
August 1996
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 the Outer Limits
Cutting-edge technology could take a spacecraft beyond Pluto, where it would produce a unique bounty for science.
A River in the Universe
Surveys suggesting that distant galaxies do not expand smoothly may force astronomers to rethink their ideas about cosmology.
Catch a Perseid on Film
With the Moon out of the way for the Perseid meteors this year, observers and photographers alike should see a grand display.
Sky Almanac
Regardless of when you observe, these August nights provide at least one bright, well-placed planet.
Saturn’s Missing Rings
Observers watched enthralled as Saturn turned its rings edge-on to our line of sight for the first time in 15 years.
Free-form Observing
Many observers plan their viewing in great detail, but taking your scope on a random trek across the sky may produce bigger rewards.
Moonwalking the Outer Planets
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all high in the night sky this month, creating a perfect opportunity to glean their faint moons.
Fish-eye on the Sky
Looking for something different out of your celestial photos? Try capturing the entire sky in one image.
Departments
Behind the Scenes
Letters
AstroForum
AstroNews
Amateur News
Astronomy Books
AstroBytes
Meetings and Events
Resources & Photofacts
New Products
Advertiser Index
Reader Reports
Ultimate Exposure