Features

Hubble’s dazzling decade

With nearly 130,000 images to its credit, the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 has opened our eyes to the universe.

Ghostbusting the Universe

Neutrinos have been called the tiniest bits of reality ever imaged by human beings – but astronomers are discovering they’re essential for understanding how the universe works.

The black cloud

A cold, dark mass of gas and dust lurks nearby, blocking all light behind it. Find out what this pulsating blob may be spawning within.

The rise and fall of Tycho Brahe

Working before telescopes were invented, Tycho Brahe made thousands of meticulous observations that helped transform astronomy into the hard science it is today.

Octans, Chamaeleon, and Volans

At first glance, the southerly estates of the Octant, Chameleon, and Flying Fish may not appear to possess many riches, but observers who look closely at these humble constellations will find plenty deep-sky rewards.

The lure of meteorites

Bits of rock and metal – some large, some small – fall to Earth every day. Some of this material is collected and offered for sale. Want to own a “piece of the sky”? Will that be cash, check, or charge?

Build an astro library

Build your own astronomical library with tips from a collector who’s amassed several thousand titles.

Imaging with webcams

Many of today’s webcams produce quality images of bright objects such as the Moon or planets but flunk the long-exposure test. Learn how to modify webcams and successfully capture images of dim, deep-sky objects.

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