Customer Reviews

Sky & Telescope

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've subscribed to this magazine for years even though my main interest is cosmology. Even professional astronomers subscribe so we highly recommend this magazine.

In my opinion, it's the most professionally done popular astronomy magazine, better than "Astronomy" and more focused than "Discovery." S&T has many gorgeous astro-photos, mostly done by pros with fab equipment as well as images from the Hubble. So why does the magazine devote more than half its pages and articles to amateur telescopes and accessories? Because that's what pays the bills! So I've packed up my telescope and left it in the garage, but I still subscribe because every issue has at least one article (feature or news) about science. The monthly star map, cepheid graph, and NEWS make the rapidly increasing subscription price still worth it.

Although I am a bigger fan of Astronomy magazine, I am a loyal subscriber to Sky & Telescope because I enjoy the detailed equipment and product reports, the book reviews, "Sky at a Glance," Event calendars, gallery, featured articles, and news notes. The companion website is awesome as well.

One intriguing section of the magazine always looks back to its past issues reminding readers how far the field of astronomy has come in the last century. This is actually a great context-providing feature that celebrates humanity's on going interest in the universe.

What I have observed--being a subscriber to both Astronomy and Sky & Telescope--is this: each magazine has its own unique personality, and each magazine potentially appeals to a kindred reader personality. Readers who like jazzy, topical, but engaging articles in an easy to thumb through, approachable format and language will enjoy Astronomy. [I am drawn to Astronomy's design and personality.] Readers who like an elegant, more formal format and who want to dig more deeply into astro-science concepts, into scientific data / analysis, or into product information may find Sky & Telescope more satisfying.

For me, subscribing to both magazines completes my astro diet--with all the necessary "food" (topic) groups included: Meal and dessert. It is interesting to see what each magazine emphasizes each month. Each magazine always offers something really cool and thought-provoking.

My best advice is try before you buy: go to a library or local news stand to view the current product of each magazine, and then decide which mag captures your interests, astro skill-level, and / or reader personality the most.

I am a retired English Professor and amateur astronomer, and I have subscribed to Sky and Telescope for over 20 years. It is the most professionally produced magazine I have ever read.

Its writing is mature and superbly edited, its photographs are beautifully rendered, its staff continually improves the magazine through better editing and production, and it provides articles on a broad range of subjects: the latest space probes and research; the dating of paintings or historical events by the night sky; Hubble and amateur photographs; meteor showers; what's up in tonight's sky; star maps; calendars of events world-wide; reviews of telescopes, accessories, computer software, and books; and more.

Sky and Telescope is widely read by professional astronomers and is probably bought by more amateurs world-wide than any other astronomy magazine.

If you have never looked through a telescope, if you use a telescope often, or if you have a telescope that you have packed up, this magazine should stimulate you to go out to see the night sky and discover where we live and what we live for.

A magnificent magazine full of breathtaking photos and quality articles. Offers great advice for the hobbyiest. Not only does it keep one abreast of space science I think EVERYONE will find it highly inspirational. The articles that take on more technical topics in astronomy and Cosmology sometimes leave one wanting but those wanting more accurate and detailed information on these topics are guided by the magazine to other sources. The magazine walks a tightrope and more often than not it is successful.
Recommended

S&T is a very specialized publication, dealing with astronomical observation and photography. If you are considering buying an astronomical telescope, or accessories for one, you'll want to consult this magazine. If you have any interest in photographing the night sky, you'll want to see the Gallery here, which has some truly breathtaking pictures. The magazine includes a star chart for the month, as you might expect. This is a great publication for regular, serious stargazers/photographers. More general-interest astronomy magazines are available.

My delight in observing the clear and starry night sky, with all my senses, began in my early teens, nearly 60 years ago. Sky & Telescope has been there as an inspiring thread of intense interest as my life, education and work dominated my most serious time and energy commitments. But off and on I've found time to build and purchase telescopes and other optical devices and equipment to enhance and expand my explorations of stargazing and taking pictures of celestial objects. I've subscribed to S&T fairly consistently for over 40 years, and off and on prior to that. I also dual subscribed to Astronomy for its first 10-12 years of publication back in the late 70s and the 80s. For my interests, it became clear that S&T was a better investment, though Astronomy magazine had its strengths.

I look back and marvel at the evolution of optical engineering and imaging technology, not to mention the explosive expansion of our knowledge of the universe. Sky & Telescope magazine, through several generations of editors, expansions and upgrades has kept me connected to the variety of activities open to motivated amateur astronomers. I like its strong coverage of observing and imaging gear, the beautiful images the creative elicit from the sky above, the progress of the international space programs, the latest expansions of cosmological knowledge and theory and the leading edge research by amateurs who contribute data valuable to the professionals. Most of it, due to my life's other commitments, has been enjoyed vicariously, as an armchair enthusiast. But when, over many decades, I have been able to spend nights under the stars, witness a historic meteor storm, total solar eclipse, comet impact on Jupiter, occultation of a bright star by Saturn's rings, the creeping sunrise on lunar crater ridges and many memorable bright comets, Sky & Telescope has been my consistently satisfying guide.

I recommend it highly to anyone who is interested in astronomy and also has a poetic/aesthetic appreciation of the glories, visual treasures and intellectual delights to be found in the night sky and the universe it reveals.

I recently purchased the March 2008 issue of "Sky & Telescope: The Essential Magazine of Astronomy." As expected, this magazine is filled with advertisements for various telescopes and components. With my interest in photography, I found most of the ads very interesting and spent more time viewing and reading the ads than I would have previously thought. My oldest son has a student telescope that we cannot seem to get to work properly. After he viewed the advertisements in this magazine he has asked for a telescope "upgrade."

In the middle of the magazine are various pull-out March 2008 star charts. I will admit that my first experience with the star chart was a bit intimidating and took several minutes to decipher. However, I have successfully used this chart to locate Ursa Major, Polaris, and Cassiopeia. Once our Upstate, NY skies clear again, I am looking forward to using this cart to help locate the Winter Circle and the accompanying constellations and stars.

This magazine features several articles each month. The featured articles of March 2008 include: "Cosmic Superparticle Mystery: Solved?" "Origin of the Elements of Life" "Where Did You Come From?" "Gaia's Mission to the Milky Way" and "Polestars of the Future: A Journey in a Celestial Time Machine." The second and third featured articles both interested me in this issue and both were also featured on the Cover of the magazine.

Within this magazine there are many "departments" that would appear every month including a monthly information regarding the sky in general (moon phases, planets that may be visible, and a celestial almanac), The Northern Hemisphere's Sky chart, A Binocular Highlight (tips and what can be seen using binoculars), The Southern Hemisphere's Sky chart, Sun Moon and Planets (what can be seen and expected by the various planets and our sun this month), Exploring the Moon (this month's article highlights craters and lunar impacts), Celestial Calendar (the path of asteroid 7 Iris is highlighted this month), Deep-Sky Wonders (highlighting the stars of Gemini), S&T Test Report (various telescopes, lenses, and parts are evaluated with specifications given), Spectrum (a short note written by the Editor), Letters by readers, Skyscape (Images of the sky), News Notes (short blurbs about recent discoveries and notable news), Mission Update (concerning space telescopes and observations), 50 & 25 Years Ago (discoveries from the past), New Product Showcase (highlights new products, lenses and telescopes that have just been released for consumers), Rambling Through the Skies (an article giving the history and mythology of constellations), Star Trails (general articles about stars, our Sun, Moon and comets), Books & Beyond (recommendations for various astronomy and telescope books), Astronomy Online (reviews of various on-line reference and astronomy related websites), Telescope Workshop (building your own telescope), Hobby Q&A (questions and answers related to amateur astronomy), Gallery (reader's images showcased), and Focal Point (a short, humorous article that closes that magazine).

Overall, I am highly impressed by the quality images and articles found in this magazine. There is such a range of information that any person looking at the night sky would be able to find an interesting article among this issue. The graphics and images that are included in this issue complement the articles and discussions that are presented. This is a highly informative magazine concerning technology and the night sky and I am already looking forward to the April 2008 issue next month.

S&T was originally developed for amateur astonomers and over its history it has remained true to that mission. That's why there are so many ads and features on equipment. I've been subscribing for about thirty years and have seen many changes to the magazine (I still miss the old cursive "Sky" in the banner but, oh well). On the whole, I think the quality and depth of the articles on cosmology and astrophysics have improved over the years and new features, such as the mission updates, have improved the magazine's coverage. And the gorgeous photography! Yes, many of these are Hubble images or are made with sophisticated equipment. However, contrary to some reviewers' remarks, superb images, sometimes comparable to some of the images in the magazine, can still be made with a good 8 or 10 inch instrument in the backyard, especially with the advances that have been made in CCD imaging. S&T remains the best in the field for amateurs and for anyone with an interest in astronomy.

Sky and Telescope has a long history in Astronomy Publishing. Its as great as it ever was and if you are into Astronomy this is the go to magazine.

Science articles, star charts, equipment reviews, latest discoveries, everything is covered really well. I think even with the amount of information on the internet I will always get my Sky and Telescope subscription

As a former long-time subscriber to Sky and Telescope, this publication has deteriorated to a disgraceful level of poor editing,poor journalism and has become a monthly color catalog of astronomical equipment!! Joseph Ashbrook, Scotty Houston and the other original founders of this magazine are turning over in their graves!! Shame on you Sky Publishing for letting this once prestigious journal become such garbage. I'll spend my money on Sir Patrick Moore's Sky At Night magazine before even considering a brief look at S&T on ANY newsstand.