March 2005
Volume 1. Number 3
COVER STORY
In Search of Martian Seas
NASA's plucky Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have blazed exciting trails across the red planet.
By Stephen Voss and Bob Evans
NEWS & FEATURES
News Notes
• A Flood of Cassini Discoveries
• Hubble Gets a Shot in the Arm
• Martian Methane
and more...
Triumph on Titan
The Huygens probe has touched down on Saturn's largest moon, and promises to unlock the secrets of this mystery world.
By Jonathan Nally
Clear Skies
Our southern skies are the envy of astronomers worldwide, and there are good reasons why.
By David Malin
Dark Energy and the Preposterous Universe
Physicists and astronomers are struggling to make sense of a cosmos that appears nonsensical.
By Sean Carroll
Target Australia
Our ancient continent has preserved the scars of many unwelcome visitors from deep space.
By Alex Bevan
The MOA Telescope Spreads Its Wings
New Zealand's latest telescope aims to find planets and black holes.
By Alan Gilmore
OBSERVING & EXPLORING
Southern Binocular Highlight
False Cross Cluster, NGC 2516
By Les Dalrymple
Tonight's Sky
A Tour of Argo Navis
By Greg Bryant
Sun, Moon, and Planets
King of the Planets
By Jonathan Nally
Exploring the Moon
Colour and History on the Aristarchus Plateau
By Charles A. Wood
Deep Sky Delights
Sailing the Southern Skies
By David Frew
Celestial Calendar
Autumn Comets
By David Seargent
Celestial Calendar
Occultations for February-March 2005
By Steve Kerr
First Light: For Beginners
Grand Malignment
By Phil Plait
PRODUCTS & REVIEWS
AS&T Test Report
A Subdued Superstar
You'll be seeing red with Kagayaki 4.1, a desktop-planetarium and sky-charting program from Japan.
By Jeff Foust
AS&T Test Report
Keeping It Simple
With MacAstronomica 2.0.5, self-made all-sky charts have never been so easy or so attractive.
By Joe Heafner
Buyer's Guide
Binocular Viewers
By Sean Walker
Digital Astronomy
So Much to Read, So Little Time
By Stuart J. Goldman
ACTIVITIES & PEOPLE
The Astronomy Scene
Eclipses and Me
By Peter Anderson
Hobby Q&A
• How is the date of Easter determined?
• Are machine-made telescope mirrors better than handmade?
and more...
Astrophotography
Resurrecting an Old Astrophoto
By Mike Jewell
Gallery
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Spectrum
Hooray for Huygens!
By Jonathan Nally
Letters
• The Start of the Journey
• Where are we going?
and more...
Mission Update
By Jonathan McDowell
Activities
Focal Point
Tales of a Planetarian
By Paul Curnow
Index to Advertisers