August 2010

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The world's best-selling astronomy magazine offers you the most exciting, visually stunning, and timely coverage of the heavens above. Each monthly issue includes expert science reporting, vivid color photography, complete sky coverage, spot-on observing tips, informative telescope reviews, and much more! All this in an easy-to-understand, user-friendly style that's perfect for astronomers at any level.

Features

How to find planets hidden by dust

By Marc J. Kuchner, Christopher C. Stark

The dust clouds that surround other stars can cloak an earthlike planet, but they also can offer tantalizing clues to a planet's presence.

pg. 24

Web extra: A zodiacal cloud close to home

By Richard Talcott

The beautiful zodiacal light visible in Earth's sky could have inspired the most iconic structures of ancient Egypt.

Illustrated: Ring around the planets

By Bill Andrews, Roen Kelly

Saturn sports spectacular rings, but all the gas giants in our solar system have ring systems on display.

pg. 30

10 crazy ideas from astronomy's past

By Michael E. Bakich

Some theories excel at explaining the universe. Others, like the ones here, are entertainingly ridiculous.

pg. 32

How amateur astronomers are really doing science

By Brian Skiff

Professional astronomers don't always catch everything in the sky. Astronomy enthusiasts are discovering near-Earth objects, measuring variable stars, and finding supernovae like never before.

pg. 44

Web extra: How you can do science from your backyard

By Liz Kruesi

You don't need a Ph.D. to contribute to astronomy research.

Challenge yourself with the Palomar globular clusters

By Phil Harrington

Pull out your large scope, head to a dark site, and test your skills with these 15 extreme targets.

pg. 52

Backyard astronomy on a budget

By Glenn Chaple

Amateur astronomy might seem like a daunting hobby, but you don't need much to get started.

pg. 56