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  • Blog Post: Deep Sky Forum and Faint Fuzzies create 46-object observing guide

    One year ago, NASA’s Ebb and Flow craft sent back images of the farside of the Moon, Lady Gaga started her own social networking site, and the Deep Sky Forum was in its infancy. [caption image="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00...
  • Blog Post: Search for Jupiter’s latest scars

    [caption image="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-51-Solar+system+objects/6013.Jupiter_2D00_impact_5F00_2012.jpg" position="right" targeturl="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00...
  • Blog Post: Fun observing at the Northwoods Starfest

    [caption image="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-51-Star+parties/2047.Northwoods_2D00_solar_2D00_observing.jpg" position="right" targeturl="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00...
  • Blog Post: On my way to the Northwoods Starfest

    [caption image="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/astronomy.Star+parties+and+conferences/1638.Hobbs_2D00_Observatory.jpg" position="right" targeturl="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components...
  • Blog Post: See any Perseids?

    [caption image="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-51-Solar+system+objects/1768.Perseid_5F00_2012.jpg" position="right" targeturl="http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-51...
  • Blog Post: Annular eclipse: T minus 9 days

    On Sunday, May 20, observers along a narrow line throughout the western United States will be able to see the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up. Unfortunately, the Moon will be near its farthest point from Earth, so it won’t totally cover the Sun’s disk. At mideclipse, a ring of sunlight still...
  • Blog Post: Look to the skies

    These are exciting times for skywatchers. First, we’ll have a celestial guest in the form of asteroid 2005 YU55 , which will slip in between Earth and the Moon tomorrow but presents no danger to us at all . It’ll be some 200,000 miles (320,000 kilometers) away at its closest approach, so...
  • Blog Post: Heading north to observe

    Tomorrow (Friday, August 26), I’ll be driving up to Fall Creek, Wisconsin, to speak at the 23rd annual Northwoods Starfest . This year, the star party occurs August 26–28, at Hobbs Observatory. That facility is part of the Beaver Creek Reserve. [caption image="/cfs-filesystemfile...
  • Blog Post: Discover the Universe: Oak Harbor, Washington

    The primary purpose of Astronomy magazine’s Discover the Universe program is to bring the heavens to the masses, whether that’s at a busy downtown street corner or a crowded neighborhood festival. Carol Ogden, president of the Island County Astronomical Society , took the latter route and...
  • Blog Post: Discover the Universe: Clute, Texas

    Astronomy magazine’s Discover the Universe program is all about the idea that if people are unable, unwilling, or unmotivated to go see the stars, why not bring the stars to them? I’ve just heard back from John Klebenow of the Brazosport Astronomy Club , south of Houston, Texas, a group that...
  • Blog Post: Discover the Universe: Barcelona, Spain

    Astronomy ’s Discover the Universe program typically involves astronomy clubs or groups eager to share their knowledge and expertise with the crowds. But individuals with a healthy appreciation for the skies and technical ability can take part, too! Last week, Spanish astrophotographer Joan Català...
  • Blog Post: Ask Michael — on Twitter

    For years, Astronomy magazine has run the popular column “Ask Astro.” Many readers have submitted astronomy-related questions and seen them answered in print. In the age of social media, however, we can go a step further. You can see your question answered immediately. On Thursday,...
  • Blog Post: NEAF 2011: How did you get interested in astronomy?

    I had a great time attending the 2011 Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) held in Suffern, New York, April 16–17. During the event, I wandered from booth to booth with a small video camera in hand asking astronomy vendors, astroimagers, and one very happy Astronomy contest winner one simple question...
  • Blog Post: Observe like a pirate

    I just learned about one of this season’s earliest star parties, and I thought I’d share it here. The 5th annual Bootleg Astronomers Star Party will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, June 3, and continue through noon, Sunday, June 5. The event takes place at Green River Conservation Area, Harmon,...
  • Blog Post: Kings of the constellation heap

    I’m a constellation kind of guy. So in that spirit, I thought I’d chat about some of the star figures now up in the Northern Hemisphere’s spring sky. Did you know that you can find the three largest constellations all at the same time? That’s right. The top three of the sky’s...
  • Blog Post: The Winter Star Party concludes

    As the saying goes: all good things must come to an end. And so, the 2011 Winter Star Party (WSP) in Marathon, Florida, is over. The awards ceremony and door prizes on Friday, March 4, recognized some of the fine astrophotography done at the WSP, as well as winners of the WSP’s 2011 Astronomy Outreach...
  • Blog Post: The Winter Star Party continues

    I write this Thursday morning, March 3. Festivities are in their fourth day at the 2011 Winter Star Party (WSP) in Marathon, Florida. Monday night’s sky was terrific. Tuesday night it rained, and last night brought a mix of mostly clouds with some occasional clearing — and some wind. I carefully...
  • Blog Post: The Winter Star Party begins today

    After a 10-hour drive from north Florida to Marathon on Saturday, my wife Debbie and I arrived at our vacation rental house for this year’s Winter Star Party (WSP). I chose this particular abode because it sits on the ocean side of Vaca Key and provides me a direct view south with nothing but the...
  • Blog Post: Featured: "Why Gen X and Y should care about astronomy"

    Any visitor to a star party likely would notice that there aren’t a lot of young people attending. A constant flurry of technology seems to put stargazing on the backburner for the younger generations. As the great astronomy popularizer Carl Sagan once said, most people on this planet live their...
  • Blog Post: Lowell Observatory offers customized field trip program to astronomy clubs

    Guest blog by Michael T. Kitt What could be more exciting than an inside look at an astronomical research facility? Lowell Observatory, located in Flagstaff, Arizona, is now offering a program developed specifically for astronomy clubs and groups. The field trip will provide a unique opportunity to...
  • Blog Post: The gauntlet has been flung

    Do you like seeing new objects when you’re out observing? Well, a wonderful new reference, Cosmic Challenge — The Ultimate Observing List for Amateurs (Cambridge University Press, 2011), just arrived on my desk. Written by experienced observer Phil Harrington, this highly illustrated work...
  • Blog Post: Astronomy magazine's sketching gallery goes live

    Calling all observers who ever put pencil to paper while peering through an eyepiece. Astronomy magazine’s 10th area in its Online Reader Gallery is now up and running. [caption image="/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/astronomy.Misc/0876.Rupes_2D00_Recta_2D002800_the_2D00_Straight_2D00_W...
  • Blog Post: Granite Gap observatories commenced

    Pouring the foundation of the first observatory at Granite Gap; construction on more than a dozen others will begin shortly. Gene Turner photo As several of us have reported in Astronomy magazine, astronomy developer Gene Turner is creating the first low-cost dark-sky community for amateur astronomers...
  • Blog Post: Time again for the Ghost Hunt

    In the October 2009 issue of Astronomy , Contributing Editor Stephen James O’Meara wrote “Take the Ghost Hunt challenge.” In that story, he listed 109 Halloween-themed targets perfect for fall observing. Well, it’s fall again, so you might want to check out this link and revisit the Ghost Hunt. (Subscriber...
  • Blog Post: The Astronomy Outreach Foundation hits YouTube

    This year, the Astronomy Outreach Foundation (AOF) formed to help amateur astronomers, astronomy clubs, and educators learn more about — and more easily share their love of — astronomy. The first AOF get-together — part of an international Saturday night Moon-watching event — occurred September 18 and...