NGC 6520 and B86 sketched by A. J. Crayon using an 8-inch f/6 reflector at 80x. David J. Eicher library This “sketching at the telescope” edition features a drawing by Arizona observer A. J. Crayon showing the open star cluster NGC 6520 in Sagittarius...

Venus shines to the left of the Great Refractor’s dome atop the Harvard-Smithsonian Observatory. Liz Kruesi photo I’m back from the Knight/Kavli Universe Workshop and, whew, it was a whirlwind few days, jam-packed with astronomy lectures and lab visits...

Rick Garrison, Gene Turner, Corey Lee, and Eric Kopit set off on a journey to ancient Native American caves in the mountains near Rancho Hidalgo, near Animas, New Mexico, June 28, 2010. David J. Eicher photo On Monday, June 28, I had the pleasure of spending...

Mercury’s transit across the Sun sketched by Richard Baum of Chester, England, using a 4.5-inch scope at 186x, November 10, 1973, from 13:09 UT to 13:16:45 UT. David J. Eicher library Today’s sketch is one by Richard Baum showing the transit of Mercury...

At Rancho Hidalgo, Astronomy magazine's observatory (right) stand next to the Astronomical League's roll-off roof shed, with Clyde Tombaugh's telescope in the background. David J. Eicher photo Following the superb ALCon meeting this weekend...

Well-known to Astronomy readers, Adam Block of the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter (right, with Keith Schlottmann) paraded viewers through many of his sensational images in “The Power of Pictures.” David J. Eicher photo Saturday, June 26, marked the second full...

Bob Gent, former president of the Astronomical League and of the International Dark-Sky Association, and co-chair of the meeting, describes activities for local television covering the event. David J. Eicher photo On the first full day of the ALCON Expo...

Some 50 amateur astronomers gathered on Thursday night at David and Wendee Levy’s Jarnac Observatory, outside of Tucson, June 24, 2010. David J. Eicher photo Thursday, June 24, 2010, was a travel day, but ALCON (or ALCon Expo, as it is now properly referred...

The Blackeye Galaxy (M64) sketched by Jay Albert using an 11-inch SCT at 165x. David J. Eicher library Today I’ve dug up a sketch by Jay Albert showing M64, also known as the Blackeye Galaxy, in Coma Berenices. To learn more about astronomical sketching...

A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy by Pierre-Yves Bely, Carol Christian, and Jean-René Roy (Cambridge University Press, 2010). Chris Raymond photo One of the perks of working for a magazine is that we generally receive advance copies of relevant...

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) sketched by Joe Caruso using a 10-inch reflector. David J. Eicher library Today’s sketch is one by Joe Caruso showing the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) in Canes Venatici. To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine...

NGC 205 sketched by Jay Albert using an 11-inch SCT at 88x and 311x. David J. Eicher library We continue our series with a sketch by Jay Albert showing NGC 205, one of the satellite galaxies to the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). To learn more about astronomical...

Comet C/2009 R1 (McNaught) was just visible to the naked eye at the time of this image. Developer Gene Turner photographed the comet as it passed through the constellation Perseus the Hero near the 4th-magnitude star Mu Persei June 17, 2010. Gene Turner...

Tomorrow I leave to attend ALCON Expo 2010 , the annual meeting of the Astronomical League, the national federation of astronomical societies. This year the meeting will be held in Tucson, Arizona, and jointly hosted by the League, the Tucson Amateur...

I’m heading to Boston, Massachusetts, (well, Cambridge, really) today for a 3-day astronomy “bootcamp,” and I’m pretty darned excited. You may have read about this workshop in Managing Editor Chris Raymond’s forum post . The Knight Foundation (the premier...

Saturn sketched by Phillip W. Budine with an 8-inch reflector at 200x, May 15, 1966, from 8h15m to 9h30m UT, from Binghamton, New York. David J. Eicher library This “sketching at the telescope” edition features a drawing by Phillip W. Budine of the Association...

A group confirms that a planet orbitting 1RXS J160929.1–210524 is about 8.4 times Jupiter's mass and orbits at 330 times times the distance from Earth to the Sun. Gemini Observatory photo In the fall of 2008, a number of institutions announced that...

NGC 3887 sketched by Bob Erdmann using a 16-inch f/5 reflector at 100x, from Magma, Arizona. David J. Eicher library We begin the week with a sketch by Arizona observer Bob Erdmann showing the galaxy NGC 3887 in Crater. To learn more about astronomical...

M101 sketched by Dave Eicher using an 8-inch f/10 SCT at 100x. David J. Eicher library It’s time for another sketch of mine. This one features the bright galaxy M101 in Ursa Major. To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers...

Mars and its south polar cap sketched by Richard Baum with a 4.5-inch scope at 186x, August 17, 1971, from 0h to 1h UT. David J. Eicher library Today’s sketch is one by English observer Richard Baum showing Mars’ south polar cap. Baum’s notation reads...

Albireo sketched by Glenn Chaple with a 3-inch f/10 reflector at 60x. David J. Eicher library This “sketching at the telescope” edition features a sketch by Contributing Editor Glenn Chaple of the beautiful blue and yellow double star Albireo (Beta [β...

Tim Sisk of Bismarck, North Dakota, submitted this inspiring photo to us saying, “This picture proves that this magazine appeals not just to the animate among us.” To submit your own creative Astronomy picture, go to “ Where in the World is Astronomy...

Comet 1948 XI (annotated by the observer as 1948L) sketched by Charles F. Capen with 7x35 binoculars and a 3.5-inch f/10 reflector, November 10, 1948, at 5:30 a.m. CST. David J. Eicher library Today I’ve dug up a sketch by noted lunar and planetary astronomer...

Cornell University’s Jim Bell thanks attendees June 10, 2010, and hints at what the evening has in store during a private reception before his public presentation. Bell is an associate professor in Cornell University’s astronomy department and lead scientist...

Comet West sketched by Stephen James O’Meara as seen with the naked eye over Boston March 9, 1976 (lower right), in 7x35 binoculars February 25, 1976 (upper right), and telescopically February 25, 1976 (upper and lower left). David J. Eicher library Monday...