Willmann-Bell News

Discuss astronomy books / magazines.
Post Reply
User avatar
smp United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 3402
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 10:34 pm
4
Location: NH, USA
Status:
Offline

Willmann-Bell News

#1

Post by smp »


A big announcement today - the AAS has acquired Willmann-Bell:

https://aas.org/willbell

smp
Stephen
- - - - -
Telescopes: Questar 3.5 Standard SN 18-11421; Stellina (EAA)
Solar: Thousand Oaks white light filter; Daystar Quark (chromosphere) Hα filter
Mounts: Explore Scientific Twilight I; Majestic heavy duty tripod
Local Club: New Hampshire Astronomical Society
User avatar
Ylem United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Online
Posts: 7477
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 2:54 am
4
Location: Ocean County, New Jersey
Status:
Online

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#2

Post by Ylem »


That's great news!!
It's also a good business model, look at Kalmbach.
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
:D



User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9860
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


This is excellent news, great to hear these will not be lost now.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
Makuser United States of America
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 6394
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:53 am
4
Location: Rockledge, FL.
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#4

Post by Makuser »


Hi Stephen. Thanks for this news report. I have seen several books and authors going from S&T publishing to Willmann-Bell publishing. This new combination should be of great benefit to those of us who relish great astronomy books. Thanks again Stephen for your latest astronomy related news report, and the best of regards.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
User avatar
pakarinen United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 4013
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
4
Location: NE Illinois
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#5

Post by pakarinen »


Good thing I sold my "Messier Marathon" before the market's flooded with them again. :lol:

Glad to hear it; AAS did a good job pulling S&T up from the spiral into mediocrity IMO.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
User avatar
kt4hx United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 4
Offline
Posts: 3489
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 12:18 am
4
Location: Virginia, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#6

Post by kt4hx »


Thanks Stephen. I was just going to post that link in my earlier thread about WB closing. It is indeed exciting news and bodes well for the amateur community. Looking forward to see what titles they eventually post for sale on ShopatSky.com. At least the Annals of the Deep Sky series will continue - hopefully long enough to see its completion.
Last edited by kt4hx on Tue Aug 17, 2021 2:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Spelling correction of OP's name.
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
User avatar
KingNothing13 United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1712
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:54 pm
4
Location: Western Mass
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#7

Post by KingNothing13 »


Huh - interesting and good. Looking forward to this.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
Brett's Carbon Star Hunt

Image
User avatar
kt4hx United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 4
Offline
Posts: 3489
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 12:18 am
4
Location: Virginia, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#8

Post by kt4hx »


Here is another link showing that the WB products will be available in Oct. That is wonderful news - just in time for Christmas!

https://aas.org/shopatsky
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
User avatar
KingNothing13 United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1712
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:54 pm
4
Location: Western Mass
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#9

Post by KingNothing13 »


I am definitely interested in Uranometria - I do not know if it would be a good purchase or not, as I do just about everything electronically these days, and have sold my paper atlases.

It would definitely never get take outside, if I did get it.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
Brett's Carbon Star Hunt

Image
User avatar
kt4hx United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 4
Offline
Posts: 3489
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 12:18 am
4
Location: Virginia, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#10

Post by kt4hx »


KingNothing13 wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:28 pm I am definitely interested in Uranometria - I do not know if it would be a good purchase or not, as I do just about everything electronically these days, and have sold my paper atlases.

It would definitely never get take outside, if I did get it.
I can vouch for the utility of the Uranometria All-Sky Edition Brett. However, you and I differ in how we do our observing. While you are electronically based, I am paper atlas/chart based. The only think electronic/electrical I use in the field are my red light and my power pack for dew strips (when they are required). Also, a couple of finders that have illuminated reticles.

Regarding Urano, it is a robust desk reference. While not as "pretty" as the IDSA in terms of visual presentation, it goes significantly deeper. For your purposes, aperture and observing conditions there, the desk version of the IDSA might be a better reference in my opinion. Just my thoughts on that. Of course when I observe at the dark site, both are on the table. Plus I still have my collection of printed atlases on the shelf! :smile:
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
User avatar
KingNothing13 United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1712
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:54 pm
4
Location: Western Mass
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#11

Post by KingNothing13 »


kt4hx wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:01 am
KingNothing13 wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:28 pm I am definitely interested in Uranometria - I do not know if it would be a good purchase or not, as I do just about everything electronically these days, and have sold my paper atlases.

It would definitely never get take outside, if I did get it.
I can vouch for the utility of the Uranometria All-Sky Edition Brett. However, you and I differ in how we do our observing. While you are electronically based, I am paper atlas/chart based. The only think electronic/electrical I use in the field are my red light and my power pack for dew strips (when they are required). Also, a couple of finders that have illuminated reticles.

Regarding Urano, it is a robust desk reference. While not as "pretty" as the IDSA in terms of visual presentation, it goes significantly deeper. For your purposes, aperture and observing conditions there, the desk version of the IDSA might be a better reference in my opinion. Just my thoughts on that. Of course when I observe at the dark site, both are on the table. Plus I still have my collection of printed atlases on the shelf! :smile:
Thanks for the input Alan. I used to have SkyAtlas 2000, but sold it as I never really used it in the 15 years, so I figured someone else may put it to better use.

Which is my hesitation on getting any printed atlas at this point! :)
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
Brett's Carbon Star Hunt

Image
User avatar
notFritzArgelander
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 14925
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
4
Location: Idaho US
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#12

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Most excellent!
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
User avatar
helicon United States of America
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 584
Online
Posts: 12275
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
4
Location: Washington
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#13

Post by helicon »


good news.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
User avatar
kt4hx United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 4
Offline
Posts: 3489
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 12:18 am
4
Location: Virginia, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#14

Post by kt4hx »


KingNothing13 wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:15 am
kt4hx wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:01 am
KingNothing13 wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:28 pm I am definitely interested in Uranometria - I do not know if it would be a good purchase or not, as I do just about everything electronically these days, and have sold my paper atlases.

It would definitely never get take outside, if I did get it.
I can vouch for the utility of the Uranometria All-Sky Edition Brett. However, you and I differ in how we do our observing. While you are electronically based, I am paper atlas/chart based. The only think electronic/electrical I use in the field are my red light and my power pack for dew strips (when they are required). Also, a couple of finders that have illuminated reticles.

Regarding Urano, it is a robust desk reference. While not as "pretty" as the IDSA in terms of visual presentation, it goes significantly deeper. For your purposes, aperture and observing conditions there, the desk version of the IDSA might be a better reference in my opinion. Just my thoughts on that. Of course when I observe at the dark site, both are on the table. Plus I still have my collection of printed atlases on the shelf! :smile:
Thanks for the input Alan. I used to have SkyAtlas 2000, but sold it as I never really used it in the 15 years, so I figured someone else may put it to better use.

Which is my hesitation on getting any printed atlas at this point! :)
Certainly if you will never use a printed atlas in the field, then it may well be that your money is better spent elsewhere. Since you do not use them in the field, you may not see the utility of using one as a planning reference. Planning can be done using software or online references. That all said, I find the simplicity of sitting at a desk and flipping through a well designed atlas to be a relaxing and pleasurable experience. But that is me! :smile:
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
User avatar
helicon United States of America
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 584
Online
Posts: 12275
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
4
Location: Washington
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#15

Post by helicon »


I'm a paper guy myself, having started out with H.A. Rey's "Find the Constellations" as a kid.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
User avatar
pakarinen United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 4013
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
4
Location: NE Illinois
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#16

Post by pakarinen »


KingNothing13 wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:15 am I used to have SkyAtlas 2000, but sold it as I never really used it in the 15 years, so I figured someone else may put it to better use.

Which is my hesitation on getting any printed atlas at this point! :)
I very rarely use my SA 2000, but it's white stars on black. It was a gift, so I can't sell it just yet. Maybe if it were negative images (black stars on white) I'd use it, but I don't take atlases outside anyway as long as I have Safari on my phone.

Aside from that, I do like perusing paper maps / charts / atlases, even roadmaps at my desk. I can assimilate and remember more info quickly scanning over a paper map than I can scrolling around in Google or SkySafari or whatever. :shrug:
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
User avatar
Piero Great Britain
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:59 pm
2
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#17

Post by Piero »


I tend to use skysafari in the field, but I also take out Uranometria and Deep Sky Observing Guides.

Uranometria is my favourite paper atlas. Compared to Interstellarum, I find Uranometria neater, although probably a bit less user friendly.

Uranometria field guide is also an amazing resource when combined with the atlas.
16" f/4 home made reflector with Lightholder optics, 12" f/6 redesigned reflector with Nichol optics, Takahashi FC-100FT f/7.4, Tele Vue-60 f/6
22mm TV Nagler T4, 12.5mm Docter, 9-7-4.77mm APM XWA
24mm TV Panoptic, 9 mm TV Nagler T6, 21-9mm Nikon MC1 zoom, modded VIP Barlow
30mm APM UFF, 25.1-6.7mm Zeiss DiaScope Vario zoom
AOKswiss AYO II on Berlebach UNI 19, Hawke Frontier ED X 8x32
User avatar
Piero Great Britain
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:59 pm
2
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Willmann-Bell News

#18

Post by Piero »


It's indeed a great news that these books will be published again.

Hope to get a copy of the ARP atlas of peculiar galaxies soon.
16" f/4 home made reflector with Lightholder optics, 12" f/6 redesigned reflector with Nichol optics, Takahashi FC-100FT f/7.4, Tele Vue-60 f/6
22mm TV Nagler T4, 12.5mm Docter, 9-7-4.77mm APM XWA
24mm TV Panoptic, 9 mm TV Nagler T6, 21-9mm Nikon MC1 zoom, modded VIP Barlow
30mm APM UFF, 25.1-6.7mm Zeiss DiaScope Vario zoom
AOKswiss AYO II on Berlebach UNI 19, Hawke Frontier ED X 8x32
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Astronomy Books”