Shows the position of constellations and naked eye stars plus 15 of the best "deep sky" objects visible through even small telescopes and binoculars any night, any time, and the position of the planets to 2014.

These helpful devices are not rendered obsolete by astro. software on CD-ROM or DVD. If you purchase a Meade telescope, for example, with astro. software that allows you to generate your own star charts, when you read the Meade manual for the telescope it usually recommends you purchase a Planisphere as well!

This unit is plastic not cardboard and comes with an information sheet describing:

Movements of the night sky.

Stars and Constellations

Other deep sky objects that can be seen with binoculars and small telescopes.

Positions of the Planets to 2014.

Many other planispheres do not show nearly as many "deep sky" objects, i.e. star clusters in our galaxy, other galaxies, nebulae (molecular clouds), and globular clusters; in fact the Philips one shows none.

Other planispheres only show this path of planets (the ecliptic) but this one has additional info on location in chart form with it.