This Atlas provides a complete set of images of Local Group Galaxies (excluding the three for which identification atlases are already in print) and shows the most important objects, including many thousands of individual stars and interstellar objects. It is unique in its coverage and format and provides a source of these fundamental data that will be used for many years. Researchers, students and even amateur astronomers will be able to use the Atlas to identify and study the various components of the nearly 30 important galaxies covered by the Atlas. The objects identified on the more than 200 charts include variable stars, globular star clusters, open star clusters, stellar associations, emission regions, supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and dust clouds. Each galaxy is accompanied by an extensive bibliography.
Paul Hodge is an astronomer and author who has published 25 books, most on astronomy, but five on hiking and mountains. He is best known for his work on
the nature and contents of galaxies. His discoveries and analyses of nearby galaxies have provided new understanding of their histories and their origin. Using telescopes that have been among the largest in the world, he was the discover or co-discoverer and cataloger of more than 20, 000 objects in other galaxies, including ionized hydrogen clouds, star clusters, galaxies, dark nebulae and variable stars.
As a sideline Hodge did some pioneering research on the subject of interplanetary dust, carrying out his first experiments in the mid-1950's. While at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory he designed the first aircraft-borne meteoritic dust collector, which was flown on a U2 high-altitude airplane. In 2001 the asteroid 14466 was named "hodge" in his honor.
