Star Atlas?

Can someone recommend a star atlas for me? I'm an absolute beginner with unfortunately limited time for now, looking for something to let me browse the highlights for the moment.

Perhaps something along the lines of turn left at orion?

I'm looking to invest in a decent one anyway, any advice appreciated!

Wow, you're gonna get a plethora of options here efla! Are you looking for something in like a book, or a spread?

Seanie.

One option is a planisphere - eg Philips Planisphere for latitude 51.5 degrees North N. Europe etc.

Two plastic discs (about 12" diameter" pivoted at the centre and alows one to play with different views of the sky for different dates and times of day. They're about €10 in a good book store.

I never used mine much but I feel they're good for aiding one in getting a feel for orientation of the sky over time because you can move the wheel while observing changing time of day or date.

With the use of a straight edge one can even estimate position of several planets and make a stab at determining sunset/sunrise.

For the price you've only got to get a couple of hours use and hang it on the wall of your home office / den to obtain value for money:)

Mark

That sounds just fine!

I'm looking for something that can identify the constellations, brighest stars, perhaps look for some messier items (I'm very new).

Do you by chance know of some places to look in Dublin?

Also directions on getting your neighbours to turn off their floodlights, which for some reason point over our garden.

Thanks for the replies!

I got mine in Borders in Blanchardstown shopping centre.
Do a search on the web and see if looks like something that fits the bill.

For a picture see
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/05400...TF8&n=266239&s=books

Also do check the price - mine has £7.99 (UK) on it and I don't recall spending much more but I saw one going on amazon.co.uk just now for £20 which is way more than I spent.

Also - keep an eye on any other recommendations from other users on this site they may have a suggestion which you may also want to consider.

There are free software packages which are good (I use Carte du Ceil
www.stargazing.net/astropc/

But the hands-on simplicity of the planisphere has a lot going for it and the Phillips one does indicate positions of, for example, the Double Cluster and some of the messier objects.

I have no suggestions, I'm afraid, regarding the light tresspass problem.

Mark

Many thanks, I'll give that a go.

I'm using stellarium at the moment which is very helpful.

(Also, is there a thread with a list of dealers knocking about?)