The Chandler Small Planisphere is made up of 2 sections -- an inner rotating dial (white) marked with the days and months of the year, and a fixed outer section (blue) marked with the hours of the day. The dial contains a sky map printed with dark stars on a light background for easy nighttime readability. To use the planisphere simply turn the dial to match the date with the time you are looking at the night sky. The planisphere will then show the stars, constellations, and prominent deep-sky objects that are currently above the horizon as well as the location of the Milky Way. It works for any hour, of any day, of any year! Unlike coffee-table planispheres, The Night Sky is printed with dark stars on a light background, for easy nighttime readability. The constellations are drawn simply, emphasizing the brighter stars which makes them easy to recognize and locate with the naked eye or entry level equipment. Coordinate grid lines are shown without being intrusive. Coordinates are shown because they can be useful for cross referencing with star atlases. A selection of deep sky objects for binocular viewing is included. It is important to point out to beginners that the best first telescope is a pair of binoculars. You may already have what it takes to start observing tonight! The Chandler Small Planisphere is unique because it uses a two-sided projection to reduce sky distortion -- conventional planispheres severely distort the sky near the southern horizon. The Chandler Small Planisphere is made from a plastic laminate so it won't get damp and wrinkly when used outside in the night air. Suitable for use in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile and smaller Pacific Islands.
