December 2000
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
Into Another Dimension
Strap on your 3-D glasses and watch the solar system and the deep sky come to life as we present three stories filled with wondrous three-dimensional images.
Back to Mars
The Mars Pathfinder mission may have shut down in 1997, but scientists continue to pore over the images and data returned from a martian flood plain.
Seeing the Depths of the Universe
Distant galaxies, glowing nebulae, glittering star clusters, and more highlight Akira Inaka’s impressive gallery of astrophotos.
Earth Is a Planet, Too
NASA’s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission returned 270 megabytes of data every second, letting scientists create topographic maps of 80 percent of Earth’s landmass.
Space Junk
Even a particle of dust packs a wallop when it hits at 22,000 miles per hour. And with 5,500 tons of man-made objects in Earth orbit, collisions will occur.
Stars Shine over Tinseltown
The greater Los Angeles area boasts Griffith Observatory, Mt. Wilson, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and – surprise – some of the best skies in North America.
Departments
Behind the Scenes
Talking Back
AstroNews
Sky Show
Strange Universe
Star Stuff
Looking Ahead
Advertiser Index
Hot Shots
Ultimate Exposure