of this Pocket Atlas means it will be the one most used in my library.
Clear Skies!
- Stop Looking!! This is the only atlas you will ever need!!
By A25NGPRSRPKMR8 on 2006-06-14
Finally!! A PERFECT atlas for amateurs with small or medium sized scopes (up to 8"), binoculars, or naked eye. Sky and Telescope has really outdone themselves with this one. It looks like they have really taken all of the comments about SkyAtlas 2000.0 into heart when designing. Constellation lines, good scale, telrad finder circles, very good index, etc. Pages are nice and heavy and take pencil and erasing really well.
Don't be intimitated by the fact that there are 80 charts. The layout makes sense, and it won't be long before you memorize your favorite constellations.
GET THIS!!!
- A great little atlas
By A3E9GA8KC59T16 on 2007-03-08
I am an active amateur astronomer with several star atlases. I bought this atlas almost a year ago, and I have ended up using it more than any of my other atlases. The format is compact and convenient, it points out the major sky features very well (even providing outlines of larger nebulae), and is a great complement to a medium- to small-sized telescope. I even find this atlas makes interesting bed-time reading, helping familiarize myself with the locations of objects that I haven't commonly observed in the past, like carbon stars (cool, deep-red stars that are particularly beautiful in a low-power star field). The atlas is quite sturdy and has held up well. My only quibble is that in the edition that I have, there are a few small areas (roughly a half-inch in diameter) on a few of the maps that are blanked out, as if a small piece of scrap paper were in the way during printing. I believe this error may affect many or most copies of the first edition, but I am not certain about that.
- Great tool for the beginner
By A153RK0AN5YYN1 on 2006-08-22
The size of the Pocket Atlas is perfect for backyard use. It's small enough to be manageable yet detailed enough to be usefull. There are enough destinations presented to keep me busy for years.
- Awesome Atlas
By A2VY2U2N0MQ29K on 2007-01-11
Since getting this last fall, I've only pulled my SA2K atlas out once!!!
For hunting down Messier Objects and brighter NGC's this is PERFECT! Great layout, great scale, and you can't beat the price or portability. Small enough to keep in your backpack, purse, bag, briefcase, whatever - never be afraid to go stargazing on your next trip.
- S&K and Sinnott Trump All Other's With New User Friendly Astral Guide!
By A1THAJBL3ISVIR on 2006-08-31
S&K's new Pocket Sky Atlas is the triumphal culmination of years of research and thoughtful formatting work. Quite simply, it represents the easiest to use "at the scope" guide yet available. I highly recommend this work for the neophyte star gazer, as well as the most seasoned amateur astronomer.
- Great Star Atlas
By A3UA3N5UUME1TM on 2007-09-20
This is a wonderful little star atlas. Very useful for doing the Astronomical league's Messier Club. In the back of the book (last page, very easy to find) is the messier list with the page number of the item.
In the front of the book are other lists.
It's very portable but at the cost of small pages and constellations often run off the page. The pages do have a decent amount of overlap which helps when star-hopping.
The one thing I wish it had and was why I gave it four stars instead of five, I wish the pages were somehow coated so that dew wouldn't make the pages soggy. The pages are tougher than standard paper, but not dew proof.
- Best pocket sky atlas
By AA4UEF74KB2K on 2007-02-02
this is the most usefull sky atlas I have ever seen. It allows users to find almost any visible staqr from almost any long/lat
- Beginner
By A2HQ5U03D32FX7 on 2007-12-28
It wasn't what I expected. I pretty much wanted a book for dummies on the sky for my fiance's xmas present of a telescope. It's a beautiful book and it has introductions at the front with great illustrations, and if we were to get hardcore into sky charts and all that numbery jazz, I'm sure we'll be glad to have it. But in the meantime, we'll have to have someone help us out with it.
- S&T Pocket Sky Atlas
By A2MV3Z51LAZB8K on 2007-02-23
Great for travel. Exceptional value for the price. More pages than most, and organization is much different, but it does show page numbers for adjacent fields. If size and weight are not a concern, there are several that are easier to use.
- Great Pocket Atlas
By A16J56AA96ZZ2 on 2007-06-27
Features I like:
+ Highly detailed & labeled however not over-detailed.
+ Spiral bound is very handy.
+ Made of good quality paper.
+ Small (like medium notebook) and light weight - great for backyard observations. You don't sprain your hand when you carry it.
+ Great bargain for small price!
+ Good Index including Messier objects.
+ Detailed maps of pleaids, Virgo clusters etc.
Features I like less:
- Its size is also a disadvantge: divided to many charts that sometimes makes you confused. Can be difficult to navigate if you don't have a basic knowledge of sky.
- The spiral bound might cause pages to deteriorate in time.
- Lack of monthly maps that show the sky and the constelations change.
In a nutshell: Great bargain for the price. Very handy for observations. Best for the average stargazer.
- well-desiged star map, good for every latitude and every season
By A178BNKF45D2UI on 2007-12-23
Needed a way to identify stars seen during night watches on our sailboat in the Caribbean. This book is perfect for that. Love the "sky-strip" organization, that makes it usable at all hours of the night and in every season. Also, the green lines connecting the familiar constellations make it easy to understand the reasons for some of the names, eg Gemini and Ursa Major. An excellent useful book.
- Limited Astronomy Knowledge
By AWYYZ7J325KW0 on 2008-07-07
I an new to Astronomy and have been studying every chance I get. I bought this atlas to help me find objects to view. Considering my limited knowledge of Astronomy and what books are out there, this atlas is going to be a valuable tool for me.
- Complicated
By A331BFZVEQU2L2 on 2007-01-04
I bought this for my husband at Christmas because we like to stargaze (casually) and wanted something with basic instruction. This book is for somebody who is serious about astronomy - not a casual binocular stargazer.
- Pocket Sky Atlas "For Large Pockets!"
By A3EROWBV376RLL on 2007-03-14
This rating should probably be closer to a 4 however I just can't get over the misleading description "Pocket" Sky Atlas. Over all it is what you would expect from a sky atlas. Decent easy to read maps, affordable price. However if you want a true "pocket" sky atlas to take in the field that will fit in your pocket, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
- Pocket Sky Atlas
By A27EVWDXBC7OG4 on 2008-02-13
Ideal for the amateur astronomer while star hopping!
Excellent sky maps; very handy size, easy opening with spiral binding, lays flat as well. Definitely a basic stargazer's resource!
- S & T Pocket Sky Atlas
By AG8KH7EEPU4HB on 2008-03-29
Things I like:
Spiral bound (can be opened flat for one or two page viewing)
Paper is sturdy & semi-glossy (dew resistant)
Convenient size (not too small or big)
Very good/clear charts (lots of detail)
Layout is easy to use (sky sections & order make sense)
Color coded details (easier to quickly identify what each item is)
Most items are labeled (M, NGC, IC, etc)
Index is very handy/complete (gives page #(s) for cataloged items)
Inexpensive
Things I didn't like:
Smaller size means flipping pages a lot
Although better than most, paper still suffers when dew is heavy
In crowded parts of the sky, labeling is hard to discern
Conclusion:
This Atlas is a tie for my favorite. I compare it to my S & T Sky Atlas 2000 (laminated). What it lacks in detail, it more than makes up for in portability. If S & T would make a laminated version of this (hint-hint) it would be a best seller.
- Never Leave the Eyepiece!
By A9VWE3NOB1NDW on 2008-04-21
For many years I was in search of a detailed deep sky atlas that fit on my lap, was easy to read, and concentrated on a single constellation for every page. This atlas has come closest to fitting that description!
This atlas has an excellent amount of detail. It centers most of the constellations nicely, so there is minimal cutoff and hardly any need to flip between pages to see the rest of the constellation you are interested in. The symbols follow almost the same format as the Tirion charts. Some companies offer this in a chemically treated version, making the pages more resistant to moisture. I found the pages heavy stock adaquate enough to handle dew quite well without any chemical treatment. The sprial binding allows you to keep the atlas folded in half, so it sits on your lap nicely. No more running back to the table to read the atlas, then back to the EP. You can stay put!
Highly recommended!
- I Love It!
By A150JG2M16K45X on 2008-05-09
To All
I've only had this atlas for a month and all I can say is I love it! I find the Pocket Sky Atlas an excellent value for its price. The only thing I would have liked to see is ALL the Carbon "(c)" stars labeled with identifying names. Other then that this atlas will make an excellent addition to my library.
Rich Tyson
- An outstanding value
By A1IUTYIY6PW8DU on 2008-08-06
The authors of this guide did almost everything right.
It's just the right size; at 9 X 6, it's large enough to be legible and small enough to be easy to handle. It's spiral bound, so it lies flat for easy viewing. The paper is heavy with a semi-glossy finish, so it should resist dew fairly well and won't produce reflections from a flashlight.
Most importantly, the charts are extremely well designed and clear. They are arranged in an order that makes a lot of sense, and it's easy to locate the charts of sections of the sky that are adjacent to the one you're looking at. There is a lot of detail, but not so much that the charts are just masses of dots. The color coding and labeling is very clear and completely consistent throughout the book. Finally, the three index sections-- one general index, one index to Caldwell Catalog objects, and one index to Messier Catalog objects-- are extremely easy to use.
The one thing I worry about a little is heavy dew situations. The paper seems very durable, but it's not coated. I bought a piece of clear Lucite the size of the opened book to shield it from the heavier moisture.
If I had to choose just one sky guide for regular use, this would be the one. I'm very happy I bought it, and I'd do it again.
- Confusing!
By AW3H09TT8YDQG on 2008-10-01
I purchased this book based on all the positive reviews. I thought it would be good for a beginner stargazer like me. This book is very confusing. Page after page of dots connected. I'm not sure where to look in the sky, what the constellations are, when to look. Help!! Maybe when I get better at finding constellations I will appreciate this book more, but in the meantime it has me puzzled.
- Perfect for Intermediates
By A16HN1F92SUNNB on 2008-10-14
Really good for intermediates. You need to know the constellations to make this useful.
- Pocket Sky Atlas
By A1P76TB81N7PJ5 on 2007-01-10
Very handy to use. Does not take up a lot of room as full size atlases. Constellation figures are a nice feature.
|
