Falkauer Atlas
The Falkauer Atlas is a photographic star atlas that was published in 1962 by Hans Vehrenberg for the purposes of sophisticated amateur astronomy . It contains 303 star maps in A4 format in two slip cases , each showing square star fields of around 12 × 12 degrees. The inexpensive and yet precise sky atlas from the north celestial pole down to the declination -26 ° was published again in 1963 and was widely used in Central Europe.
Vehrenberg's motive for the work, which took three years, was the surprising fact that there is no such thing as an atlas of the northern sky suitable for astronomers, but only expensive, difficult-to-use works for professional astronomers. Until then, one had to make do with the large-format star maps from Beyer-Graff or Kohl-Felsmann .
Recording and printing technology
The recordings were made at the Vehrenberg garden observatory in Falkau , a place in the upper Black Forest largely spared from light pollution . As explained in the accompanying volume, almost 1200 images with a double astrograph 1: 3.5 / 25 cm from VEB Zeiss-Jena were necessary to achieve uniform sky brightness and sufficient image coverage all around . The "Astro-Spezial" plates in the format 9 × 12 cm were exposed for 30 minutes, only near the horizon because of the extinction for 40-50 minutes.
The limit brightness of the star maps is 12–13 mag . Variable objects, minor planets etc. were identified up to May 11 and the respective parallel image was used. The atlas includes graticule templates for every 10 ° declination strip, with which star coordinates can be read from the leaves .
Variant A (black stars on a white background) was produced using offset printing on strong paper. It therefore allows entries on the edge of the map, labeling of stars or Messier objects or drawing of observations such as comets . In contrast, variant B (white stars on a black background) was printed using the somewhat more expensive blueprint process. The sheets look like photographs, but are less weather-resistant (nightly morning dew !) And cannot be labeled.
Individual evidence
- ↑ H.Vehrenberg Photographic Star Atlas for the Northern Sky (Falkauer Atlas) , companion volume 1963, Treugesell-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1963
literature
(will follow tomorrow, possibly more photos. Geof 20.4.20)