February 2009
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 make a solar system
Mysterious gaps in dusty disks around other stars may explain the way our solar system looks.
Web extra: How protoplanets create gaps in dusty disks
Watch as a new planet forms and cuts a gap in the dusty disk of its birth. Understanding the details of this process could help explain the evolution of solar systems.
Will dark energy tear the universe apart?
Our cosmic fate depends on the biggest unknown in science.
Web extra: Future experiments to probe dark energy
Ground and space-based future detectors may give astronomers the information they need to determine what dark energy is.
Understanding the weirdest stellar explosions
Stars swallowing planets – or each other – could explain surprising stellar outbursts.
Web extra: Observing a bizarre stellar outburst
Howard Bond shares his experience capturing V838 Monocerotis.
Can we win the war against light pollution?
The night sky is getting brighter. Here’s how we can reverse the trend.
All about M81 and M82
These galactic gems offer a dazzling sight and high-level astrophysics to boot.
Web extra: M81 and M82 on display
We share some of our favorite images of these galaxies from our online collection.
iOptron’s lightweight mount supports on-the-go observing
Put your favorite small scope on the MiniTower, and let it be your celestial guide.
Departments
This Month in Astronomy
Beautiful Universe
Letters
Bob Berman’s Strange Universe
Stephen James O’Meara’s Secret Sky
News
The Sky this Month
Ask Astro
Glenn Chaple’s Observing Basics
New Products
Advertiser Index
Reader Gallery
