Sky and Telescope - May 2012 - (Page 4)

May 2012
On the cover:
The breathtaking scenery of Yosemite Valley gives a superb setting to celestial jewels.
PARK PHOTO: TYLER NORDGREN

VOL. 123, NO. 5

O B S E R V I N G I N M AY

43 In This Section 44 May’s Sky at a Glance 45 Binocular Highlight
By Gary Seronik

46 Planetary Almanac 47 Northern Hemisphere’s Sky
By Fred Schaaf

There’s more to find online @

SkyandTelescope.com
INTERACTIVE ALMANAC

F E AT U R E S

Saturn’s Raging Superstorm
A mysterious Great White Spot erupted on Saturn in late 2010, the sixth such storm in recorded history. By Agustín Sánchez-Lavega

48 Sun, Moon, and Planets
By Fred Schaaf

Sky info tailored to your location with a couple of clicks.
skyandtelescope.com/almanac
Moon May 23

50 Celestial Calendar
By Alan MacRobert

26
COVER STORY

Stars Above, Earth Below: Astronomy in National Parks
Renowned for their terrestrial beauty, U.S. national parks are among the best places to revel in the splendor of the night sky. By Tyler Nordgren

54 Exploring the Solar System
By Alan MacRobert

56 Deep-Sky Wonders
By Sue French

Tau Moon May 22

60 Going Deep
By Alan Whitman
Betelgeuse S &T T E S T R E P O R T

SKY
W WEEK
Moon May 21

Venus

The Remarkable Case of Comet Lovejoy
Against the odds, Comet Lovejoy survived its swing by the Sun and became one of the most spectacular comets of the past few decades. By John E. Bortle

64 S&T Test Report
By Johnny Horne

Looking West-Northwest
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

6 Spectrum
By Robert Naeye

SKYWEEK

Planetary Imaging with Your DSLR Camera
Chances are you already own a great planetary camera, but didn’t know it. By Jerry Lodriguss

8 Letters 10 75, 50 & 25 Years Ago
By Roger W. Sinnott

Watch our weekly PBS segment on what’s currently up in the sky.
skyandtelescope.com/skyweek NEW EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY

12 News Notes
NASA / SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY

68 New Product Showcase 70 Telescope Workshop
By Gary Seronik

Browse hot products for all types of observing.
skyandtelescope.com/directory TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

76 Gallery 86 Focal Point
By Thomas Watson

New to astronomy? Here’s everything you need to jump into the fun.
skyandtelescope.com/letsgo

SKY & TELESCOPE (ISSN 0037-6604) is published monthly by Sky & Telescope Media, LLC, 90 Sherman St., Cambridge, MA 02140-3264, USA. Phone: 800-253-0245 (customer service/subscriptions), 888-253-0230 (product orders), 617-864-7360 (all other calls). Fax: 617-864-6117. Website: SkyandTelescope.com. © 2012 Sky & Telescope Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, Massachusetts, and at additional mailing ofﬁces. Canada Post Publications Mail sales agreement #40029823. Canadian return address: 2744 Edna St., Windsor, ON, Canada N8Y 1V2. Canadian GST Reg. #R128921855. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sky & Telescope, PO Box 171, Winterset, IA 50273. Printed in the USA.

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4 May 2012 sky & telescope

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - May 2012

Sky and Telescope - May 2012
Table of Contents
Spectrum
Letters
75, 50 & 25 Years Ago
News Notes
Saturn’s Raging Superstorm
Stars Above, Earth Below: Astronomy in National Parks
The Remarkable Case of Comet Lovejoy
In This Section
May’s Sky at a Glance
Binocular Highlight
Planetary Almanac
Northern Hemisphere’s Sky
Sun, Moon, and Planets
Celestial Calendar
Exploring the Solar System
Deep-Sky Wonders
Going Deep
S&T Test Report
New Product Showcase
Telescope Workshop
Planetary Imaging with Your DSLR Camera
Gallery
Focal Point

Sky and Telescope - May 2012