Sky & Telescope - April 2025 - 4

SPECTRUM by Diana Hannikainen
April's Assortments
OFTENTIMES, this column highlights a particular subject or article in the issue.
But this month, I can't pick just one. So let me instead give you a whirlwind
tour - the magazine equivalent of a Messier Marathon.
This is indeed the time of year to tackle the marathon, in which hardy
observers attempt to espy all 110 Messier objects in one night. On page 20,
Jan Hattenbach and Ronald Stoyan offer invaluable tips on how to bag the lot -
you'll want to follow those closely if you aim to complete the marathon in one
go. You'll need to position yourself in the right place and the right time to complete
this task - but as the authors mention, it's an inspiring exercise simply to
attempt it, if anything as a test of your observing skills. At the same time, you'll
be following in the footsteps of a historic observer.
Regular readers will know that Science Editor Camille Carlisle has a special
fondness for black holes. So who better to regale us with a tale of whether primordial
ones formed in the earliest moments of the universe? Far from esoteric,
these little enigmas could solve big mysteries, and the very question of their
existence has sparked lively debate in the astronomical community. Camille
weaves a mighty good yarn, threading origin stories with implications for dark
matter research and galaxy-formation scenarios. Turn to page 34 to immerse
yourself in her thought-provoking essay.
S&T has been a part of the (current) American Astronomical Society since
2019 - this AAS has been around since 1899. But did you know that there was a
different AAS even earlier, formed by a bunch of intrepid astronomers in 1880s
Brooklyn? On page 28, Contributing Editor Trudy Bell takes us on a journey
back in time and offers us intriguing insights into the formation, development,
and subsequent demise of this short-lived astronomical society.
For those imagers among you who have struggled with off-kilter detectors,
Chris Schur outlines a methodical approach on page 62 for correcting a tilted
sensor. He shares his ingenious method as clear step-by-step instructions,
complete with informative photos. (I was inspired to go off in search of my
toolbox.) If you follow his carefully outlined plan, you, too, can aspire to record
perfect pinpoint stars right across your image, from edge to starry edge.
One last thing: April is Northeast Astronomy Forum month. At S&T, we're
all excited to once again set up our booth at Rockland Community College in
Suffern, New York, on April 5-6. We're especially looking forward to meeting
you, our readers and subscribers. So, if you're planning on attending NEAF,
please also make time to come by and say hello - we'll be delighted to have a
chat. Hope to see you in Suffern!
The Essential Guide to Astronomy
Founded in 1941 by Charles A. Federer, Jr.
and Helen Spence Federer
EDITORIAL
Publisher Kevin B. Marvel
Editor in Chief Diana Hannikainen
Senior Editors J. Kelly Beatty, Alan M. MacRobert
Science Editor Camille M. Carlisle
News Editor Monica Young
Associate Editor Sean Walker
Consulting Editor Gary Seronik
Editorial Assistant Sabrina Garvin
Senior Contributing Editors
Dennis di Cicco, Richard Tresch Fienberg,
Roger W. Sinnott
Contributing Editors
Howard Banich, Javier Barbuzano, Jim Bell, Trudy Bell,
Ronald Brecher, Greg Bryant, Ken Croswell, Thomas
A. Dobbins, Alan Dyer, Tony Flanders, Ted Forte, Steve
Gottlieb, Shannon Hall, Scott Harrington, Ken HewittWhite,
Bob King, Emily Lakdawalla, Rod Mollise, James
Mullaney, Jonathan Nally, Donald W. Olson, Jerry Oltion,
Stephen James O'Meara, Joe Rao, Fred Schaaf, Govert
Schilling, William Sheehan, Brian Ventrudo, Mathew
Wedel, Charles A. Wood, Richard S. Wright, Jr.
Contributing Photographers
P. K. Chen, Robert Gendler, Babak Tafreshi
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Sky & Telescope - April 2025

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