Astronomy magazine editors share their unique insight from behind the scenes of the science, hobby, and magazine.
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Podcast #100!

Posted 14 years ago by Chris Raymond
Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich records weekly podcast #100 in Kalmbach Publishing Company’s video/sound studio, July 22, 2010. Chris Raymond photoAstronomy magazine achieved a milestone Thursday, July 22, when its weekly observing podcast reached the century mark. With clocklike regularity every week for the past two years, Senior Editor Michael Bakich has prepared a script detailing three night sky objects listeners can spy regardless of their equipment or experience level. Aft...
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A revolutionary observing opportunity — and more

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
Chris Eicher visits Astronomy magazine’s observatory, which stands at Rancho Hidalgo, near Granite Gap, Animas, New Mexico. Clyde Tombaugh’s telescope appears in the background. David J. Eicher photoAs amateur astronomers, we spend most of our lives away from dark skies. Because of our jobs and more and more encroachment by light pollution, we rarely get to bask under the splendor of a spectacularly dark sky, let alone with a telescope at the ready. A new concept in dark-sky observing is about t...
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Sketching at the telescope: Joe Caruso’s lunar surface

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  The Moon sketched by Joe Caruso.  David J. Eicher library  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series.  ...
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Sketching at the telescope: Christopher Heil’s M87

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Galaxies M87, NGC 4476, and NGC 4478 sketched by Christopher Heil using an 8-inch f/10 SCT at 120x from Silver Spring, Maryland.  David J. Eicher library  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series.  ...
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Sketching at the telescope: Pierre Schwaar’s Abell 2

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Planetary nebula Abell 2 sketched by Pierre Schwaar using a 20-inch f/5.1 reflector at 140x with a Lumicon Deep-Sky filter from Buckeye Hills Park, Arizona, February 1, 1987.  David J. Eicher library  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope se...
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Get set for SETIcon

Posted 14 years ago by Bill Andrews
Those in the know are already getting ready for the start of Comic-Con, the 40-year-old annual San Diego convention that began as a comic book gathering but has transformed into a showcase for anything even slightly nerdy. (“Nerdy” has recently included phenomena such as popular video games, the Transformers movies, and — for some reason — Paris Hilton.) But fun as it will presumably be, and as much as I’d like to go sometime, I’m actually more interested in another “con” about a month away. SE...
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Sketching at the telescope: Gary T. Nowak’s Comet Halley

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Comet Halley sketched by Gary T. Nowak of the Vermont Astronomical Society using a 16-inch f/4.5 reflector at 75x, August 10, 1985, from West Oak Hill, Williston, Vermont.  David J. Eicher library  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope ser...
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Falling Stars: The World Cup, Moai, and an eclipse …

Posted 14 years ago by Mike Reynolds
I captured this image of the partial phase of the total solar eclipse less than a minute before second contact. Mike Reynolds photoTo me, it was a surreal scene for the July 11 total solar eclipse on Easter Island, my 17th total solar eclipse. Although many would think this is a large number, I know several people I have had the fortune to travel with who have seen many more. Guess I am still a neophyte … Our observing site on Easter Island was simply awe-inspiring, and ranks in my all-time top...
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Sketching at the telescope: George de Lange’s Ring Nebula

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
    The Ring Nebula (M57) sketched by George de Lange using a 13.1-inch f/4.5 reflector at 200x from Fessler’s Ranch, Arizona.  David J. Eicher library  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series....
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Astronomy magazine article up for award

Posted 14 years ago by Liz Kruesi
We just heard that Contributing Editor Bruce Dorminey’s January 2010 article, “What galaxy superclusters tell us about the universe,” is up for an award. (I’m pretty excited about it, as I served as the project editor for this article.) Specifically, it’s on the shortlist for the Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award’s “Space” category. The presentation ceremony is Sunday, July 18. We’ll find out then if Dorminey’s article wins out against the other four in contention. You can read more about ...
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Sketching at the telescope: Tom Sarna’s Mars

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
    Mars sketched by Tom Sarna using a 10-inch f/4.5 reflector at 140x, August 6, 1988, from Downers Grove, Illinois.  David J. Eicher library  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series. ...
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Bringing the stars to the capital

Posted 14 years ago by Bill Andrews
President Barack Obama looks through a telescope during the Astronomy Night event on the South Lawn of the White House, October 7, 2009. "Astronomy Night on the National Mall" will take place just blocks from where the White House star party was hosted. Official White House Photo by Chuck KennedyRecently, I received information on a great stargazing event from Donald Lubowich at Hofstra University and Phil Larson at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy that I thought...
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On the Road: Easter Island touring

Posted 14 years ago by Michael Bakich
Tuesday, July 13, was an unusual winter day on Easter Island — it didn’t rain on us. Because the weather was favorable, we got to see some sites we missed the first day we were here. First was the volcanic crater at the southwestern edge of the island. Our busses dropped us off at its foot, intending for us to get a quick look before driving us to the top. Several of us, however, started off on the narrow trail and hiked to the summit. Because we were near sea level, this trek sure was easier th...
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Sketching at the telescope: Dave Eicher’s NGC 6751

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Planetary nebula NGC 6751 in Aquila sketched by Dave Eicher using a 17.5-inch f/4.5 reflector at 71x.  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series.  ...
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Revisiting the old rockets

Posted 14 years ago by Bill Andrews
To most people (including my wife), this is what Puerto Rico is all about. Liz Andrews photoApart from visiting the world-famous Arecibo Observatory on our recent vacation to Puerto Rico, my wife and I made sure to hit the more typical vacation spots too, like the rain forest and beaches. But, because I hadn’t been back to my hometown in 16 years, we also made sure to visit my old neighborhood, and even the old house (it was, of course, smaller than I remembered). Most importantly, though, we ...
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On the Road: Easter Island and the Moai

Posted 14 years ago by Michael Bakich
Fellow traveler Heather Mellows caught a beautiful wide-field image of the total solar eclipse July 11, 2010. Heather Mellows photoMonday, July 12, may have been the most relaxing day of my life. Why? Because the day before, our eclipse expedition group on Easter Island saw this year’s total solar eclipse. As the astronomer on this trip, I felt some tension leading up to the celestial event. But now that we’ve seen it, the pressure is off. Everyone loves me! (OK, everyone likes me.) And they wer...
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Sketching at the telescope: Alan Goldstein’s NGC 4485 and NGC 4490

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Interacting galaxies NGC 4485 and NGC 4490 sketched by Alan Goldstein using a 10-inch f/5 reflector at 40x.  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series.  ...
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2010 eclipse pictures from Easter Island

Posted 14 years ago by Karri Ferron
July 11, 2010, total solar eclipse from Easter Island. Jeff Houpt photoOne of the members of Senior Editor Michael E. Bakich's 2010 solar eclipse tour group was nice enough to send in some pictures from July 11's total solar eclipse over Easter Island. Thanks, Jeff Houpt! Related blogs from Michael Bakich On the Road: 2010 eclipse on Easter Island On the Road: 2010 eclipse trip — Arica, Chile Senior editor reaches Chile Senior editor off to Easter Island July 11, 2010, total solar ...
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On the Road: 2010 eclipse on Easter Island

Posted 14 years ago by Michael Bakich
Update: Check out two blogs with pictures of the eclipse from my tour group! 2010 eclipse pictures from Easter Island and On the Road: Easter Island and the Moai  I woke up yesterday (July 11) to rain, then a bit of blue sky, then more rain. Our meteorologist from Holland, Harry, predicted mostly clear skies at eclipse time. Well, he was right! The eclipse happened as our group and about 1,000 other lucky souls watched this exercise of sublime celestial geometry in wide-eyed won...
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Sketching at the telescope: Daniel Graham’s Venus

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Venus sketched by Daniel L. Graham using a 6-inch refractor at 166x, February 25, 1988, at 17:15 UT.  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series. ...
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On the Road: 2010 eclipse trip — Arica, Chile

Posted 14 years ago by Michael Bakich
Our trip to stand under the Sun on Easter Island continues essentially without a hitch. Thursday, we drove through Chile’s Atacama Desert. What a fantastic experience! The contrast of the lifeless desert and a deep-blue sky was amazing. Today from our hotel in Arica, we take a city tour, which includes the famous desert mummies. Later this afternoon, we board a plane for Santiago. Then, it’s off to Easter Island Saturday. One of our group is a leading meteorologist from Holland. He predicts ra...
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Recibidos en Arecibo (Received in Arecibo)

Posted 14 years ago by Bill Andrews
The Arecibo Observatory’s radio telescope platform hangs 500 feet (150 meters) above the 1,000-foot-wide (305 meters) dish. Liz Andrews photoPeople are often surprised to learn I’m Puerto Rican, especially when they’ve only seen my name or picture. But I was indeed born and raised on the tropical island, enjoying every moment until my family and I moved away about 16 years ago. I’d never actually gone back until last month (along with my wife, who’d never seen the island), capping off my series ...
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Sketching at the telescope: Lee Keith’s Red Planet

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
  Mars sketched by Lee Keith using a 12-inch f/9 reflector at 380x and a red + polarizing filter, October 20, 1988, from 2:45 to 3:00 UT, from New Berlin, Wisconsin.  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series. ...
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Senior editor reaches Chile

Posted 14 years ago by Michael Bakich
I have temporary Internet access, so I thought I’d post a note. We didn’t have much access through Bolivia, as those of you reading my tweets and Facebook status updates might have noticed (sorry to bunch up all the updates like that). I think our access will be fine from now on. Fabulous trip so far. This is the best group I’ve ever traveled with. We’re all loopy from the altitude, but nobody sicker than a headache. Tomorrow we head to several small villages in the Atacama Desert and then to A...
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Sketching at the telescope: Phil Harrington’s Omega Nebula

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
The Omega Nebula (M17) sketched by Astronomy Contributing Editor Phil Harrington using a 13.1-inch f/4.5 reflector at 88x.  To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series. ...
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Sketching at the telescope: Tom Polakis’ Comet Bradfield

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
Comet Bradfield (1987 XXIX) sketched by Tom Polakis using a 14-inch f/2.8 reflector at 67x, December 22, 1987, from Riggs Road, Arizona. To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series. ...
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The future of spaceflight

Posted 14 years ago by Liz Kruesi
Dava Newman’s group designed this centrifuge. When a person is positioned in the contraption (so that his or her head is in the helmet), his or her feet will feel 1 G. Liz Kruesi photoWhile most of the presentations during the Knight/Kavli Universe Workshop talked about determining the properties of the universe or astronomical objects, our last day featured a presentation about manned space flight. To be honest, I wasn’t so excited about the talk beforehand, but that changed quickly. Dava Newma...
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Sketching at the telescope: Jose Olivarez’s Mars

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
Mars sketched by Jose Olivarez using a 10-inch f/7 reflector at 250x at 10:25 UT, August 27, 1988, from Wichita, Kansas. To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101." See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series. ...
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Senior editor off to Easter Island

Posted 14 years ago by Michael Bakich
Easter Island holds 887 moai, or monumental statues. Among them, groups from around the world hope to observe a total solar eclipse July 11. Photo courtesy Astronomical ToursThe next total solar eclipse will happen July 11 across the southern Pacific Ocean and a small part of southernmost South America. Depending on the weather, I and perhaps a few thousand others may see the Moon cover the Sun in the daytime.As the lead astronomer for a trip organized by Astronomical Tours, I, along with my wif...
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Sketching at the telescope: Comet Arend-Roland (C/1956 R1)

Posted 14 years ago by David Eicher
Comet Arend-Roland (C/1956 R1) sketched by Charles F. “Chick” Capen from a photograph taken April 26, 1957, showing the comet’s famous antitail. David J. Eicher libraryWe continue our series with a sketch by Charles F. “Chick” Capen showing the brilliant Comet Arend-Roland, as rendered from a photograph he took April 26, 1957. To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chap...
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