Astronomy Magazine
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| Astronomy Magazine | |
|---|---|
| Senior Editor | Michael Bakich, Francis Reddy, Richard Talcott |
| Categories | Amateur Astronomy |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Kalmbach Publishing Co. |
| First issue | August, 1973 |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Website | www.astronomy.com |
| ISSN | 0091-6358 |
Astronomy (ISSN 0091-6358) is a monthly American magazine about astronomy. Targeting amateur astronomers for its readers, it contains columns on sky viewing, reader-submitted astrophotographs, and articles on astronomy and astrophysics that are readable by nonscientists.
Contents |
[edit] 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. Its readers include novices, amateur astronomers, and professional astronomers[citation needed]. The magazine is edited for beginners and intermediate readers. The magazine’s editor is David 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 constellations[citation needed]. 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.
Near the end of the 1980s, 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.
2008 is the 35th anniversary of Astronomy.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Popularity
Astronomy is the largest circulation astronomy magazine[citation needed]. The majority of its readers are in the United States, but it is also circulated internationally.[citation needed]
Its major competitor is Sky & Telescope magazine.
