FEATURED ARTICLES

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Is Plate Tectonics Necessary for Sentient Life?
Water, atmosphere, and pleasant temperatures are nice, but active geology could make or break a planet's habitability.
By Bruce Dorminey

Observing the Milky Way, Part I: Sagittarius & Scorpius
Binoculars are the ideal tool for exploring the galaxy we call home.
By Craig Crossen

Dew Busting
Dew can form suddenly and almost with warning. Here's how to stop it from ruining a nice night under the stars.
By Rod Mollise

Shooting with Modified DSLR Cameras
Expanding the spectral response of your camera opens up many new imaging opportunities.
By Hap Griffin

BEYOND THE PRINTED PAGE

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Barnard's Star
Watch how far the second-closest star moves in just 63 years.
By Alan MacRobert

Find Lalande 21185
Find the Northern Hemisphere's brightest M dwarf, just 8 light-years away.
By Alan MacRobert

Watch a Star Wink Out
Get maps, finder charts, and more to view July 29th's asteroid occultation.
By Alan MacRobert

Color Balance with eXcalibrator
Follow step-by-step instructions for beautifully balanced images.
By Bob Fera

Lunar Librations
Librations and other lunar data for July 2013
By Sean Walker

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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The Nearest Star for Northerners
Barnard's Star is the closest thing to the solar system after Alpha Centauri.
By Alan MacRobert

Reflecting on PanSTARRS
Rarely is such a bright comet so hard to see.
By John E. Bortle

Unraveling NGC 6946
This far-northern galaxy's spiral arms are unusually easy to resolve.
By Steve Gottlieb

Table of Contents
See what else July's issue has to offer.