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Beyond the Edge
Spiral galaxies stun the viewer, yet they have even more visual power when serendipitously aligned to our line of sight. Ted Forte leads a tour of a variety of edge-on galaxies in March's cover story. Peering beyond the edge provides a different perspective on our solar system too. Further even than distant Pluto and its Kuiper Belt friends lies the mysterious Oort Cloud, a comet reservoir containing trillions of objects — only two of which have been detected so far. Scott S. Sheppard discusses the hunt for objects at the edge of the solar system. And Nola Taylor Redd writes about similar reservoirs around pulsars and other burnt-out stars too, perhaps forming phoenix planets that arise from stellar ashes. Finally, going from edge-on to cutting-edge: we also feature 14 must-have astronomy apps that you'll definitely want to download for your smart device.
Feature Articles
Edge-On Galaxies
There's something special about these slender streaks of light and dust.
By Ted Forte
Beyond the Kuiper Belt
Many bodies likely lurk in the sprawling emptiness that fringes our solar system. Where are they, and how did they get there?
By Scott S. Sheppard
Phoenix Planets
The death of a star often has fatal consequences for orbiting planets. But for some worlds, the end of the stellar line could mean a brand-new start.
By Nola Taylor Redd
The Very Ancient Origins of the Water Constellations
Before written history began, Capricornus was likely a goat-boat and Aquarius was a god pouring water.
By Craig Crossen
App-Powered Astronomy
Noted amateur and professional astronomers share their 14 favorite celestial apps.
By Editors & Friends of Sky & Telescope
Beyond the Printed Page
D. A. Williams & others / Icarus
App-Powered Astronomy by Monica Young
Find links to the must-have astronomy apps listed in this issue.
Explore Vesta
View Dawn's high-res map of the asteroid it circled for more than a year.
Mutual Events Among Jupiter's Moons
Find out how to watch Jovian moons eclipse and occult one another.
Lunar Librations by Sean Walker
Librations and other lunar data for March 2015.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Venus Rises, Mars Lowers
Venus and Jupiter move higher as Mars sinks from view.
By Fred Schaaf
Powering Up
Choose the right magnification for your planetary observing experience.
By Thomas A. Dobbins
iOptron's SkyGuider
Here's a sturdy camera tracker for nightscape photographers on the go.
By Jerry Lodriguss
Table of Contents
See what else March's issue has to offer.
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