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(More customer reviews)For the beginning amateur astronomer there is no better aid to learning the stars and constellations than a planisphere - and I think David Levy's new rendition of this old device is as good as they come.
Basically a planisphere is starmap printed on one of two plastic disks which are joined together in the center and free to rotate. Around the edge of one disk are the days of the year while the other disk has the hours of the day. By setting the time, on one disk, opposite the date on the other, it is possible for you to see the sky, through a window in the top disk, as it would appear at that particular day and time.
There are several thing about David Levy's planisphere that recommend it. To begin with it is BIG, 16 inches in diameter to be precise, and the printing is large and easy to read. Secondly, it is a good representation of the sky showing only those stars visible to the unaided eye. Finally, the reverse side contains information about the Moon, planets, meteor showers and a listing of interesting galaxies and star clusters visible in binoculars or a small telescope. If you are a beginning "Stargazer", or thinking about becoming one, this should be your first acquisition.
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Guide to the StarsThis star chart was specifically designed and priced for children ages 5 to 15. It can be used for any night of the year and anywhere in the United States (latitudes 30 to 50 degrees North). It is made of sturdy card-type paper that resists moisture and printed in color. Note: Although this star chart was designed for kids, an adult will most likely have to assist younger children in identifying the constellations and stars. This star chart consists of an outer, dark-blue sleeve that contains a ''star wheel.'' The star wheel cannot fall out of the sleeve. The ''heart'' of this star chart is the ''star wheel'' and it is rotated to your observing day and time. The stars that appear in the oval are the stars that will be in the night sky. The days of the month are indicated along the circumference of the star wheel and the observing times of 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. are indicated on the front sleeve. The star wheel indicates 70 Constellations, the Names of 55 Stars, the Milky Way Band, the Ecliptic (which is the path of the Sun, Moon and Planets), 12 easy binocular objects and favorite star patterns including the Great Square of Pegasus, the Sickle of Leo, the Northern Cross of Cygnus and others. This star wheel is not ''cutesy'' or ''dumbed down'' for kids. It is an accurate plotting and representation of the constellations and stars. The front of the sleeve has easy-to-follow instructions. The back of the sleeve has additional instructions for those first starting to find the stars, a table of the yearly meteor showers, the phases of the Moon, a short history of space and a description of the 12 binoculars objects that are indicated on the star wheel. Although the primary audience for this star chart is kids in the U.S., this chart can also be used to find the constellations in England, Europe, Northern China and Japan. PLANET NOTE. Most star charts, like this one, do not indicate, on the star wheel, the position of the Planets or Moon because these objects move through the constellations of the zodiac, along a path in the sky called the Ecliptic (indicated on the star wheel). The Moon moves at a rate of one Moon diameter per hour against the background stars. The visible Planets move much slower but movement can normally be seen over several days. Website support is provided to identify the planets that are visible in the sky. There are two adult versions of this star chart. Both are made of plastic and can be ''dialed-in'' to observe the constellations for any hour of the day and any day of the year. The 11-inch diameter star chart (ISBN ISBN 1-928771-03-3) is similar in size to the kid's star chart. The larger, 16-inch diameter star chart, which is about the size of a large pizza, is easier to read and thus ideal for families, teachers and seniors (ISBN 1-928771-01-7). The larger size also has more astronomy information on the back.
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