Astronomy

The world's best-selling astronomy magazine offers you the most exciting, visually stunning, and timely coverage of the heavens above. Each monthly issue includes expert science reporting, vivid color photography, complete sky coverage, spot-on observing tips, informative telescope reviews, and much more! All this in a user-friendly style that's perfect for astronomers at any level.

A new generation of astronomers

Astronomy

ASTRO LETTERS

COLORS BURST FROM THE LMC • Retired missions capture vibrant images of our cosmic neighbor.

HOT BYTES

ASTRONOMERS FIND THE FASTEST NOVA YET • The unique event may shed light on how stellar eruptions help seed the universe.

Black hole debunkers discover a sleeping giant

QUICK TAKES

WHEN STARS SWALLOW THEIR PLANETS

Dehydrating Mars

THE TARANTULA NEBULA LEAPS TO LIFE

A MYSTERIOUS RUNAWAY

Galaxy-sized ego • Astronomy can inflate your sense of self-worth — or diminish it.

Unlocking variable stars • A star changing brightness is a captivating affair.

Play ball! • Celebrate the end of the season with a celestial ballgame.

The Leonids promise to dazzle this year • This meteor shower should be great. Here’s how to make the most of it.

What KIDS SHOULD KNOW about SPACEFLIGHT • From Sputnik to spacesuits, here’s what every child should learn about our new space age.

ANATOMY OF A SPACESUIT • A spacesuit is practically its own spacecraft, designed to protect the wearer from the harsh space environment and keep them cocooned in a breathable atmosphere. Here is a breakdown of some of the major parts of a suit.

Totality touches THE MOON • It’s worth getting up early Nov. 8 to see the Moon slide into Earth’s shadow.

Giants shine at sunset • THE SOLAR SYSTEM’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE AS IT APPEARS IN EARTH’S SKY.

RISING MOON • Highlights in the highlands

METEOR WATCH • Chancy prospects

STAR DOME

PATHS OF THE PLANETS • This map unfolds the entire night sky from sunset (at right) until sunrise (at left). Arrows and colored dots show motions and locations of solar system objects during the month.

COMET SEARCH • Preparing for launch

LOCATING ASTEROIDS • In deep water

25 RISING STARS IN ASTRONOMY

GOPI MOHLABENG • SEARCHING FOR THE INVISIBLE

YVETTE CENDES • RADIO-WAVE WRANGLER

JEDIDAH ISLER • MAKING ASTRONOMY ACCESSIBLE

NORA EISNER • EXOPLANET HUNTER

KENNETH WONG • COSMIC LENSMAKER

CIARA MCGRATH • CUBESAT INNOVATOR

VIVEK VIJAYAKUMAR • STELLAR CHEMIST

DAVID MARTIN • CRICKETER AND PLANET CATCHER

MALLORY MOLINA • GATHERING BLACK HOLE SEEDS

INDARA SUAREZ • SEEKING NEW PARTICLES

ADRIAN PRICE-WHELAN • MILKY WAY ARCHAEOLOGIST

HOWARD CHEN • INVESTIGATOR OF ALIEN SKIES

LINA NECIB • DARK MATTER DETECTIVE

CHERRY NG • TUNING IN TO PULSARS

MARK MORETTO • COMETARY SAILOR

MEREDITH RAWLS • DARK-SKY ADVOCATE

DARION DIXON • EXPLORER OF MARS

CRISTINA THOMAS • INTERROGATING ASTEROIDS

KATIE BOUMAN • BLACK HOLE PHOTOGRAPHER

CHANDA PRESCOD-WEINSTEIN • CALCULATING THE COSMOS

LAURA KREIDBERG • ATMOSPHERIC ADVENTURER

ALEXANDER JAMES • SOLAR STORM CHASER

AMIR SIRAJ • INTERSTELLAR MUSICIAN

WEN-FAI FONG • SCIENCE WITH A BANG

CATHERINE ZUCKER • GALACTIC HISTORIAN

Two stunning spring eclipses • The year’s first two-step between the Sun and Moon made for captivating viewing.

Freezing time

Cosmic portraits

BREAK THROUGH

Mercury at its...