BBC Sky at Night

Sky at Night magazine is your practical guide to astronomy. Each issue features the world’s biggest and best night sky guide complete with star charts, observing tutorials and in-depth equipment reviews to ensure that amateur astronomers never miss those must-see events.

Welcome • Is there life on Venus? We take a close look at the evidence

HOW TO CONTACT US

Sky at Night – lots of ways to enjoy the night sky...

This month’s contributors

Extra content ONLINE • Visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/bonus-content/E6AK8KT/ to access this month’s selection of exclusive Bonus Content

STAR SPANGLED SPIRAL • NGC 2835 is part of a galactic quest to explain how cold gas creates hot stars

BULLETIN • The latest astronomy and space news, written by Ezzy Pearson

How do you find phosphine? • The chemical was found thanks to its unique absorption fingerprint

Comment

NEWS IN BRIEF

CUTTING EDGE • Our experts examine the hottest new research

INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT • The Sky at Night’s schedule is usually only moved for major space missions, but a possibility of life on Venus proved an important exception. Chris Lintott recalls how the show reacted to the news

We need you! • Have your questions answered on the show

The Sky at Night NOVEMBER

INTERACTIVE • Emails - Letters - Tweets - Facebook - Instagram - Kit questions

SCOPE DOCTOR • Our equipment specialist cures your optical ailments and technical maladies

BBC Sky at Night MAGAZINE

WHAT’S ONLINE • We pick the best astronomy events and resources available online this month

PICK OF THE MONTH

FIELD OF VIEW • The amateur astronomer’s forum

Microbial life on VENUS What are the chances? • The detection of phosphine in Venus’s atmosphere has raised the possibility that it could be produced by lifeforms on the hellish world. Mark A Garlick considers the evidence

Lifecycle in the clouds on Venus • Astrobiologists have suggested a way that life could exist in the clouds above Venus in a cycle between atmospheric layers

A habitable abode • Elsewhere in the Solar System there are several environments that might support life

GALACTIC GATHERINGS • Will Gater explores the science and splendour of some of the most striking star clusters in November’s night sky

The birth of an open star cluster • Stars aren’t typically born in isolation, but together in huge stellar nurseries

Imaging highlight: Capture the star cluster M39 • The clusters of autumn are great for astrophotographers who are just starting to capture the night sky and looking for a challenge

Scattered among a spiral • The cloudy band of the Milky Way is home to many wonderful star clusters

Wanderers within the Galaxy • Clusters don’t stay together forever, and soon the family drifts apart

LUNAR HIDE AND SEEK • Observe the waning gibbous Moon as it occults the southern region of the open cluster M35

NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS • Your guide to the night sky this month

NEED TO KNOW • The terms and symbols used in The Sky Guide

THE BIG THREE • The three top sights to observe or image this month

THE PLANETS • Our celestial neighbourhood in November

The planets in November • The phase and relative sizes of the planets this month. Each planet is shown with south at the top, to show its orientation through a telescope

JUPITER’S MOONS: NOV

THE NIGHT SKY – NOVEMBER • Explore the celestial sphere with our Northern Hemisphere all-sky chart

MOONWATCH • November’s top lunar feature to observe

COMETS AND ASTEROIDS • Observe asteroid 8 Flora as it reaches opposition in the constellation...