- Astronomy Magazine
Infobox Magazine
title = Astronomy Magazine
image_size = 300px
image_caption =
editor = Michael Bakich, Francis Reddy, Richard Talcott
editor_title = Senior Editor
staff_writer =
frequency = Monthly
circulation =
category =Amateur Astronomy
company =
publisher = Kalmbach Publishing Co.
firstdate = August, 1973
country = USA
language = English
website = www.astronomy.com
issn = 0091-6358"Astronomy" (
ISSN 0091-6358) is a monthly American magazine aboutastronomy . Targeting amateur astronomers for its readers, it contains columns on sky viewing, reader-submitted astrophotographs, and articles on astronomy andastrophysics that are readable by nonscientists.History
"Astronomy" is a magazine about the science and hobby of astronomy. Based near Milwaukee in
Waukesha, Wisconsin , it is produced by Kalmbach Publishing Co. "Astronomy"’s readers include those interested in astronomy, and those who want to know about sky events, observing techniques, astrophotography, and amateur astronomy in general. The magazine is edited for beginners and intermediate readers. The magazine’s editor isDavid J. Eicher , managing editor Dick McNally, art director LuAnn Belter, and publisher, Kevin Keefe."Astronomy" was founded in 1973 by Stephen A. Walther, a graduate of the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point , and amateur astronomer. The first issue, August 1973, consisted of 48 pages with five feature articles and information about what to see in the sky that month. Issues contained astrophotos and illustrations created by astronomical artists. Walther had worked part time as a planetarium lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and developed an interest in photographing constellationsFact|date=January 2008. Walther died in 1977.AstroMedia Corp., the company Walther had founded to publish "Astronomy", brought in Richard Berry to become editor and Robert Maas to be publisher. Berry also created the offshoot "Odyssey", aimed at young readers, and the specialized "Telescope Making". In 1982, David Eicher, the magazine’s present chief editor, became an assistant editor. Eicher also created "Deep Sky" magazine.
In the mid-1980s, Milwaukee publisher Kalmbach bought "Astronomy". Kalmbach is a publisher of hobby magazines including "
Model Railroader " and "Trains". Current Senior Editor Richard Talcott joined the magazine during this period.In early 1992, Richard Berry left the magazine and Robert Burnham took over as chief editor. Kalmbach discontinued "Deep Sky" and "Telescope Making" magazines, and sold "Odyssey". During the mid 1990s "Astronomy" created its web site, Astronomy.com.
In 2002 Eicher became chief editor of the magazine.
The "Astronomy" staff also produces other publications. These have included "Explore the Universe"; "Beginner’s Guide to Astronomy"; "Origin and Fate of the Universe"; "Mars: Explore the Red Planet's Past, Present, and Future"; "Atlas of the Stars"; "Cosmos"; and "50 Greatest Mysteries of the Universe". The magazine is also published in a Brazilian edition in Portuguese, "Astronomy Brasil".
Articles and columns
"Astronomy" publishes articles about the hobby and science of astronomy. Generally, the front half of the magazine reports on professional science, while the back half of the magazine presents items of interest to hobbyists. Science articles cover such topics as cosmology, space exploration, exobiology, research conducted by professional-class observatories, and individual professional astronomers. The magazine's writers include academic astronomers, science writers, and the magazine’s staff journalists.
Each issue of "Astronomy" contains a foldout star map showing the evening sky for the current month and the positions of planets, and some comets.
The magazine’s has regular columnists. They include science writer Bob Berman, who writes a column called “Bob Berman’s Strange Universe”. Stephen James O’Meara writes “Stephen James O’Meara’s Secret Sky,” which covers observing tips and stories relating to deep-sky objects, planets, and comets. Glenn Chaple writes "Glenn Chaple’s Observing Basics", a beginner’s column. Phil Harrington writes "Phil Harrington’s Binocular Universe", about observing with binoculars. Editor David Eicher writes an editorial titled "This Month in Astronomy".
The magazine's coverage of the hobby includes a deep-sky observing article, articles about solar system observing, an article about astronomical imaging, equipment reviews and How-to articles.
"Astronomy" includes a section titled “Ask Astro”, in which academic astronomers and the magazine’s editors answer questions submitted by readers. The magazine also publishes reader-submitted photos in a gallery, lists astronomy-related events, letters from reads, news, and announcements of new products.
"Astronomy" may include special sections bound into the magazine, such as booklets or posters. Recent examples have included a Messier Catalog booklet, poster showing
Comet McNaught and historical comets, a Skyguide listing upcoming sky events, a Telescope Buyer's Guide; a poster titled "Atlas of Extrasolar Planets"; and a poster showing the life cycles of stars."Astronomy"’s editors also write for the magazine's website.
Popularity
"Astronomy" is the largest circulation astronomy magazineFact|date=January 2008. The majority of its readers are in the United States, but it is also circulated internationally.Fact|date=January 2008
Its major competitor is "
Sky & Telescope " magazine.External links
* [http://www.astronomy.com "Astronomy" magazine]
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