SUNSET: 
0
How Many Steps to Infinity?
There's no question that recent space exploration successes are returning dividends. The Dawn spacecraft's visitations to nearby Ceres have turned up extraordinary discoveries. New Horizons, too, is still returning results from the puzzling Plutonian system of moons. (Who would have thought that a dwarf planet would have five moons with such complex orbits and compositions?) But even as we send probes to the edges of our system, only our eyes and minds can go farther than that (for now). Author Mathew Wedel leads us in a cosmic tour through time and space via some easily observed celestial sights. Plus, find information on December's occultation of Aldebaran, as well as the Geminid meteor shower, and take in the sights of a nearby spiral galaxy. Clear skies!
Feature Articles
Dawn of Discovery at Ceres
NASA's Dawn spacecraft has found a world of salt deposits, water ice, and potentially even signs of an ancient ocean.
By Marc D. Rayman
Twelve Steps to Infinity
Use these observing favorites to get a sense of our place in cosmic history.
By Mathew Wedel
The Comets of Edgar Allan Poe
Poe had some weird ideas. Where did he get them?
By Donald W. Olson & Shaun B. Ford
Charon and Company
Pluto's five moons proved to be more complicated than the New Horizons team ever imagined.
By J. Kelly Beatty
Targeting the Tutulemma
Here's a unique way to capture the total solar eclipse in 2017.
By Tunç Tezel
Beyond the Printed Page
Could Spacecraft Make it to Proxima Centauri?
Read the full analysis of the interstellar threat to spacecraft en route to our nearest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri.
Find Your Personal Dawes Limit
Test how close a stellar pair your eyes can resolve using this list of 49 double stars with 6th-magnitude components.
December Occultation Chart for Aldebaran
In December the Moon will once more occult Aldebaran. Find out when it will happen for your location.
Lunar Librations
Librations and other lunar data for December 2016.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Year-End Extravaganza
The final month of 2016 offers views of all five bright planets.
By Fred Schaaf
The Geminids & the Ursids
The Moon messes with one shower, but another comes a week later.
By Alan MacRobert
Take Make a Seat
A happy butt adds an inch of aperture to your scope.
By Jerry Oltion
M33 in a 10-inch Scope
Take an extended look at one of our close galactic neighbors.
By Sue French
Table of Contents
See what else December's issue has to offer.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.