Library Journal Review

This large-format atlas, published in collaboration with the Smithsonian, covers the entire night sky-all 88 constellations-using a series of charts specifically commissioned for the project and making use of the latest data available. Written by Dunlop (fellow, Royal Astronomical Society, Royal Meteorological Society; How To Identify the Night Sky) and illustrated by uranographer Tirion and lunar cartographer Rukl (Atlas of the Moon), it features comprehensive and original moon maps, charts of the planets that show their positions in the sky through 2010, and a short section on observing solar system objects that covers such topics as date and time conventions, motion of the moon and planets, and minor bodies (asteroids, comets, and meteors). There are two separate indexes: one for lunar features, the other for constellations. Two pages of current monographs, CD-ROMs, journals, societies, software, organizations, and Internet sources are included. Bottom Line Unlike Serge Brunier's The Great Atlas of the Stars, which is a fine atlas for novice skywatchers, the Collins Atlas contains few color photographs. This edition is best suited to serious amateur astronomers, though very little information outside of the charts and maps is likely to be new to them. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.-Denise Dayton, Jaffrey Grade Sch., NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.