SUNSET: 
Lure of the Obscure — Andromeda's Parachute and Dracula's Chivito
Observers can't resist the challenge of seeking faint objects with curious names. We go deep and visit two — Andromeda's Parachute and Dracula's Chivito.
Test
Listen to this episode on Sky & Telescope’s YouTube channel. Once again, the Moon’s phases are in sync with the calendar this month, starting with a new Moon on November 1st. That leaves the evening sky relatively Moon-free for the first days and last half of November — great opportunities…
Re: NGC 1647 Visible with the Unaided Eye
Hi Alan,Here's my observation of NGC 1647 with the unaided eye. We do live in a semi-arid area, the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, but my backyard is not on a mountain; it is on the valley floor beside Skaha Lake in a subdivision that 40 years ago voted…
Curiosity's Discoveries on Mars
After four Earth years on the Red Planet, the intrepid rover has found evidence of long-gone water and habitable environments.
Are You Game for April's Lunar Observing Challenge?
With astronomy being celebrated around the globe this month, join the fun by participating in a unique lunar observing challenge: track down 20 features once thought to show evidence of change from weather, geology, and even life.
How to Make a Simple Backyard Observatory
Dennis di Cicco's "doghouse" observatory progressed from an idea to a working observatory in less than three weeks during the fall of 1982. You too can quickly build a basic telescope shelter.S&T / Dennis di Cicco Home observatories have always been a part of amateur astronomy, but they seem to…
The Megatelescopes are Coming
Learn about the megatelescopes coming to three different sites on Earth for unprecedented views of the universe.
Dating an Impressionist's Sunset
S&T contributing editor Don Olson writes a feature article in the February 2014 issue connecting astronomy to Monet. We follow his team of celestial sleuths as they travel to Normandy, France to pin down the exact time and location of one of Claude Monet's most beautiful paintings. This gallery of…
How to Stay Warm at Night
It's easy to stay warm on cold winter nights if you dress appropriately — and take a few common-sense precautions.
The Greatest Comets of the Past Century
In the November 2013 issue of S&T, Joe Rao redirects Comet ISON speculation to answer a different question: just how often do showstopper comets grace our skies? His answer might surprise you. Rao looks back over all the comets of the past century, calling out examples of showstoppers, showpieces, and…
How ALMA Works Its Magic
See first results from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile.
Star-Shredders in Action
In the cover story of the June 2013 issue, Suvi Gezari takes us into the den of hibernating black holes, showing us what happens when a star tickles the nose of a powerful beast: the black hole rips the unlucky star apart, lighting a flare that can be seen from…
Interview with Exoplanet Expert Greg Laughlin
An artist's illustration of a potential exoplanet named Fomalhaut b. If it exists, this planet may have migrated to its current orbit.ESA / NASA / L. CalcadaIn the May 2013 issue of S&T, astrophysicist Greg Laughlin of the University of California, Santa Cruz — a leading expert on extrasolar planet…
Guide to Messier 101
This is the web supplement to Howard Banich's article "The Determined Observer's Guide to M101," in the June 2013 issue of Sky & Telescope. In it, Banich describes observing M101 with his motorized 28-inch alt-azimuth Newtonian, preparing the sketch shown below at low resolution. M101 is extraordinarily rich in active…
A Civil War Submarine and the Moon
In the February 2013 issue, the article “The Moon and the Mystery of the Hunley” by William Stevenson describes how the tides and the phase and position of the Moon played a role in the first successful submarine attack in naval history. The assault took place during the American Civil…
Auroras Off the Page
Watch animations, listen to the aurora, and download forecast apps as part of our Beyond the Printed Page content for the February 2013 cover story.
New Meteor Showers Discovered: More maps and links
With automated video cameras and sophisticated processing, astronomers are mapping meteor shower better than ever before, as told in the September 2012 Sky & Telescope. Here are more maps, information about them, and links to the CAMS project.
Interview with Thayne Currie and Carol Grady
S&T Editor in Chief Robert Naeye chats with astronomers Thayne Currie and Carol Grady of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center about how the fascinating young star LkCa 15 is shedding light on solar system formation.
Explore Binary Stars on Your Computer
Additional information from the August 2012 article Solve Binary Stars Yourself. Provides links to various programs that allow users to explore binary stars up close and personal.
Interview with Jim Bell
Planetary scientist Jim Bell chats with S&T's Camille Carlisle about NASA's incredible new moon images, featured in the June issue. Plus, see more spectacularly detailed lunar landscapes.
