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 • Get to know a different side of the Milky Way this winter
Become an Insider
Sky at Night – lots of ways to enjoy the night sky…
This month’s contributors
Extra content ONLINE
TWIN RING BLING • This beautiful new portrait shows the detail of a barred spiral galaxy with a rare double ring structure
BULLETIN • The latest astronomy and space news, written by Ezzy Pearson
Comment
NEWS IN BRIEF
CUTTING EDGE • Our experts examine the hottest new research
INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT • In November’s episode of The Sky at Night, Paul Eccleston looked forward to the long awaited launch of the James Webb Space Telescope
Looking back: The Sky at Night
The Sky at Night DECEMBER
INTERACTIVE
SCOPE DOCTOR • Our equipment specialist cures your optical ailments and technical maladies
Sky at Night
WHAT’S ON • We pick the best live and virtual astronomy events and resources this month
PICK OF THE MONTH
Space mission mishaps • Slip-ups can happen anywhere, including space, as Jonathan Powell discovers
The midwinter Milky Way • Take in the celestial targets of our home Galaxy with Stuart Atkinson’s winter observing tour
The geometry of the winter Milky Way • The view of our Galaxy in the night sky reveals how our perspective changes as Earth orbits the Sun
Photographing the Milky Way • If you’re observing the winter Milky Way, why not see if you can capture an image of it as well?
THE NEUTRON STAR THAT MAKES NO SENSE • Neutron stars are some of the densest objects in the Universe but, as Colin Stuart discovers, one is breaking the limits of how big they should be
What is ‘nuclear pasta’? • Strange shapes of spaghetti and other pasta types thread their way around neutron stars
Anatomy of a neutron star • A neutron star has a similar structure to our planet, with an atmosphere, crust and core. But what goes on inside is very different
The Sky Guide
DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS • Your guide to the night sky this month
THE BIG THREE • The top sights to observe or image this month
THE PLANETS • Our celestial neighbourhood in December
THE NIGHT SKY – DECEMBER • Explore the celestial sphere with our Northern Hemisphere all-sky chart
MOONWATCH • December’s top lunar feature to observe
COMETS AND ASTEROIDS • Follow C/2021 A1 Leonard, which may reach naked-eye brightness this month
STAR OF THE MONTH • Spot Mintaka at the top of Orion’s Belt
BINOCULAR TOUR • Locate this month’s selection of wide-field targets in and around Orion, the Hunter
THE SKY GUIDE CHALLENGE • Locate and image three variable nebulae to see how they change over time
DEEP-SKY TOUR • This month’s tour visits objects in Taurus, some familiar and others less so
AT A GLANCE • How the Sky Guide events will appear in December
Who let the dogs out? • The origin of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, can be traced to the 17th century, but who deserves credit? Ian Ridpath picks up the scent
Cor Caroli – the heart of King Charles • The brightest star in Canes Venatici has a rich history of its own
DART A mission with impact • Govert Schilling takes a look at the NASA mission that will attempt to deflect an asteroid, part of a collaboration with ESA that could save Earth from a catastrophic impact
Lucy and the Trojans • The...