August/September 2010
Volume 6. Number 6. Issue 47
COVER STORY
The Quest for the Most Massive Star
Astronomers are conducting a frenetic search for our galaxy's most massive star.
By Yael Naze
NEWS & FEATURES
News Notes
- One Supernova, Many Camera Angles
- A Runaway Star in the LMC
- Epsilon Aurigae's Eclipser
and more...
Cosmic Relief
Sailing the Solar System
By David Grinspoon
The Universal Jet Set
Somehow, a wide variety of objects shoot out laser-like beams of matter, sometimes at near-light speed.
By C. Renee James
The Cartographic Legacy of John Flamsteed
Modern-day star atlases benefited from the seminal work of England's first royal astronomer.
By Nick Kanas
The AAT: Celebrating 35 Years of Success - Part 2
The Anglo-Australian Telescope has had a remarkable 35 years, and there's more in store.
By Helen Sim
PRODUCTS & REVIEWS
New Product Spotlight
- The Eerie Silence
- Orion's SkyQuest GoTo Dobs
- CCDWare's CCDStack v2
AS&T Test Report
Atik's 314L+ CCD Camera
This exceptionally easy-to-use camera produces first-rate images.
By Dennis di Cicco
OBSERVING & EXPLORING
Binocular Highlight
A Pair Of Pairs
By Les Dalrymple
Tonight's Sky
The Magic of the Milky Way
By Greg Bryant
Sun, Moon, and Planets
Evening Conjunctions Galore
By Greg Bryant
Celestial Calendar
Pleiades in a Winter's Morning
By Steve Kerr
Celestial Calendar
Eta Aquilae
By Alan Plummer
Celestial Calendar
A Quartet of Comets
By David Seargent
Exploring the Moon
Not Only Angels Have Halos
By Charles A. Wood
Deep Sky Delights
Cup Bearer to Zeus
By Les Dalrymple
Targets
Sagittarius Star Cities
By Sue French
Double Star Notes
Peacock Feathers
By Ross Gould
Amateurs Catch A Crucial Nova
Two dedicated backyard astronomers alerted professional telescopes worldwide and in space to U Scorpii's eruption.
By Mike Simonsen & Alan MacRobert
Variable Stars: Making A Difference
It's easy to get started in variable star observing and contribute to science.
By Alan Plummer
ACTIVITIES & PEOPLE
NACAA 2010
Canberra was host to this year's 24th National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers.
By Ross Gould
Telescope Workshop
Making Sonotube Beautiful
By Gary Seronik
Turning 50
The entrepreneurial spirit of one amateur astronomer led to the creation of a legendary telescope company.
By Dennis di Cicco
Gallery
Ask AS&T
- Coming to Focus, or Not
- Blue Moon Blues
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Spectrum
Aperture Fever
By Greg Bryant
Observatory & Telescope Competition
Subscribe and be eligible to enter this incredible competition!
Manufacturer & Dealer Directory
Index to Advertisers
Focal Point
The Day I Found...
By Andrew Vanden Heuvel