SUNSET: 
Mercury at Its Evening Highest
This week, Mercury reaches its highest in the evening sky for observers in the Northern Hemisphere.
Inside Sky & Telescope's May 2011 Issue
Sky & Telescope's May 2011 issue is now available to digital subscribers.
Watch a Star Wink Out on Sunday
On Sunday, March 13th, not long after sunset, a 3rd-magnitude star will disappear suddenly as it's covered by the dark edge of the Moon for parts of eastern North America.
Best Mercury of 2011
Mercury's best evening apparition of 2011 for Northern Hemisphere observers takes place this March. And with Jupiter to point the way, Mercury is unusually easy to locate from March 12–18.
Video: Tips on Orion's 3-inch Altaz Reflector
If you've bought Orion's 3-inch SpaceProbe Altazimuth Reflector, or are thinking of doing so, take a look at this video for some tips on how to use the scope.
The Four-Planet Dance of 2011
Every morning in May 2011, just before sunrise, four planets combine to form fascinating and ever-changing patterns.
Biggest Solar Blast in 4 Years
Solar activity is indeed ramping up: the strongest solar flare in four years erupted on February 15th, dealing a glancing blow on the 18th.
Measuring Skyglow with Digital Cameras
Digital cameras are great for measuring skyglow, but more work needs to be done to automate the process.
Inside Sky & Telescope's April 2011 issue
Sky & Telescope's April 2011 issue is now available to digital subscribers.
SkyScanner 100 vs. 4.5-inch StarBlast
How does the little $100 scope stack up against its venerable bigger brother?
The Joy of Small Instruments
No photograph can compare with the experience of viewing Saturn directly — something that's possible with even the smallest telescopes.
Three Great, Small Reflectors
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars's XT4.5 and StarBlast 4.5 and Edmund Scientific's Astroscan set the standard of excellence for small, inexpensive, easy-to-use telescopes.
January Digital Edition Available
The digital edition of the January 2011 S&T is now available.
Guest Blog: In Defence of GPS
A reader expounds the virtues of electronic navigation — for automobiles and telescopes.
Has Your Observing Site Gotten Brighter?
Measurements with a Sky Quality Meter indicate that none of the author's observing sites has gotten significantly brighter over the last 5 years.
Tunnel Vision Navigation
The key to maintaining your integrity and sanity in the computer age is to make sure that electronics are your servant, not your master.
A Road Map to the North America Nebula
Hanging high overhead on autmun evenings, the North America Nebula is the season's best — assuming that you have dark skies to enjoy it and a good roadmap to help you interpret it.
Deep-Sky Wonders Again
The November 2010 Deep-Sky Wonders column is rich enough to keep an experienced observer busy for many nights.
Blinded by the Light
Flashlights create a little bubble of excellent visibility, at the cost of hiding the wider world.
Backcountry Stargazing Again
It's hard to find a legal wilderness campsite in the U.S. Northeast that has a decent view of the night sky. But when you do, it's well worth the effort.
