SUNSET: 
0
Massive Stars, Other Worlds, and Reports from Totality
Stars and worlds and gamma rays, oh my! The August 2024 issue of Sky & Telescope overflows with out-of-this-solar-system excitement. First, we follow astronomers on their hunt for the largest stars in the universe. Just how massive can they get? It’s a question without a clear answer — yet. We’re also looking at how we’ll eventually find another planet like ours in the universe. It’ll take some time, and new technology; in the meantime, we can observe star clouds with just a small telescope or pair of binoculars. We also show an inside look at the construction of the enormous Large-Sized Telescope at La Palma’s Cherenkov Telescope Array, which will scan Earth’s atmosphere for the faint flashes of blue light that occur when gamma rays hit the upper atmosphere. Also in this issue, we relive the excitement of the total solar eclipse of April 8th with reports from friends of S&T who were scattered all along the eclipse path as the Moon’s shadow crossed North America.
FEATURE ARTICLES:
Astronomers are building an array of telescopes that will enable them to detect the highest-energy gamma rays – from the ground.
By Javier Barbuzano
Spend some time navigating between shimmering sights.
By Brian Ventrudo
The Challenging History of New Worlds
How a revolutionary idea was born and gained acceptance, despite a lack of solid scientific support.
By Christopher M. Graney
In Search of the Most Massive Star
Astronomers are scouring the universe and their computer models to discover how big stars can be.
By Elizabeth Fernandez
The Sun and Moon put on a spectacular show on April 8th, as the path of totality cut across North America
By S&T Staff and Contributors
Beyond the Printed Page:
Help astronomers save NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory from a premature end due to budget cuts.
Read about Harvard College Observatory’s recently completed project that digitized 430,000 glass plates, recording a century of changes in the sky.
Check out NASA’s exoplanet exploration site.
Learn how to capture the next total solar eclipse in high dynamic range.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Hercules and Ophiuchus Head-to-Head
How a pair of summer constellations have much in common.
By Stephen James O’Meara
The year’s most eagerly anticipated meteor shower peaks under nearly moonless conditions.
By Bob King
Lunar Volcanism Seen and Unseen
Maria are a larger portion of the lunar surface than previously known.
By Charles A. Wood
Capturing classic images showing Earth’s rotation is easier than you might think.
By Richard S. Wright, Jr.
Table of Contents
See what else August’s issue has to offer.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.