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A great scope in a great location

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

In June, Astronomy Editor David J. Eicher and I visited developer Gene Turner’s Rancho Hidalgo in Animas, New Mexico. On Saturday, June 20, the three of us, plus eight more guests, visited an observatory that stands at 6,500 feet (1,980 meters) elevation on a mountain Turner owns. Outside the facility, we observed the Sun through a high-quality Hydrogen-alpha filter belonging to Turner. Once inside the facility, he gave us a brief description of the 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien reflecting telescope....

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Pouring concrete for the Karoo Array Telescope

Posted 15 years ago by Matt Quandt

Here's the latest update on the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) project from “Our man in Cape Town,” Benne Holwerda, researcher at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.Engineers on the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) project are constructing a seven-dish prototype, KAT-7. These first seven dishes will help the engineers learn how to build dishes that do not cause interference in observations, connect them up, point them all, and build the software.This latest development is an excitin...

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Astronomy contributing editor talks outreach with local newspaper

Posted 15 years ago by Matt Quandt

The Sun, a Jacksonville, Florida, newspaper, recently interviewed Mike Reynolds about his life in astronomy. Reynolds is the dean of liberal arts and sciences at Florida Community College at the Jacksonville Kent Campus and won an AstronomyOutreach 2009 AstroOscar for spreading awareness of astronomy education. He is a contributing editor for Astronomy magazine. Read the Q&A, "Astronomy expert Mike Reynolds."Congrats, Mike!Recent equipment reviews by Reynolds include:Orion EON 80mm...

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Countdown to Apollo 11 anniversary

Posted 15 years ago by Karri Ferron

As we get closer and closer to July 20, the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and celebrating man’s first steps on the Moon, more cool ways to commemorate the Apollo program are popping up. NASA has a bunch of events planned already, and I’m sure they’ll announce more in the weeks ahead. Here are a few highlights:July 2: Take a virtual tour of the Apollo Lunar Sample Processing Lab and Storage Vaults at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. You can also ask lunar sample scientists Gary Lofgren and...

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Book review: Painting Apollo: First Artist on Another World

Posted 15 years ago by Matt Quandt

Special contribution from Astronomy magazine illustrator, Roen KellyVery seldom do I get a request to write for the magazine. Smart move on management’s part. However, it just so happened a book of paintings arrived at the Astronomy offices. The book, Painting Apollo: First Artist on Another World, showcases the paintings of Alan Bean. Who better to review the book but one of the staff artists?The book is unique in that, as many of you know, Alan Bean was an astronaut. He is famous for piloting ...

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This is serious community astronomy

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

“Now therefore, we, the Board of Trustees and its President, do hereby proclaim the dark sky over the village of Barrington Hills a fitting attribute for the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009.”So states the proclamation dated December 15, 2008, and originating from Village Hall, Barrington Hills, Illinois. Just before the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) began, the village’s board of trustees took up the cause against light pollution. In so doing, they pledged t...

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"Train Like an Astronaut" sweepstakes

Posted 15 years ago by Karri Ferron

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a real astronaut? What would it be like to feel the g-forces of spaceflight? How do you perform everyday tasks out in space? Well, here’s your chance to find out.To celebrate the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the Moon, Astronomy magazine is teaming up with Borders and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to bring astronomy enthusiasts the “Train Like an Astronaut” Sweepstakes. Now through July 27, you can find a form at Astronomy.com to enter for a...

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Roaming through summer’s deep-sky objects at Rancho Hidalgo

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

On Saturday night, June 20, once again a clear night, good friends, and a 30-inch telescope combined to make a memorable observing session. Astronomy Editor David J. Eicher and I had been at developer Gene Turner’s Rancho Hidalgo in Animas, New Mexico, for 2 nights already, but both had been cloudy. (See my blog about why.)See more pictures from Dave and Michael's trip to Rancho Hidalgo.Earlier in the day, Turner proclaimed, “Tonight will be clear.” As the hours passed, it became apparent he...

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June 26-July 3, 2009: The Keystone, globular cluster M10, reflection nebula NGC 6726

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

Each week, Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich, a master at explaining how to observe, posts a podcast about three objects or events you can see in the sky. In each episode, Michael highlights: One object you can see without any optical aidOne object you can see with a small (4-inch) telescopeOne object you can see with at least an 8-inch telescope Targets for June 26-July 3, 2009 Naked eye: The KeystoneSmall telescope: Globular cluster M108-inch or larger telescope: Reflection...

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August 2009 web extras for magazine subscribers

Posted 15 years ago by Karri Ferron

Now that the August 2009 issue of Astronomy is in the mail or already in hand, we’ve updated Astronomy.com with our newest web extras to give subscribers exclusive complementary information to this special issue about our return to the Moon.Take a sneak peek inside the August 2009 Astronomy magazine.If you subscribe to Astronomy, make sure you’re registered with Astronomy.com so you can access these great extras.Here are this issue's highlights:Senior Editor Richard Talcott shares a NASA vid...

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On the road: Deep-sky observing with Rancho Hidalgo’s 30-inch reflector

Posted 15 years ago by David Eicher

Spending time in the desert in New Mexico in June usually means automatic clear skies. However, after departing for the Rancho Hidalgo astronomy development on Thursday, Senior Editor Michael Bakich and I found ourselves trapped by clouds. We had an unusual monsoon pattern that carried stuff up from the south much earlier than it usually does. Nonetheless, the sky gods were kind to us, and by Saturday the atmosphere was clearing. It became apparent that on Saturday night we would be in for a bar...

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On the road: Monsoons at Rancho Hidalgo

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

Monsoon — In the United States Southwest, a southerly weather flow characterized by increased humidity, periodic showers, and heavy clouds; usually occurs from mid-July to mid-September.If you’re thinking that doesn’t sound like a great scenario for two Midwestern astronomers looking to observe, you’re right. Thursday afternoon, Astronomy Editor David Eicher and I arrived at Rancho Hidalgo in Animas, New Mexico. Each of us came armed with a detailed observing list of faint targets we hoped to sp...

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On the road: Rancho Hidalgo, Day 1

Posted 15 years ago by David Eicher

On Thursday, Senior Editor Michael Bakich and I traveled to Tucson and then made the 3-hour drive to Rancho Hidalgo near Animas, New Mexico. We spent a couple days with a stellar array of amateur astronomers at the site, flummoxed by a very unusual event for this time of year — two straight cloudy nights. A weird, early season, monsoon-type flow was pushing clouds up from the south.See more pictures from Dave and Michael's trip to Rancho Hidalgo.On Saturday, our luck changed. We aw...

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June 19-26, 2009: Ptolemy’s Cluster, globular cluster M14, and the galaxy UGC 10822

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

Each week, Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich, a master at explaining how to observe, posts a podcast about three objects or events you can see in the sky. In each episode, Michael highlights: One object you can see without any optical aidOne object you can see with a small (4-inch) telescopeOne object you can see with at least an 8-inch telescope Targets for June 19-26, 2009 Naked eye: Ptolemy’s ClusterSmall telescope: Globular cluster M148-inch or larger telescope: Galaxy UG...

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Journey to the Moon with Apollo 11

Posted 15 years ago by Karri Ferron

On July 16, 2009, the world will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 launching from the Kennedy Space Center and heading to the Moon for the first lunar landing. To commemorate this historical event, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, NASA, and AOL have collaborated to create www.WeChooseTheMoon.org. The site invites users to “climb aboard” Apollo 11 on July 16 and experience a real-time visual and audio re-creation of the lunar m...

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Book review: The Cambridge Double Star Atlas

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

A new reference, The Cambridge Double Star Atlas (Cambridge University Press, 2009), just arrived at the magazine. Written by experienced observer James Mullaney and beautifully illustrated by renowned celestial cartographer Wil Tirion, this is a comprehensive and gorgeous work.The Cambridge Double Star Atlas is the first modern star atlas devoted to double and multiple stars. In it, you’ll find more than 2,000 stellar pairs. The authors painstakingly labeled each with its designation. Mullaney ...

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LRO scientist Michael Wyatt blogs for Astronomy

Posted 15 years ago by Daniel Pendick

If all goes as planned, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will launch from Cape Canaveral either Thursday or Friday, depending on the launch of space shuttle Endeavour. Brown University professor and LRO researcher Michael Wyatt is at the launch site, and starting today, Wyatt will share his impressions of this historic mission — the opening maneuver in the United States return to the Moon — with all of you. Thanks, Michael!We'll post Michael's updates to this article in our news se...

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On the road: Apollo Rendezvous 2009, Saturday

Posted 15 years ago by David Eicher

Saturday was the big day for Apollo Rendezvous, the 39th such convention held by the Miami Valley Astronomical Society (MVAS) at the Boonshoft Museum of Science in Dayton, Ohio. The day started off early and, although turnout was down somewhat this year due to the economy, the dedicated Daytonians and those who came from Cincinnati and beyond enjoyed an enthusiastic program of talks and activities throughout the day, punctuated by frequent discussions in the hallways and throughout the muse...

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On the road: Apollo Rendezvous 2009, Friday

Posted 15 years ago by David Eicher

The first day of the Apollo Rendezvous meeting in Dayton, Ohio, got rolling with a celebratory lunch with the Eichers — the undersigned, father John and sister Nancy — and members of the host Miami Valley Astronomical Society at the upscale and interesting Amber Rose Restaurant in Dayton. Among those present were meeting organizers Linda and Rick Weiss, Astronomical League President Terry Mann, prime-level astroimager John Chumack, meteorite expert Ron Whitehead, club editor Joe Tark...

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On the road: Apollo Rendezvous, Thursday

Posted 15 years ago by David Eicher

Thursday I traveled to Dayton, Ohio, my family’s old stomping grounds, to attend the annual Apollo Rendezvous meeting that got rolling Friday. After arriving, I met my father John and sister Nancy and we spent a little time running around the city visiting some sites associated with family history. A couple of those sites also relate to the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who as we all know invented flight and are therefore the godfathers of space flight. See more images from Dave...

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June 12-19, 2009: The Butterfly Cluster, globular cluster M107, and spiral galaxy NGC 6207

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

Each week, Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich, a master at explaining how to observe, posts a podcast about three objects or events you can see in the sky. In each episode, Michael highlights: One object you can see without any optical aidOne object you can see with a small (4-inch) telescopeOne object you can see with at least an 8-inch telescope Targets for June 12-19, 2009 Naked eye: Butterfly Cluster Small telescope: Globular cluster M107 8-inch or larger telescope: Spir...

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On the road: AAS meeting, Wednesday highlights

Posted 15 years ago by Liz Kruesi

Wednesday I had the time to attend most of the big talks (in addition to two press conferences). The first presentation of the morning was about astronomy education, public outreach, and Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. I was planning on going to the observatory Wednesday night anyhow, so it definitely made me look forward to the visit.Mike Brown, professor of planetary astronomy at the California Institute of Technology, gave the second talk of the day. He spoke about the outer solar system...

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On the road: AAS meeting, Tuesday highlights

Posted 15 years ago by Liz Kruesi

Tuesday was a busy day: two press conferences, a science session on the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), two invited talks, and a session about planet definition.In one of the press conferences, University of California at Berkeley astronomers Edward Wishnow (pictured at right) and Charles Townes announced that they’ve measured Betelgeuse’s diameter. This red supergiant seems to be shrinking. Its diameter is some 15 percent smaller than it was in 1990 — that’s a pretty significant cha...

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Astronomy magazine equipment reviews now available online

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

I began working for Astronomy February 17, 2003. Since then, we have published more than 70 equipment reviews — almost one per month. And when you include product roundups like “25 top telescopes for starry nights” and “25 great observing accessories,” the total number of products we’ve featured tops 200. That’s quite a resource if you or somebody you know is looking to buy a telescope or accessory.But it’s only great if you own every magazine we p...

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On the road preview: Apollo Rendezvous 2009

Posted 15 years ago by David Eicher

Tomorrow I’ll travel to my old home grounds in southern Ohio to attend the 2009 Apollo Rendezvous meeting in Dayton. I’ll give a talk about Galileo’s telescopes and observations in this 400th anniversary year. Apollo Rendezvous is a nice meeting, held at Dayton’s Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and sponsored by the Miami Valley Astronomical Society. It’s a special event for me; the very first astronomy convention I ever attended was the 1976 Apollo Rendezvous, and the staff at the host Dayton Muse...

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On the road: American Astronomical Society June meeting, Monday

Posted 15 years ago by Liz Kruesi

Monday was my first day at the 214th American Astronomical Society meeting. What I’ve already noticed is that it’s not as jam-packed with press events as the January meeting — which I like. (I have the time to check out the science presentations.) Recent headlines from the AAS meeting:Red giant star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion is mysteriously shrinkingA sleeping giantNew technique improves estimates of pulsar agesTexas-sized computer finds most massive black hole in galaxy M87I started...

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Results from this year’s NASA Lunar Art Contest for students

Posted 15 years ago by Karri Ferron

It’s a common misconception that someone has to be good at math or science to have an interest in space. Art is an integral part of astronomy these days — many discoveries in the distant universe can’t be captured in a photo but must be portrayed through an illustration. Astronomy is full of these illustrations each month, both from the hand of our own Roen Kelly and from outside artists.NASA celebrates the art of astronomy with its second annual NASA Lunar Art Contest, and the results are in. T...

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On the road preview: The American Astronomical Society June meeting

Posted 15 years ago by Liz Kruesi

This weekend I travel to southern California (Pasadena to be exact) for the 214th American Astronomical Society meeting. I’ll be there through Thursday morning, soaking up the science updates. In addition, I’m planning to head to Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Last time I visited Griffith was about 10 years ago, and I’ve heard the renovations to the observatory are fabulous.The June AAS meeting isn’t as large as the January meeting, but there will still be some 1,000 astronomers attending....

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Your Mars questions, Dr. C answers

Posted 15 years ago by Daniel Pendick

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars Exploration Program web site has a fun new feature — Ask Dr. C, “your personal Mars expert.” You can type in a simple question — the simpler, the better — and get a pretty good answer. A computer program tries to match your question with an extensive database of responses.The real Dr. C is Phil Christensen, a planetary scientist at Arizona State University. Christensen is the Principal Investigator for the 2001 Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (TH...

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June 5-12, 2009: Variable star R Coronae Borealis, open cluster NGC 6124, and globular cluster NGC 6144

Posted 15 years ago by Michael Bakich

Each week, Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich, a master at explaining how to observe, posts a podcast about three objects or events you can see in the sky. In each episode, Michael highlights: One object you can see without any optical aid One object you can see with a small (4-inch) telescope One object you can see with at least an 8-inch telescope Targets for June 5-12, 2009Naked eye: Variable star R Coronae BorealisSmall telescope: Open cluster NGC 61248-inch or larg...

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