December 2010

Subscribe today and save!
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

Astronomy magazine's Sky Guide 2011

By Martin Ratcliffe and Richard Talcott
Bright planets, streaking meteors, and total eclipses of the Moon highlight an exceptional observing year.

How stars form

By Liz Kruesi

Stars begin as clouds of cold gas that transform into blazing hot fireballs. Here's what scientists know about the process - and what they're missing.

pg. 26

Web Extra: All about stars

By Liz Kruesi

Now that you've read how stars form, check out what's going on inside them.

What's the Sun made of?

By Jim B. Kaler

By analyzing the Sun's light, astronomers are learning about not only our star's makeup, but also the early solar system.

pg. 30

Web extra: See the Sun in high-def

By Bill Andrews

Now that you've read about our star's composition, watch its roiling surface in action from the comfort of your own computer.

How five doomed missions triumphed in the end

By Richard Talcott

Like the mythic Phoenix, these spacecraft rose from the ashes of near-certain failure.

pg. 44

Web extra: How astronauts fixed Hubble

By Richard Talcott

In December 1993, astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour successfully repaired the Hubble Space Telescope, turning the observatory into the science machine it remains today.

See the nearest stars

By Michael E. Bakich, Anthony Ayiomamatis

The stars next door are fun to hunt, easy to spot, and can teach you about astrophysics.

pg. 52

Web extra: The 100 closest stars

By Michael E. Bakich

Here's the complete list for your observing pleasure.

PlaneWave's hot new astroimaging scope

By Tony Hallas

The new CDK17 telescope offers thermal stability, ease of use, and killer images.

pg. 56

Columns