January 2004

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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

Journey to Saturn

By Alfred S. McEwen

If all goes according to plan, the Cassini spacecraft will run rings around the Voyager flybys of Saturn. And that's not even counting the Huygens probe, which will parachute to the surface of the enigmatic moon Titan.

pg. 34

In the line of fire

By Steve Nadis

Since their discovery in the '70s, gamma-ray bursts have stumped astronomers. Now, research suggests these energetic blasts originate in the violent deaths of massive stars.

pg. 42

"Space flight is utter bilge."

By Donald Yeomans

Despite skepticism and ridicule from scientists and the public alike, a small handful of dreamers kept faith in their vision of space flight and planned for the day when humanity would break loose from Earth.

pg. 48

From heaven on Earth . . . into thin air

By Richard Talcott, David J. Eicher

Last year, ASTRONOMY's tours to Alaska and Hawaii featured spectacular views of everything from the northern lights to the Southern Cross. This year's excursions promise to be just as eventful.

pg. 76

Lunar Apennines

By Robert Burnham

You'll be scrambling to set up your scope after you read this fascinating story of crater formation and destruction in this rugged area of the Moon.

pg. 82

Orion's StarBlast

By Phil Harrington

Orion's new telescope for kids offers a wide field of view, good images, portability, and low cost - and the best thing is you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it.

pg. 84

Saturn in prime time

By Julius L. Benton, Jr.

Take advantage of this year's favorable appearance of Saturn. A longtime watcher of the Ringed Planet shares his helpful tips and techniques to enhance your observing.

pg. 88

Departments

This month in Astronomy

Cassini's long cruise to Saturn

Beautiful universe

Letters

Bob Berman's strange universe

Stupidity smarts

Glenn Chaple's observing basics

'Scoping tips

Interview

Professor Jay Pasachoff, Williams College

News

— New image of the Sombrero Galaxy
— Inflatable heat shield undergoing tests
— Prospecting on the Moon
— Gamma-ray bursts tied to extinction?
— Long-lost asteroid found

The sky this month

Venus and Saturn vie for honors

Ask Astro

Turning stars on, Tycho and Galileo, orbits

New products

— StarStructure Dobsonians
— PixSoft StarGPS setup package
— SkyShed roll-off observatory
— Astronomical neckties

Book reviews

— A Short History of Nearly Everything
— A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy

Coming events

Advertiser index

Resources

Reader gallery