Celestron Sky Maps

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Glow-in-the-dark luminous planisphere shows the sky for any date and time Covers the night sky for 10 years, from 2020 through 2029 Includes 24 pages of detailed seasonal star char ts Large 11.25" x 13.75" format makes charts easy to read in the dark Printed on water-resistant, heavy-duty card stock for field use Description FAQ Specifications In the Box Warranty Celestron Sky Maps The Celestron Sky Maps is your guide to the Northern Hemisphere's night sky, featuring 24 pages of charts valid for the entire decade from 2020 through 2029. This classic field guide, measuring 11.25" x 13.75" and weighing just 1 lb, combines a rotating planisphere with seasonal charts to help you identify constellations and celestial objects. Its durable, water-resistant construction ensures it can withstand years of use at the telescope. The 365-Day Glow-in-the-Dark Star Finder The front cover is an intuitive planisphere, a star wheel you can rotate to match any date and time to see a map of the sky for that exact moment. After exposing the planisphere to light, the major stars and constellations glow in the dark, making it easy to compare the chart to the real night sky without ruining your dark adaptation. This feature makes it an essential tool for quickly orienting yourself any night of the year. 4 Detailed Charts for Star-Hopping Inside the Celestron Sky Maps, you'll find large, detailed star charts for each of the four seasons. These charts are more comprehensive than the planisphere, showing fainter stars and the locations of popular deep-sky objects. They are designed for "star-hopping"—the technique of using bright, known stars as pointers to navigate your way to fainter targets like nebulae and galaxies with binoculars or a telescope. 11.25" x 13.75" Water-Resistant Construction Built for frequent use outdoors, the Celestron Sky Maps are printed on heavy-duty, water-resistant card stock that resists dew and moisture. The plastic spiral comb binding is secure and allows the pages to lie completely flat, a critical feature when you're juggling equipment in the dark. This durable design ensures your star charts remain a reliable part of your observing kit for years. How do I use the glow-in-the-dark feature on the Celestron Sky Maps? Simply expose the planisphere on the front cover to a bright light source for a minute or two. A flashlight or indoor lamp works perfectly. The phosphorescent material will absorb the light, causing the major stars and constellation outlines to glow for an extended period, making them visible in the dark. Are the Celestron Sky Maps useful after 2029? Yes, absolutely. While the planetary positions noted in the guide are for the years 2020 through 2029, the star charts themselves are accurate for many decades. The positions of constellations and deep-sky objects change immeasurably slowly from a human perspective, so the core charts will remain a valid guide to the stars indefinitely. Is this star chart suitable for a complete beginner? Yes, the Celestron Sky Maps are ideal for beginners. The planisphere provides a simple, immediate way to learn the major constellations, while the seasonal charts offer the next step for finding objects with binoculars or a new telescope. The included illustrated reference section also helps explain the different types of objects you can see. How do I use the Celestron Sky Maps to find the Orion Nebula (M42) in winter? First, use the planisphere on the cover, setting it to your current date and time in a winter month to locate the constellation Orion. Then, turn to the winter star chart inside. Find the three bright stars that form Orion's belt; the chart will show the Orion Nebula located in the "sword" hanging just below the belt. Can I use the Celestron Sky Maps to plan for the Perseid meteor shower in August? Yes. Set the planisphere to a date around August 12th and the time you plan to observe. It will show you where the constellation Perseus, the radiant of the shower, is located in the sky. This helps you orient your view to the correct part of the sky to see the most meteors. How durable are the Celestron Sky Maps against dew? The maps are printed on heavy-duty, water-resistant card stock specifically to combat dew, which is a common problem during nighttime observing. While not fully waterproof, they can handle typical moisture and condensation in the field far better than standard paper charts. Author Celestron Acquisitions LLC. Publisher Celestron Acquisitions LLC. Language English Format Paperback Pages 24 pages Years Covered 2020 through 2029 Date of Publication December 6, 2020 ISBN-10 Not applicable ISBN-13 Not applicable Weight 1 lb (453.6 g) Dimensions 11.25" x 13.75" x 1.5" (285.75mm x 349.25mm x 38.1mm) Celestron Sky Maps × 1 Celestron 2-Year Warranty Show more