
Illustration by
Steven Simpson
E-mail is the most basic tool of the Internet. For many, sending personal or professional correspondence over the wire has become a necessity. But e-mail is not limited to sending letters just to individuals. Among the various auxiliary services available by e-mail are mailing lists. Some mailing lists are one-way and provide news and announcements; others serve as discussion groups where you can reply to messages and have your response spread to everyone else on the list.
Sky & Telescope provides several mailing lists of our own. These long-running services have origins in our telephone recorded message, Skyline (617-497-4168).
Our Sky Weekly e-newsletter highlights the latest discoveries from the world's ground- and space-based observatories. Sign up here.
What follows are dozens of e-mail lists you can subscribe to that offer a variety of services and discussion topics. If you'd like to recommend an addition to this list, or if you discover a problem with any current entry, please let us know by sending e-mail to [email protected].
AAVSO — Discussion of matters related to variable star observing.
See their mailing list page for information on how to sign up.
Apogee CCD — Share opinions, problems, and solutions using Apogee CCD cameras.
See their Web page for information.
Astro AZ — Astronomy and observing in Arizona.
To subscribe:
E-mail [email protected], put "subscribe" in body of subject line.
To unsubscribe:
E-mail [email protected], put "unsubscribe" in body of subject line.
AstroCCD — Amateur Digital Astronomy (in Italian).
To subscribe:
- E-mail
[email protected].
To unsubscribe:
- E-mail
[email protected].
ASTRO_ESPANA — Astronomy and astrocomputing (Spanish).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe ASTRO_ESPANA firstname lastname" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "signoff ASTRO_ESPANA firstname lastname" in body of message.
Astroitalia — Amateur Astronomy (in Italian, moderated).
-
- See
- for information.
Astrolist — General astronomy (in Danish).
-
- See
- for information.
AstroMart — Classified ads for amateurs.
-
- See
- for information.
Astronomer — Discussion group intended for amateur astronomers from all age groups.
-
- See
- for information.
ASTRONOMI — Amateur astronomy (Turkish).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe astronomi firstname lastname" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe astronomi" in body of message.
Astronomia — Amateur astronomy (Spanish).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe astronomia" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe astronomia" in body of message.
Astronomy & Space — General astronomy news
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- , put "join" in the subject line of message.
ASTRO-PORT — Observing, CCDs, & general amateur astronomy, in Portuguese (some English).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in body of message.
Astrophotography — Discussion of film-based astronomical imaging
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe astro-photo" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe astro-photo" in body of message.
ASTROCS — Discussion of Slovak and Czech astronomers
(Slovak and Czech languages preferably).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe ASTROCS firstname lastname" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe ASTROCS" in body of message.
Astronomical Data Center Electronic News — Published four times a year to keep the astronomical community informed about established, new, and planned data services at NASA's Astronomical Data Center.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- , put "subscribe adc-subscribers" in body of message.
Astronomy Club Officers — Share ideas, resourses, and experiences in managing an amateur astronomy club.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- .
To unsubscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
Astronomer — Discussion group for all manner of astronomical software.
-
- See
- for information.
ATM — Amateur telescope making.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe atm" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe atm" in body of message.
AUDE — Electronic Detectors Users Association; French-language discussion of general astronomy, mainly CCD observing.
-
- See
- for information.
Big Dob — Building and using large-aperature telescopes.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS bigdob-l"
-
- in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS bigdob-l" in body of message.
Big Glass Pushers — Group dedicated to making large amateur telescope mirrors.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail Dan Bakken at
- for information
Boletim Supernovas — General astronomy news (in Portuguese).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- .
To unsubscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
CCD — Discussion of homemade CCD cameras.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in the message subject line.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
CCD-astrometry-photometry — Discussions on CCD astrometry and photometry.
-
- See
- for information.
Celestron User Group — Discussion of Celestron telescopes and accessories.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in the body of the message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in the body of the message.
Coelum Weekly News Bulletin — Astronomy and space news, celestial events (in Italian).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in body of message.
Comets — For observers and anyone else interested in comets. This includes visual, photographic, and CCD observing, as well as astrometric, orbital, photometric, hunting or historical aspects.
-
- See
- for information.
Dark-Sky — Discussion of light-pollution issues.
-
- See
- for information.
Digital Astro — digital camera astrophotography.
-
- See
- for information
Digital Planets — Discussion of the techniques of imaging the planets, Moon, and Sun with cooled CCD cameras.
-
- See
- for information
Dynascope — E-mail discussion of the Criterion Dynascope Group, a nonprofit affiliation of enthusiasts devoted to remembering, restoring, and recommissioning these classic Newtonian telescopes.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
Eclipse — Facilitating responsible communication among eclipse enthusiasts worldwide.
-
- See
- for information.
80f5 — For owners and users of 80-mm f/5 rich-field refractors.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- .
To unsubscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
Fremont Peak — Discussion and announcements related to astronomy activities at Fremont Peak State Park in San Juan Bautista, California.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in the body of the message
-
- For single message version (no digest), put "subsingle" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in the body of the message.
Galileo Mailing List — Status reports for the Galileo spacecraft.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe galileo YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe galileo YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS" in body of message.
HiSIS Users — English-language discussion of HiSIS CCD cameras and MiPS-family software.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
Hubble Space Telescope — Press releases and information from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe pio YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS" in the body of the message
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe pio YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS" in the body of the message.
IAU Circulars — Astronomical telegrams.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- request
-
- subscription information. Or visit
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
- for information. Cost: $9.00 per month.
IMO News — Discussion and reports in meteor astronomy.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- and include your e-mail address.
Indiana Council on Outdoor Lighting Education (ICOLE) — Discussion of outdoor lighting reform issues.
-
- See
- for information.
International Supernovae Network — Supernova news.
To subscribe:
-
- Fill out form at
- .
Internet Amateur Astronomers Catalog (netastrocatalog) — Deep-sky observations shared by subscribers, observing discussions.
-
- See
- for information.
KSC News — NASA/Kennedy Space Center news releases.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe ksc-press-release" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe ksc-press-release" in body of message.
Launch Alert — Notification of Vandenberg AFB missile launches and Southern California astronomy and space news.
-
- See
- for information.
Lowell Electronic Astronomy Resource Newsletter (LEARN) — Lowell Observatory programs, online resources, news items, activities for students, and more.
-
- See
- for information.
Magnetometry — Discussion and distribution of observations of geomagnetic phenomena.
-
- See
- for information.
MakScopes — Maksutov telescope discussion group.
-
- See
- for information.
Meade 4504 Telescopes — Share information, tips, and resources for using Meade 4504 (4.5" reflector) telescopes.
-
- See
- for information.
Meade Advanced Product User Group — Discussion of Meade LX200 telescopes and Pictor CCD cameras.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in body of message.
Meade LX90 Telescope User Group (IMLTUG) — for owners and prospective owners of the Meade LX-90
telescope.
-
- See
- for information.
Mercury — Discuss articles in Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Mercury magazine.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in body of message.
METEOPTIC — Atmospheric phenomena, halos, noctilucent clouds, etc.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe meteoptic YOUR NAME" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe meteoptic" in body of message.
Meteorite — Announcements and discussion about meteorites.
-
- See
- for information.
Meteorite Sale — Wants/sales/trades of meteorites or other objects.
-
- See
- for information.
Meteor Observers — Discussion on meteor observing.
-
- See
- for information.
MeteorShowers — a low-volume mail list announcing upcoming meteor showers and special astronomical events with an emphasis on observations that can be done with the unaided eyes, binoculars, or small telescopes.
-
- See
- for information.
Minor Planet List — Discussion about comets and asteroids.
-
- See
- for information.
NASA News — NASA press releases and other information.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- , put "subscribe press-release" in body of message.
New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG) — Discussion of outdoor night-lighting issues that affect astronomers.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , say that you want to be, put on the list.
To unsubscribe:
- say that you want to be removed from the list.
North East Georgia Astronomers — List for quick communication among astronomy enthusiasts who would like to arrange dark-sky observing sessions.
-
- See
- for information.
Palm Astro — Astronomy related hardware and software for the Palm and Pocket PC computers.
-
- See
- for information.
Planetary Nebula — Observation and science of planetary nebulae.
-
- See
- for information.
Questar User — Discussion of Questar brand telescopes.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- , put "subscribe alt-telescopes-questar" in body of message.
RASCList — Discussion among members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- "subscribe rasclist Your Name (Your Centre)".
RETE — Old scientific instruments.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe rete" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
-
- E-mail
- , put "unsubscribe rete YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS"in body of message.
SBIG User — Discussion of SBIG CCD cameras.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe" in body of message.
Sct-user — Users of Schmidt-Cassegrain and Makustov-Cassegrains telescopes.
-
- See
- for information.
SeeSat — Visual observing of satellites.
-
- See
- for information.
Shallow Sky — Lunar and planetary observation.
-
- See
- for information.
SkyWatch: The Astronomical Alarm Clock — Sends its subscribers a daily e-mail on astronomical events such as satellite passes and meteor showers that can be observed from their location.
-
- See
- for information.
Solar Eclipse — Discussions of solar eclipses.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
[email protected]
To unsubscribe:
-
- E-mail
Solar Terrestrial Dispatch — Solar and geophysical activity alerts and summaries.
-
- Free for first 30 days. See
- for information.
SolNet — Solar data requests from professional observatories and information of ongoing solar events.
-
- See ALPO Solar Section
- for information.
Space Environment Center — Several lists for geomagnetic alerts and summaries.
-
- See
- for descriptions and instructions.
Space Shuttle Status Reports — Launch status of upcoming Space Shuttle missions.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe shuttle-status" in body of message
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe shuttle-status" in body of message.
Star News - Astronomy & Space News — Astronomy and space news from an Australian perspective.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe starnews YOURNAME" in the message body.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe starnews YOURNAME" in the message body.
Star Talk - Amateur Astronomers' Discussion Forum — General astronomy discussion for Australians. Overseas participation is welcome.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe startalk YOURNAME" in the message body.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe startalk YOURNAME" in the message body.
Sundial — Discussion about sundials.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- , put "subscribe sundial" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "unsubscribe sundial" in body of message.
TASS — Reports from The Amateur Sky Survey.
-
- See
- for information.
Telescopes — Discussion of astronomical equipment, including telescopes, binoculars, eyepieces, books and star atlases, software, and more.
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
-
- .
To unsubscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
Ulysses Comet Watch — Discussion of comet observing techniques. Amateurs and professionals both welcome.
-
- See
- for information.
URANIA BRASIL — Astronomy and Astronautics: Education, Observation and History of Science (Portuguese).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail
- .
VIDEOASTRO — Video astrophotography discussion group.
-
- See
- for information.
VSNET — Variable stars, novae, and supernovae.
-
- See
- for information about the various individual lists.
VVS — Amateur astronomy (in Dutch for Flanders, Belgium).
To subscribe:
-
- E-mail to:
-
- , put "subscribe VVS FIRSTNAME LASTNAME" in body of message.
To unsubscribe:
- put "signoff VVS" in body of message.
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