October 2007
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
Supernova 1987A 20 years later
The brightest supernova since the telescope’s invention
taught astronomers a great deal about exploding stars – and points out a lot they still don’t know.
taught astronomers a great deal about exploding stars – and points out a lot they still don’t know.
Web extra: Did Supernova 1987A leave behind a pulsar?
Astronomers feel confident SN 1987A left behind a rapidly spinning neutron star. Despite extensive searches and a few false detections, however, the quest to find it has turned up empty.
How the Big Bang forged the first elements
Nuclear reactions in the universe’s first minutes made the lightest elements. This find changed scientists’ minds about cosmic origins.
Web extra: Alpher, Herman, and the CMB
In 1950, two young physicists estimated the cosmic microwave background’s temperature – and nearly got it right.
Family ties reveal asteroid origins
Tracing the history of space rocks uncovers a cluster with a common origin.
Web extra: Asteroids redden as they age
An asteroid’s color reveals the effects of space weathering.
“Come see the Moon!”
One night, sidewalk astronomer Jeffrey Jacobs offered the Moon. But would skeptical New Yorkers accept the gift?
Web extra: How to enjoy urban skies
There is plenty to see, despite the glare of light pollution.
Illustrated: Mars in high def
The Red Planet explodes with detail under Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s amazing cameras.
Observe autumn’s best nebulae
Intricate gas clouds and sparkling stars await you.
Web extra: Observe autumn’s best nebulae
Use this software and your Meade telescope to observe all the objects from listed in Astronomy‘s October 2007 issue.
Astronomy thrives in Texas
Find your astronomical adventure in the Lone Star state.
Sky-testing William Optics’ new refractors
Sharp optics in two beautiful packages make these telescopes easy to look at and easier to look through.
Experience Meade’s new eyepieces
Choosing the right eyepiece is easy with Meade’s Series 5000 oculars.
Departments
This month in Astronomy
Beautiful universe
Letters
Bob Berman’s strange universe
Glenn Chaple’s observing basics
Phil Harrington’s binocular universe
Web extra: Spying the sky’s wet quarter
Stephen James O’Meara’s secret sky
News
The sky this month
Ask Astro
New products
Coming events
Advertiser index
Reader gallery
