Current Issue: July/August 2023

Merlin

Merlin discusses possible trips to Mars, holes in the southeastern United States, and the future of the universe.

Pose your own questions for future issues.

Sky Highlights

The star Arcturus herds the Great Bear across the late summer and early autumn evening sky, with both dropping lower into the evening twilight. By late October, Arcturus is a “ghost,” reminding us of summer nights now gone--and still to come. Saturn is the only planet in the sky at dusk, with Jupiter climbing into view in late evening, and Venus and Mercury highlighting the dawn.

AstroMiscellany

New monikers, stepping toward Mars, and reluctant planets

AstroNews

• Dropping off pieces of an asteroid
• Possible signs of Venusian life
• Shiny planet
• Two sides of the ‘dark’ side

In the November/December Issue

The space around our planet is getting more crowded by the day, with new satellites and bits of debris. That could threaten current and future satellites, interrupt astronomical observations, and make the night sky brighter, and we’ll explain what it all means. We’ll also tell you how volunteers around the world are helping astronomers analyze their observations of the universe.

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