📖 Overview
Uranometria 2000.0 is a comprehensive star atlas designed for amateur astronomers and professionals. The three-volume set maps the entire night sky in unprecedented detail, showing stars down to magnitude 9.75.
The atlas uses a modified Schwarzschild-Hammer projection to minimize distortion across its charts. Each chart spans 20 by 25 degrees of sky and includes thousands of deep sky objects like galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae.
The accompanying Field Guide contains data on over 30,000 deep sky objects plotted in the atlas. This reference work represents a cornerstone resource for astronomical observation and star-hopping techniques.
The atlas continues the legacy of Johann Bayer's original 1603 Uranometria while incorporating modern astronomical data and digital precision. It exemplifies the intersection of classical celestial cartography with contemporary scientific standards.
👀 Reviews
Astronomers and stargazers value these star atlases for their precise plotting and comprehensive coverage down to magnitude 9.75. Readers note the convenient spiral binding allows pages to lay flat during use.
Likes:
- Clear, uncluttered star charts with consistent scale
- Shows double stars, variables, and deep sky objects
- High-quality paper stock holds up to dew
- Coverage of entire sky in sufficient detail for telescope use
Dislikes:
- Some find the page size too large for field use
- Several note the weight makes it impractical to carry all volumes
- A few report binding quality issues in older editions
- Price point higher than simpler atlases
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.4/5 (9 ratings)
One amateur astronomer commented: "The detail and accuracy surpasses other atlases I've used. The charts match exactly what I see through my 8-inch telescope."
Several reviewers suggest buying Volume 1 first before investing in the complete set.
📚 Similar books
Sky Atlas 2000.0 by Wil Tirion and Roger W. Sinnott
Contains detailed star charts for both hemispheres with coordinates, magnitude data, and deep sky objects plotted with precision for astronomical observation.
Norton's Star Atlas by Ian Ridpath Presents comprehensive star maps with celestial coordinates, tables of astronomical data, and constellation reference guides for stargazers at all experience levels.
Cambridge Star Atlas by Wil Tirion Maps the night sky in multiple projections with celestial coordinates and data tables designed for practical astronomical observation.
Millennium Star Atlas by Roger W. Sinnott and Michael A. C. Perryman Displays over one million stars from the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues with deep-sky objects and celestial reference points for precise astronomical study.
The Great Atlas of the Sky by Piotr Brych Contains 296 star charts covering the entire celestial sphere with stars to magnitude 9.0 and thousands of deep sky objects for telescopic observation.
Norton's Star Atlas by Ian Ridpath Presents comprehensive star maps with celestial coordinates, tables of astronomical data, and constellation reference guides for stargazers at all experience levels.
Cambridge Star Atlas by Wil Tirion Maps the night sky in multiple projections with celestial coordinates and data tables designed for practical astronomical observation.
Millennium Star Atlas by Roger W. Sinnott and Michael A. C. Perryman Displays over one million stars from the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues with deep-sky objects and celestial reference points for precise astronomical study.
The Great Atlas of the Sky by Piotr Brych Contains 296 star charts covering the entire celestial sphere with stars to magnitude 9.0 and thousands of deep sky objects for telescopic observation.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Uranometria 2000.0 maps stars down to magnitude 9.75, showing roughly 280,000 stars - nearly 30 times more than can be seen with the naked eye.
🔭 The title "Uranometria" pays homage to Johann Bayer's groundbreaking 1603 star atlas, which introduced the system of Greek letters for naming stars that astronomers still use today.
📚 The atlas spans 220 charts, including detailed views of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds, making it one of the most comprehensive star atlases available for amateur astronomers.
✨ Lead author Wil Tirion is considered one of the world's foremost celestial cartographers, having created star maps for numerous publications including Sky & Telescope magazine.
🗺️ The book's coordinate system is epoch 2000.0, meaning the star positions are aligned to January 1, 2000 - a standard reference point in modern astronomy.