The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, invited press and amateur astronomers to visit on November 17 and view a camera it’s building for a dark-energy study. Senior Editor Rich Talcott and I jumped at the chance to see the...

Like millions of Americans, I was a fan of the late Jack Horkheimer’s PBS show, Star Gazer . His enthusiasm and passion shone through the television screen, making even the most ardent couch potato want to get out of the house and “look to...

Yesterday, Astronomy ’s editors, art staff, and publisher left the office to hang out at Editor Dave Eicher’s house for our annual staff retreat — a major component of how we bring you new ideas each year via the magazine and the website...

On Tuesday, November 9, 2010, Astronomy ’s travel group was nearing the end of our ship-bound journey on the MS Midnatsol , cruising northward along the Norwegian coastline looking for bright shows of aurora borealis. Monday night, we saw aurorae...

On Monday, November 8, 2010, Astronomy ’s travel group of 15, along with MWT Associates’ Melita Thorpe, continued cruising north along the Norwegian coastline aboard the MS Midnatsol . We've had little luck spotting bright shows of aurora...

On Sunday, November 7, 2010, Astronomy ’s travel group of 15, along with MWT Associates’ Melita Thorpe, continued on our ship-bound journey on the MS Midnatsol , cruising northward along the Norwegian coastline. Our objective, spotting bright...

Wednesday and Thursday nights, I was conducting a test of Vixen Optics’ AXD mount at the Observer’s Inn. This astronomy bed-and-breakfast facility sits in Julian, California, 22 miles as the crow flies from Palomar Observatory. Julian is a...

On Saturday, November 6, 2010, Astronomy ’s travel group of 15, along with MWT Associates’ Melita Thorpe, continued on our ship-bound journey on the MS Midnatsol , cruising northward along the Norwegian coastline. Our objective, spotting bright...

On Friday, November 5, Astronomy magazine’s group of 15 travelers, led by Melita Thorpe of MWT Associates, carried on our Norwegian vacation in search of aurorae. Although we have thus far been plagued by wet weather as we cruise on the 674-berth...

Few times in my life have I thought, “OK, I’m starting off on vacation, but first I’ll put my winter coat on.” But that was the case this morning as our group of 15 Astronomy magazine readers, accompanied by me and escorted by...

For the third time in about 6 weeks, I’m headed to California. The first two trips involved me attending the Pacific Astronomy and Telescope Show in Pasadena and the Advanced Imaging Conference in San Jose. Today, I fly to Orange County’s...