Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 4
SPECTRUM
by Peter Tyson
New Year's Resolutions
The Essential Guide to Astronomy
Founded in 1941 by Charles A. Federer, Jr.
and Helen Spence Federer
THE TURN OF A NEW YEAR is a good time to turn over a new leaf.
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JANUARY 2 021 * SK Y & TELESCOPE
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Peter Tyson
Senior Editors J. Kelly Beatty, Alan M. MacRobert
Science Editor Camille M. Carlisle
News Editor Monica Young
Associate Editor Sean Walker
Observing Editor Diana Hannikainen
Consulting Editor Gary Seronik
Editorial Assistant Sabrina Garvin
Senior Contributing Editors
Dennis di Cicco, Richard Tresch Fienberg,
Robert Naeye, Roger W. Sinnott
Contributing Editors
Howard Banich, Jim Bell, Trudy Bell, John E. Bortle,
Greg Bryant, Thomas A. Dobbins, Alan Dyer,
Tom Field, Tony Flanders, Ted Forte, Steve Gottlieb,
David Grinspoon, Shannon Hall, Ken Hewitt-White,
Johnny Horne, Bob King, Emily Lakdawalla,
Rod Mollise, James Mullaney, Donald W. Olson,
Jerry Oltion, Joe Rao, Dean Regas, Fred Schaaf,
Govert Schilling, William Sheehan, Mike Simmons,
Mathew Wedel, Alan Whitman, Charles A. Wood
Contributing Photographers
P. K. Chen, Akira Fujii, Robert Gendler,
Babak Tafreshi
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STE V ECOLEIM AG ES / G E T T Y IM AG ES
With this is mind, we're introducing three new columns and a few
other changes with this issue. Collectively, they will help optimize
our observing coverage and ensure we're reaching the broadest range of readers. They should also make clearer the stepped
approach our observing section takes, from naked eye to binoculars to telescope
to big telescope. Plus, we're launching a new pro-am column. To wit:
Evenings with the Stars (page 45): This new column replaces Under the
Stars. Fred Schaaf will still write it, but he'll concentrate on naked-eye stargazing. No binoculars or telescopes here, nor planets or moons - they're covered
further on. Fred will direct his gaze solely at constellations and their stars.
Sun, Moon & Planets (page 46): We're also sharpening the focus of this
long-running column. Rather than describe what all the planets as well as the
Sun and Moon are up to, we'll zero in on a few standout celestial events each
month. Consulting Editor Gary Seronik will tackle this
job. To Fred Schaaf, we extend our deepest thanks and
gratitude for so ably writing this column for 28 years.
Suburban Stargazer (page 54): With many of our
readers today coping with some degree of light pollution, this new bimonthly column, built along the lines
of the newly retired Deep-Sky Wonders, will showcase
deep-sky observing opportunities viewable from the city
out to the suburbs. Long-time Contributing Editor Ken
Hewitt-White will compose this one.
First Exposure (starting next issue): Written by
multiple authors, this new department will alternate every month with Suburban Stargazer. As more and more hobbyists find themselves becoming interested
in astrophotography, this piece will provide tips and tricks to help beginner
imagers capture their first shots with basic equipment.
Pro-Am Conjunction (page 57): With the AAS now our parent organization, it's the perfect time to start reporting on the ever-increasing number of
fruitful collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers. Observing Editor Diana Hannikainen will write this bimonthly column. She's ideally
suited for the task, having worked as a professional astronomer in high-energy
astrophysics for more than a decade before joining S&T.
Lastly, we swapped positions of the planet orbits diagram (now in Planetary
Almanac) and the ecliptic chart (now in Sun, Moon & Planets).
Otherwise, all remains the same as you've come to
expect it in S&T, including lots of dark-sky-site content.
We hope you appreciate these enhancements - which,
unlike most New Year's resolutions, we intend to keep.
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Sky & Telescope - January 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - January 2021
Contents
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - Cover1
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - Cover2
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 1
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - Contents
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 3
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 4
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 5
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 6
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 7
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 8
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - 9
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Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - Cover3
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - Cover4
Sky & Telescope - January 2021 - SA1
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