SUNSET: 
Missing Pages in January, 2010 Sky & Telescope
Due to an error at the printing company in Kentucky, pages 87 to 94 are missing from the January issue. These pages include the Market Place ads and Focal Point. In addition, the Northern Hemisphere Sky Chart was not printed on the normal, thick paper. We apologize to our readers…
FirstScope Tips
In the October 2009 issue, S&T senior editor Dennis di Cicco reviewed the amazing new $50 Celestron FirstScope. It performs far better than any telescope in its price range ever did before, and also better than many scopes that cost twice as much. But not surprisingly considering the price, it…
Moving Pictures
Here are some tips to help you use your DSLR to create time-lapse movies of the night sky.
Shoestring Supernova Scripts
In the article "Searching for Supernovae on a Shoestring" in the July, 2009, issue of Sky & Telescpe, Thiam-Guan Tan mentions several scripts that he wrote to generate a list of target galaxies, slew his telescope to each one, and take images throughout the night. Click here to download a…
New Light on Dark Matter
Soon after it was installed on Hubble, the ACS captured this image of the Cone Nebula, a stellar nursery shrouded in hydrogen gas.Courtesy Holland Ford (JHU), NASA, ACS Science Team.Like other large spiral galaxies, our Milky Way shines with the light of hundreds of billions of stars. It contains giant…
Exoplanets Imaged at Last
Christian Marois (left) and Paul Kalas (right) led the teams that acquired the first extrasolar-planet images that are likely to stand the test of time.David Lafreniere (left) and Paul Kalas (right)For most of its history, the study of extrasolar planets has been rife with false alarms. Because of the claimed…
Abraham Lincoln's Celestial Connections
Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) may not fully qualify as an amateur astronomer, but some celestial events during his life were noteworthy.US Library of CongressIn this, the year celebrating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, Donald W. Olson and Laurie E. Jasinski summarize several celestial connections to the United States's 16th president…
International Year of Astronomy 2009
Professional and amateur astronomers around the world are gearing up for a year-long celebration of understanding and enjoying the cosmos.
Urban Observing: A Podcast Discussion
Listen to a podcast discussion between S&T senior editor Alan MacRobert and associate editor Tony Flanders on theory and practice of urban observing, skyglow, and well-designed lights.
The Brightest Burst
On March 19, 2008, NASA’s Swift satellite captured an intense burst of gamma rays from outer space. What made this event so amazing was its distance: halfway across the visible universe.
George Ellery Hale’s Journey to Palomar
Todd and Robin Mason's new documentary, which airs on public television starting Monday, November 10th, recounts the remarkable story of the telescopes that unlocked the secrets of the cosmos.
Click here for a preview of their television documentary, which airs on public television starting Monday, November 10th.
Join the Hunt for Supernova Light Echoes
In a fascinating article in the June 2008 issue of Sky & Telescope, astronomer Douglas L. Welch (McMaster University, Canada) explains how amateur astronomers can help professionals observe light from supernova explosions that rocked our Milky Way Galaxy hundreds of years ago. The key is to use CCD imaging to…
Movies of the World at Night
The World at Night, or TWAN, is a new program developed by the nonprofit group Astronomers Without Borders. The project seeks to cultivate a universal worldview by assembling a collection of stunning photographs of the world’s most beautiful and historic sites set against a nighttime backdrop of stars, planets, and…
Echoes of the Big Bang
Learn more about how certain aspects of the cosmic microwave background clue astronomers in to some of the universe's fundamental properties.
Your Thoughts on Bethlehem's Starry Night
Nina Alden Thune In the December issue of Sky & Telescope, Aaron Michael Adair compares the various astronomical theories behind the fabled Star of Bethlehem and examines whether any of them are plausible at all. His conclusion may have surprised you. Now we want your take. Feel free to join…
Remembering "Project Moonwatch"
When the Space Age dawned 50 years ago, a worldwide army of amateur astronomers provided crucial satellite-tracking information unavailable by any other means.
S&T Unveils New Format and Design
Sky & Telescope's October 2007 issue introduces a new format and design but remains true to its history and mission.
Chaos in the Early Solar System
The orbits of the giant planets were moved by the interaction of trillions of small icy bodies.
Hinode's Solar Movies
X-ray observations of the Sun from the international Hinode spacecraft have been assembled into solar movies.
Astronomy in Popular Culture
Jane Sanders Astronomy is finding its way into more and more aspects of popular culture. Many cars have celestial names — for example, the Ford Taurus and Mitsubishi Eclipse. Tonight Show host Jay Leno often refers to astronomy in his on-the-street interviews. Even the comic strips in our daily newspapers…
