NASA and Microsoft have collaborated to create a web site where citizen scientists can assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet. NASA/ESA/The Hubble Heritage Team Photo Looking for another way to become a citizen scientist? Fascinated...

This could be you, if the upcoming reality show Starwalker goes through with its plans to send two winners into orbit. NASA photo Reality shows have been promising to transform people for almost a decade now, whether it's into a millionaire, a married...

Michael J. Fraughton photo Last week, I received an e-mail from Michael J. Fraughton of West Jordan, Utah. At 6:45 a.m. (November 18), his wife showed him a cloud formation of loosely formed rings. He took several photographs of the clouds, two of which...

Did you ever find yourself out under a clear, dark sky in November wondering what to look at? How about targeting a few objects in the constellation Pegasus , one of my favorite autumn constellations. Here are some suggestions: Galaxy NGC 7479 is one...

NASA recently released its 2009 edition of Spinoff , an annual publication that chronicles successfully commercialized NASA technology. It’s easy to get lost in the magazine or its Web counterpart. The 2009 issue features 49 “spinoffs” in the areas of...

The International Space Station may not inspire everyone with awe, but it has kept humanity consistently in space at all times for just over 9 years. NASA photo I inadvertently let an anniversary slip by a few weeks ago. It wasn’t a major one (I’m not...

As the editorial staff of the world’s best-selling astronomy publication, we get a lot of e-mails. Some suggest story ideas, some praise a column, feature, or image, and many ask questions. Lately, lots of e-mail writers have enquired about astronomy...

This isn’t going to happen in 2012! Baseless theories, like a proposed planetary alignment on the scale of this photo illustration, have led many to fear the year 2012 needlessly. Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (NASA) photo Rejoice, for the end is nigh...

From noon, Friday, November 13, through 8 a.m. CST, Monday, November 16 , all the great features that are available only to registered users or Astronomy magazine subscribers will be available to everyone. For free! Find out what you've been missing...

Next week (November 16–20), NASA’s Digital Learning Network will host a series of videoconferences with NASA employees who had a special connection with Apollo 11 to let students hear firsthand accounts from people who made the lunar landing possible...

Faces of the Moon cover image Guest review from Contributing Editor and Columnist Glenn Chaple If you’ve ever doubted that the elegance of the night sky can be expressed poetically, you haven’t encountered Bob Crelin’s young readers’ book Faces of the...

Longtime astroimager and Astronomy magazine contributor Tony Hallas thinks about his upcoming acceptance speech. The Advanced Imaging Conference committee awarded Hallas its most prestigious award, the Hubble Award, for his service and the advances he...

Guest post from Contributing Editor Glenn Chaple In the November edition of my “Observing Basics” column , I wrote that Galileo would be “relieved to know that the Roman Catholic Church, which excommunicated him for his heretical teachings, has since...

Renowned astroimager Adam Block of the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter presented a pair of workshops at the 2009 Advanced Imaging Conference. Michael E. Bakich photo As part of my duties as photo editor for the world’s most popular astronomy publication, I attended...

NASA’s done a good job getting us into space, but should it work harder on convincing people why that’s a good idea? NASA photo Chances are you’ll recognize the phrase, “To boldly go,” as part of the monologue introducing each episode of Star Trek . I...