S&T Unveils New Format and Design

With the October 2007 issue, Sky & Telescope introduces a new format. The design changes you'll see, along with some adjustments to our monthly mix of articles, are intended to make the magazine more attractive, enjoyable, useful, and, frankly, relevant to 21st-century astronomy enthusiasts at all levels of interest and expertise. I explain these improvements in my editorial on page 8 of the October issue. Here's a little more background.

Founded in 1941, Sky & Telescope has undergone several changes in format and design over the decades. The latest debuts with the October 2007 issue (on the right).

Rick Fienberg

The first thing you'll notice when you see the magazine is that we've gone back to the stapled binding we used from our first issue in 1941 through mid-1997. This switch and minor reductions in the magazine's size offer two benefits: they save money, and they reduce paper waste.

We've completely revamped our News Notes section. As a monthly magazine, S&T is hardly a source of late-breaking news. But this website, SkyandTelescope.com, is such a source, and you can now count on finding all major astronomy stories here — fast. Summaries of key developments will subsequently appear in the magazine.

Where the Web often falls short but the magazine has no equal is in providing "big picture" articles whose detailed explanations and thorough background help the whole framework of modern astronomy fit together and make sense. In S&T you'll now find more pages devoted to such articles.

In October's issue we're unveiling a retooled six-page centerfold and two new monthly columns: Suburban Star-Hop by Ken Hewitt-White and Telescope Workshop by Gary Seronik. Another new feature, Sky at a Glance, is an offshoot of senior editor Alan MacRobert's long-running online column that simplifies your stargazing planning.

All of this is intended to make the magazine more reader-friendly, not only for longtime hobbyists, but also for newcomers to backyard astronomy — the future of our hobby. The changes are also intended to acknowledge that you seek astronomy information from a variety of sources, both print and electronic. Accordingly, when we say, "Sky & Telescope," we mean Sky & Telescope the magazine and SkyandTelescope.com the website. Both together are vastly more useful and effective than either alone.

As always, I'm eager to get your feedback — not just about the changes we've made to S&T, but about anything in the magazine or on our website. You can leave a comment below or send e-mail to me directly. Because I get so much correspondence, I likely won't be able to respond personally, but you can be sure I'll read every word.

Thanks, and clear skies!