While manning the booth at the 2000 NOVA Star Party, I was asked an interesting question. I was nervous about volunteering to represent NOVAC at the booth. As a novice amateur astronomer and new club member, I feel I know about as much about astronomy as I know about cooking. Mac and cheese, anyone? A club member brought a stack of old magazines to give away, mostly a mix of Astronomy and Sky & Telescope. The guests were merciful, and I didn't get any questions that were too tough, but a couple of people browsing the magazines asked, "Which is better, Astronomy or Sky & Telescope?"
I glossed over an answer, saying something like, "They're both pretty good. Astronomy is probably more cosmology/astronomy focused, and Sky & Telescope probably has more observational astronomy tips." That answer seemed to satisfy them, but I thought more about it after the Star Party. Santa Claus was good to me a year ago, and I was given subscriptions to both magazines. Seeing so many of the same ads in each magazine, I don't always realize which magazine I'm reading. I know both magazines are worth reading from cover to cover. I know both magazines are great bathroom reads. What would my answer be after more involved qualitative and quantitative analyses? The fact that some of my research was conducted in the loo should not cast a negative light on my conclusions.
Astronomy feature articles over the past year have most frequently covered astro images and art, cosmology and astronomy topics, observational astronomy and astro events, interviews with interesting personalities, astrophotography and imaging techniques, and articles on professional astronomy, observatories, and planetariums.
Astronomy generally starts off with six to ten of these feature articles followed by their regular "departments." These include an editors note called “Behind The Scenes”, a selection of readers’ letters called “Talking Back”, an “Astronews” section containing short articles on various developments and discoveries, a question and answer feature called “Ask Astro”, a review of upcoming star parties and other events called “Looking Ahead”, and a gallery of great astro photos called “Hot Shots”. New products, books and computer software are reviewed in a monthly “Star Stuff” section. There is always an in-depth “Sky Show” section, where you'll find star maps, calendars, moon phases, planet sky and orbital positions, and lengthy descriptions of some telescope targets positioned for viewing that month. As you can see, Astronomy has lots of good stuff. The magazine is usually about 130 pages long.
Sky & Telescope typically has two to four general feature articles, plus four to six feature articles organized into recurring subject areas such as “Computers in Astronomy”, “Amateur Astronomers”, “Telescope Techniques”, “Astro Imaging”, an “Observer's Log”, and “Test Reports”. Over the past year, the most frequently covered topics have been what I would characterize as equipment test reports, observational astronomy and events, telescope techniques, astro clubs/observing sites/amateur astronomy, professional astronomy, observatories and planetariums, and astronomy history.
The regular features in Sky & Telescope include a group of articles composing a celestial calendar similar to Astronomy's “Sky Show”. The first portion, titled “Rambling Through the Skies”, is an interesting article focusing on the historical aspects of a constellation or other topic specific to the month. This is followed by Sky & Telescope's “Guide to the Evening Sky”, where they have a monthly star chart, articles on various observing targets, and the like. A featured observing event is the third section of Sky & Telescope’s celestial calendar, and this is followed by “SkyWise”, an article on observing techniques or knowledge. The celestial calendar section is followed by three columns (including one by David H. Levy), letters from readers, interesting historical articles from 50 and 25 years ago, astronomy news shorts, space mission reports, astronomy online, amateur events, and book/software/product reviews. Short articles titled “Lunar Notebook”, “Deep-Sky Notebook”, and “Observer's Notebook” supplement the celestial calendar and focus on observing. Sky & Telescope also finishes with wonderful astronomy images. Sky & Telescope is usually around 160 pages.
Personally, I can't get enough of these magazines, and they don't come fast enough for me. They really cheer me up on cloudy evenings. You can tell from my descriptions that Astronomy and Sky & Telescope are similar magazines filled with a great variety of content, and you aren't going to lose out choosing one over the other. Astronomy claims to be America's best-selling astronomy magazine. Sky & Telescope is a little longer. On the other hand, if you're worried about duplicating content and wasting money getting both magazines, you'll be pleasantly surprised each month. The star chart is the only feature approaching being identical, and even the monthly observing suggestions usually are very different. The January issue of Astronomy had two pairs of solar glasses for watching the Christmas eclipse (and two pairs of 3-D glasses the month before). The December issue of Sky & Telescope each year has a “Hot New Products” of the year special. Little extras like those just make you feel good about being a subscriber.
Both have cover prices of $4.50, and subscribing for a year using the subscription cards would cost you $39.95 for each. Order a new subscription through NOVAC, and you'll only pay $29.95 for Sky & Telescope and $29.00 for Astronomy. See the rear of this newsletter for info on how to subscribe. Well, I'm off to try out a new eyepiece. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.
I would like to thank those outgoing officers and volunteers for their service to our community. At 550+ members the word "Club" doesn't quite describe us. We are a diverse group of folks from many backgrounds and with many different astronomical interests and skill levels. However, the active members all seem to have a couple of things in common. The first is a drive to do more. For some members, this means acquiring basic observing skills. For others, it means looking for fainter and fainter objects. For still others, it means exploring a different area within astronomy, such as CCD or satellites or even telescope building. The second thing in common is that all are impacted by increasingly light-polluted skies.
This year I want to find more ways to actively support and encourage members in their observing. How to carry this out is still in the thinking stage and could sure use some input from the membership. One idea I am considering is expansion of the chairs that are the real executive bodies of the organization. We have a very active extension chair and I would like to use this as a model for other action chairs such as education (or skills+), appropriate lighting, etc. What are your ideas? Feel free to contact me. Or, better yet, post your ideas on the list and let us all consult.
November 8 NOVAC BOARD MEETING
19:30 Pete Johnson, President, called the board meeting to order.
Pete Johnson discussed the Loudon County public astronomy event to
be held at Mickie Gordon Park on November 18.
Trustees Ian Keith and John Avellone discussed the potential 2001 NOVAC
officer candidates for the upcoming elections in December.
Ed Witkowski listed the upcoming public outreach programs.
Craig Tupper listed the upcoming programs for the general membership
meeting.
Pete Johnson adjourned the meeting at 21:00
November 2 NOVAC GENERAL MEETING
19:03 Pete Johnson, President, called the meeting to order. The
prospective and new members introduced themselves.
Pete Johnson announced that the NOVAC board has decided to purchase
one or two larger club loaner dobsonian-type scopes in the 10" - 12" range.
Pete Johnson informed the membership that NOVAC is pursuing an observing
agreement with Franklin Park.
Pete Johnson reminded the membership of the public observing event
at Mickie Gordon Park on November 18.
Trustee John Avellone presented the slate of prospective 2001 NOVAC
officers for the elections at the December meeting.
Ed Witkowski listed the upcoming public outreach events.
Ed Witkowski gave a sky tour of Messier objects in Cassiopia and Perseus.
For the main program, NOVAC member Tom "Iron Man" Dietz gave a talk
on buying a telescope.
Pete adjourned the meeting at 20:00
There were approximately 58 in attendance.
December 6 NOVAC BOARD MEETING
19:30 Pete Johnson, President, called the board meeting to order.
Pete Johnson discussed the public astronomy event to be held at Franklin
Park on December 14.
Trustees Ian Keith and John Avellone presented the final slate of officers
for 2001. The elections will take place at the December 10 general
membership meeting.
The board discussed and approved the purchase of a Discovery 10" dobsonian
as to provide the members with a larger club loaner scope than the ones
we currently have. A second one may be purchased in the future if
this works out well.
The Treasurer, Pedro Martinez, presented the end of the year financial
report to the board.
Craig Tupper listed the upcoming programs for the general membership
meeting.
Pete Johnson adjourned the meeting at 21:00
December 10 NOVAC GENERAL MEETING
19:03 Pete Johnson, President, called the meeting to order. The
prospective and new members introduced themselves.
Pete Johnson announced that we have ordered a Discovery 10" dobsonian
as an additional, larger club loaner scope. Depending on how this
works out, a second one may be added in the future.
Bill Burton announced a public observing event to be held on Thursday,
December 14 at Franklin Park.
Vice President Craig Tupper listed the upcoming general meeting programs.
Trustees Ian Keith and John Avellone conducted the election of NOVAC
officers for 2001. The proposed slate of officers was approved by
the membership.
Pete Johnson announced that the annual membership meeting will be on
Wednesday, January 10.
Ian Keith gave the sky tour.
For the main program, GMU professor and NOVAC member Harold Geller
gave a talk about the Astronomical League sponsored project to place an
amateur telescope on the International Space Station.
Pete adjourned the meeting at 20:00
There were approximately 48 in attendance.
Submitted by Kevin Brown, Secretary
At the December General Meeting, trustees Ian Keith and John Avellone presented a slate of candidates for next year’s officers and trustees:
The volunteer directorships were also announced. Ed Witkowski will continue as public outreach director. Joe Pierson is taking over the duties of membership director from Kevin Brown. See your printed newsletter for contact information.