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 • Look at our world afresh, from a vantagepoint of space
HOW TO CONTACT US
Sky at Night – lots of ways to enjoy the night sky…
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This month’s contributors
Extra content ONLINE • Visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/bonus-content/QR33ZSQ/ to access this month’s selection of exclusive Bonus Content
QUICK AS A FLASH • Super-fast stellar winds in RCW 120 are triggering star creation more rapidly than we thought possible
BULLETIN • The latest astronomy and space news,
Comment
NEWS IN BRIEF
CUTTING EDGE • Our experts examine the hottest new research
INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT • The July episode of The Sky at Night looks at a topic close to the producer and director Keaton Stone’s heart – the search for alien life
Looking back: The Sky at Night • 31 August 1991
INTERACTIVE
A break in the clouds
PHILIP’S
SCOPE DOCTOR • Our equipment specialist cures your optical ailments and technical maladies WithSteve Richards
Sky at Night MAGAZINE • BBC Sky at Night Magazine is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited under licence from BBC Studios, which helps fund new BBC programmes.
WHAT’S ON • We pick the best live and virtual astronomy events and resources this month
Online Explore the BBC archive • Relive the drama of past space missions and discover a wealth of space science interviews
FIELD OF VIEW
Perseid PERFECTION • The peak of this year’s Perseid meteor shower promises to be a fine sight under dark skies. Will Gater gets you ready. for the show
Recording your observations • Play a part in gathering valuable scientific data for meteor research
Photographing the Perseids • Follow our top tips and get the most from your imaging session
How many Perseids might you expect to see? • The number of meteors seen is often less than theoretical figures
Portraits of our planet • Toby Ord has restored images of Earth captured during the Apollo missions, casting new light on the fragility of our planet
Earth’s altered ATMOSPHERE, the view from above • Levels of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere are rising. Rob Banino investigates how satellites are being used to monitor CO2 levels from space
How increasing carbon dioxide affects Earth’s climate • The gas makes up a tiny quantity of our atmosphere but it can have a big impact
Monitoring Earth’s climate • Some of the key missions helping to keep track of the planet’s vital stats across land, air and sea
The Sky Guide
AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS • Your guide to the night sky this month
Family stargazing
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
PICK OF THE MONTH • Our celestial neighbourhood in August
THE NIGHT SKY – AUGUST • Explore the celestial sphere with our Northern Hemisphere all-sky chart
MOONWATCH • August’s top lunar feature to observe
COMETS AND ASTEROIDS • View Asteroid 89 Julia as it reaches opposition in Aquarius, the Water Bearer
STAR OF THE MONTH • Sualocin, marking the Dolphin’s outline
BINOCULAR TOUR • This month’s wide-field wonders include Barnard’s E and two globular clusters
THE SKY GUIDE CHALLENGE • Can you spot and record a meteor train, which lingers after its trail has faded
DEEP-SKY...