May 2006

Volume 2. Number 4. Issue 16

COVER STORY

The Deadly Danger of Space Junk

The sky above our heads is filled with dangerous swarms of satellite debris. How did it get this bad, and what can we do about it?

By Kerrie Dougherty

NEWS & FEATURES

News Notes

• Planetary Graveyards

• Asteroidal Dust Showers

• Black Hole News

and more...

Skyscape

Looking deep into the core of the Milky Way.

Galactic Ghosts

Stunning images of some of the most weird and wonferful inhabitants of our galaxy.

By Jonathan Nally

Out of the Dark Ages: The First Stars

The earliest stars to form in the Universe were extreme in every imaginable way.

By Volker Bromm

Roving on Mars

A new IMAX movie takes you roving on an adventure to Mars.

By Jonathan Nally

The Fountains of Enceladus

The remarkable discovery of water geysers bursting forth from the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus

By Greg Bryant

A Life in the Stars

A profile of Gerry Gilmore, New Zealand's most famous maverick astronomer.

By Marilyn Head

OBSERVING & EXPLORING

Southern Binocular Highlight

See a Seyfert

By Les Dalrymple

Sun, Moon, and Planets

Jovian Nights

By Jonathan Nally

Tonight's Sky

Beacons of the Night

By Greg Bryant

Deep Sky Delights

The Wonder Star

By David Frew

Exploring The Moon

Extreme Basinology

By Charles A. Wood

Celestial Calendar

Close Encounters

By David Seargent

Celestial Calendar

A Very Close Comet Flyby

By Greg Bryant

Celestial Calendar

Outer Planets in 2006

By Roger W. Sinnott

Celestial Calendar

Our Finest Meteor Shower

By Adam Marsh

PRODUCTS & REVIEWS

AS&T Test Report

The Wide-Field Scope You've Been Waiting For

The Southern Cross 20cm f/4 Newtonian and Skyview Pro mount make a winning combination.

By Brian Nolan

Books & Beyond

• It's a Tough Life in Earth Orbit

• Planetary Passion

• The Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing

ACTIVITIES & PEOPLE

Star Trails

To Pluto and Beyond

By David Levy

The Astronomy Scene

Ryder Observatory: for business and pleasure

By Rodney Ryder

Ask AS&T

• How many stars are in the Milky Way?

• How important is a central obstruction in astrophotography?

• Why are so many Kuiper Belt discoveries made at aphelion?

Discoveries

The Bends

By David Ellyard

Activities

Gallery

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Spectrum

The Promise of Other Worlds

By Jonathan Nally

Letters

• Lunar Scepticism

• About Time

and more...

Subscription Offer

FREE DVD! See our offer

Data Pages

Focal Point

The Dream of Mars

By Frank Stratford

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