Features

Big glass

The past decade has seen an explosion of giant optical telescopes, which have started to change the way we see the universe.

Big science

Gone are the days of lone astronomers toiling in remote observatories. While some still prefer to go it alone, research groups are getting larger, and the stakes are getting higher.

Catch a celestial tango

The universe is littered with the strange wreckage of colliding galaxies – explosive structures that illuminate Nature’s violent dance.

Can minorities break astronomy’s glass ceiling?

Members of the AAS Minorities Committee talk with ASTRONOMY editors about their continuing efforts to be recognized.

Coma Berenices

Dozens of Coma-Virgo galaxy cluster members and Messier objects are among the deep-sky wonders that decorate Berenice’s Hair.

Eclipse extravaganza

May offers a double dose for eclipse watchers, with a total lunar eclipse followed by an annular eclipse of the Sun two weeks later. Find out how to get the best seat in the house for both events.

The STV: Video camera, CCD, or autoguider?

Easier than three instruments, faster than your old desktop. It’s a CCD. It’s a video camera. No, wait: It’s the STV multipurpose camera by Santa Barbara Instrument Group.

Eclipses and transits

Three celestial showstoppers occur this month – a lunar and a solar eclispe, and a transit of Mercury across the Sun.

SkyQuest: Easy exploring

Make observing a simple joy again. Orion’s Sky Quest Dobs provide an easy and affordable way to explore the heavens.

High-power twin optics

Giant binoculars reveal a universe of detail by fully utilizing the factory-installed human optical system.

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