= Reviewed by Joel Paul Munoz =
 At first glance, The Observer's Sky Atlas by E. Karkoschka may
not seem impressive at all. Its pages are in black and white, look rather dull and could
be mistaken for a book from the 50's. Pages look unfriendly and too complicated to use.
That is, until one actually uses it out there under the stars and discovers how handy and
useful this atlas is. Indeed, its compact size (5.5" x 8.25") allows you to hold
it with one hand while the other is at the focuser. Its dull black and white line drawings
and diagrams prove to be easily visible under red light unlike other fancy colored atlases
that are sometimes hard to see under such light.
There are atlases that contain just star maps with too many stars that actually make
star-hopping confusing; and there isn't much information on the objects being observed
either. Sometimes, constellations aren't even connected by lines that make these asterisms
familiar. On the other extreme, there are atlases that contain too much information that
it can't be used practically other than at the desk. This one takes a middle path - just
enough data on the star maps to get your scope pointed at the right object, and just the
right amount of information that make the object you are viewing all the more interesting.
The first few chapters of the book are dedicated to how to use the book and basic
information about stars and stellar evolution, and other basic information. The heart of
this book are its 50 star charts with a limiting magnitude 6, and finder charts for 250
interesting objects for binoculars and small telescopes (limiting magnitude 9). This is
most useful for an aperture to about 8". Most atlases are arranged alphabetically by
constellation. In this atlas however, the whole sky is divided into 48 regions that are
grouped into 3 sections - north, equator or ecliptic, and southern sky. Within each of the
3 groups the charts are ordered in right ascension from 0 to 24. It is quite confusing at
first, specially if one is used to identifying a constellation in the sky then referring
to the corresponding chart from an atlas whose constellations are alphabetically arranged.
Navigating thru this atlas may seem confusing but actual use in the field will prove that
this arrangement of charts is logical.
When the book is spread open for use, the right-hand page contains a star chart of a
particular region of the sky, while the left-hand page contains tables and information of
objects and stars within the given region. These two pages are used in conjunction with
each other and comes very handy when used in the field - it is very satisfying to read at
once some interesting information while you are viewing an object. Particularly helpful is
how the atlas is arranged. The main chart shows the constellation in a particular region
of the sky, labels for the main stars, constellation boundaries, and neighboring
constellations - all of which aid in navigating the night sky. But what makes this atlas
different from most is the enlargement or finder charts superimposed on the same page. The
finder chart always contains a main star of a constellation the objects of interest within
the same field of view. This makes star-hopping simple, and the finder chart represents
quite accurately what you would see through a 50mm finderscope. The facing page contains
relevant information about the objects and stars - description, type, right ascension and
declination, magnitude, size, and even the distance in light-years. There is also a chart
for binary and variable stars.
This atlas is for the beginning to intermediate astronomer possessing a scope up to an
aperture of about 8". Some hard-core DSO enthusiast may easily outgrow this atlas but
it is a good place to start. It seems that it is most beneficial to star-hopping but those
with digital setting circles may find it also useful.
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