The Cambridge Double Star Atlas (Spiral-bound)

~ James Mullaney (Author), Wil Tirion (Illustrator) "We are very pleased to present what is the first major modern star atlas devoted primarily to the observation of visual double and multiple stars..." (more)
Key Phrases: slow binary, optical pair, star atlas, Dec Map, Con Desig, Mags Sep Spec Name (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thanks to the genius of James Mullaney, and the artistic sensibility of Wil Tirion, backyard stargazers can now enjoy endless hours of double- and multiple-star observing. Mullaney's vivid descriptions of the finest showpieces truly inspire; Tirion's design is both handsome and practical. The work is destined to become an instant classic. Bravo!" Stephen James O'Meara - Author of the Deep-Sky Companions observing guides and columnist for Astronomy magazine.

"...the definitive treasure map to the night sky's most alluring deep-sky gems. ...an essential addition to any stargazer's observing kit. This new work from James Mullaney, one of the world's most experienced double-star observers, and Wil Tirion, the dean of modern celestial cartographers, gives even the most experienced stargazer a lifetime supply of deep-sky wonders to explore and enjoy." - Rick Fienberg, Editor Emeritus, Sky & Telescope

Product Description

This magnificent atlas contains the most attractive and interesting double and multiple stars for viewing with binoculars and telescopes. It is a must-have for stargazers who want to explore these fascinating objects. The first modern star atlas devoted to double and multiple stars, it plots over 2,000 selected pairs of stars, each labeled with discoverer, catalog, and/or observatory designations. A superb introduction to this important class of celestial objects, it is spiral bound and printed in red-light friendly colors, making it ideal for use in the field. Written by experienced observer James Mullaney, and beautifully illustrated by renowned celestial cartographer Wil Tirion, it provides an easy-to-use 'celestial roadmap' to locate and identify double and multiple stars. Other deep-sky objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies are also included, and are color-coded for easy recognition and identification, making this an all-purpose observing reference.

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Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 154 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Spi edition (March 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521493439
• ISBN-13: 978-0521493437
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, The "Look Inside" pictures say a thousand words;, June 24, 2009

By	Busy Bee "Smiley" (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was reluctant to write a review for this Atlas as the "Look Inside" pictures say a thousand words; but I had to share my appreciation for this well presented book. It's a brilliant Atlas for stargazers seeking those alluring jewels in the night sky. Clear and vivid colours of the different objects and constellations with a guide on the top of each page and most importantly the Double (or Multiple stars) are clearly labelled. Whilst it's dedicated to Double stars it can be used as a general atlas for other objects though the appendix provided is dedicated to the constellations and the double stars only. The "Look Inside" option was very helpful for me to preview the book before purchasing it as at the time I ordered it there were no reviews yet. I have no regrets; this is a treasure and a job well done. It will take its place right by my side with my pocket sky atlas and the Atlas 2000.0 on my starry nights.
Nevertheless, I wish there was a CD with those Maps so I can print them and Laminate them before heading out.
Just to note, this is not a tutorial or a how to book, it's not a book intended for learning about telescopes or astronomy. Its spot on Double Stars Atlas.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure trove of deep-sky observation, June 16, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Any college-level collection strong in astronomy must have this atlas of double stars: it pairs a lay-flat spiral binding with spine letters for maximum library efficiency and practical use, it offers the first modern star atlas focusing on double and multiple stars, and labels near 2,000 pairs with plot points and observatory designations in a treasure trove of deep-sky observation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for double star nuts!, May 27, 2009

By	Ivan W. Ong (Charlotte, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Here is an effort that deserves a standing ovation! Thirty seconds into opening this book I found myself grinning and purring like a cheshire cat. A very nice star atlas indeed. Maps are large and clear, and double star notation is versatile and up to date (see p3 for key to different naming conventions- worth the price of the book there).
This book is a great complement to Sissy Haas' Double Stars for Small Telescopes (one of my favorites). In fact, I spent an afternoon cross checking Centaurus and Crux and found great correspondence between the two books with no errors.

My only complaint is that the index of double stars is presented with R.A. as the dominant field. That makes the tables not too user friendly for planning observation sessions without extensive flipping around. I mean, don't we all plan double star sessions per constellation instead of by R.A.?! It would be super nice if this info was made available on a CD to the book. That would truly make things easy!