November 2013

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 an easy-to-understand, user-friendly style that's perfect for astronomers at any level.

Features

The science of comets

by Matthew Knight

Scientists have sent 12 missions to explore comets. Here's what they're learned about these relics from the early solar system.

Web Extra: A gallery of SOFIA images

by Sarah Scoles

Not all of the pictures made it into the magazine. Here are 10 more from Sarah Scoles’ trip to the stratosphere.

Comets: From superstition to science

by Gary W. Kronk

For thousands of years, scientists thought comets lived within Earth's atmosphere, and nearly everyone believed these celestial visitors delivered death and destruction with their tails.

Web Extra: Comets in the news т?? old news

by Sarah Scoles

Find out what late 19th- and early 20th-century newspaper reporters had to say about comets.

Illustrated: Anatomy of a comet

by Sarah Scoles, Roen Kelly

Slip into a coma, sweep up a dust tail, and brace yourself against the solar wind.

20 bright comets of the past 50 years

by Karri Ferron

Each of these cosmic visitors of the past half-century told a unique story and captured the attentions of observers and imagers.

Web Extra: Photogenic comets of the 21st century

by Karri Ferron

Just because of a comet isn’t “Great” doesn’t mean it isn't worthy of observation.

Comet ISON blazes into glory

by Richard Talcott

This frozen ball of gas and dust puts on a show in the predawn sky before reaching peak brightness in late November as it skims above the Sun's surface.