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What is Amateur Astronomy Magazine About?

We are a printed forum of the activities relating to Amateur Astronomers around the world. Our magazine is written by amateur astronomers, for amateur astronomers.

Over the course of the past 30 years, we have covered telescopes, large and small, amateur telescope making (ATM), mirror grinding, collimation tips, observing techniques, astronomical equipment reviews, home observatories, professional observatories, observing lists, profiles of amateur astronomers, star parties, dark sites, imaging tips and techniques, observing logs, astronomical travel logs, astronomy businesses and their owners, DIY astronomical projects, cosmology, science and astronomy outreach. In short, we are about all the things and people that make this hobby special.

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In The Current Issue # 121 Winter 2024
Digital version available 12/21/2023. Print copies will be mailed 01/04/2024 – Please allow up to 3 weeks for delivery.

Our Cover:


On the cover: Astrophotographer Luca Bartek, member of the Astrophile group featured in our Star People feature this issue, posing in front of her amazing 72-hour exposure of Messier 45 and the surrounding area. This extremely deep image reveals some fascinating structures not seen in most images taken of this Iconic open star cluster. 

For those unfamiliar, we offer two versions of our magazine. The print version is black and white, printed on high quality gloss paper with an 80 lb glossy UV coated cover and perfect binding. We mail it in a protective envelope to do our best to deliver it in pristine condition. This version runs 72 pages. The digital version is in color and offered as a PDF for use on any device. This version has supplemental content and usually runs about 82-85 pages. We offer dual subscriptions for those who want the best of both worlds. If you are unfamiliar with our magazine, or are a print subscriber and would like a sample of the digital version, we would be happy to send you a link to download if you simply request it. Email your request to: amateurastronomymagazine@outlook.com

In this issue, the Sun takes center stage with the recent Annular Eclipse behind us and the Total Solar Eclipse a few short months away with a diagonal transit of the United States. Our Gallery, this issue is dedicated to images from the recent Annular Eclipse, and we have another informative excerpt from Alan Dyers Book “How To Photograph Solar Eclipses”. This one focused on total eclipses.  
As usual we have several observing articles: “Ultra massive Black Holes”, Focus on the Moon” and “Constellations of Winter”. The latter is the first of a series of four by Phillip Kane that will cover each of the seasons in the upcoming issues. I hope you enjoy this nice guide and use it to enhance your visual sessions under the stars.

John Oneal details the Peach State Star Gaze experience, which I attended this year. I am glad I opted for this Fall event as we had some great nights of clear weather, even though rain gave us a chance to catch up on sleep mid-week. As his article and Gallery of Images attest, this was a fun and successful event.

Our Star People this issue focuses on the group, Astrophile. The founder and digital creator, Marcella Botti contacted me about this talented group of women in Italy and other parts of Europe who banded together to encourage, share knowledge and their creative endeavors. If you have concerns about the limited demographics of our hobby, this article should expand your horizons. These women do an excellent job creating community and as you will see from their images (and our cover), they are incredibly talented and passionate about astronomy. I wish I had allocated more pages in our print edition to cover a larger cross-section of their community, but our digital subscribers will be able to enjoy the substantial “overflow”.

For our imagers: Lots of amazing images by our subscribers and tips and techniques. And a new 4-part series with some helpful charts and notes for your “seasonal ” observing.

In updating our Star Event Calendar, the list of events that have been planned this far in advance is the largest I can remember in recent year – yet another sign of things returning to normal. I will be attending and speaking at the Winter Star Party in early February, so I hope to see a lot of you there and at some other venues under dark skies in 2025.

If you are not a subscriber, click on the Subscribe tab and join us in our astronomy adventures.

As usual, I hope you enjoy the new issue and wish you lots of time under clear, dark skies and optics that are true.  Charlie Warren: Editor

Newly updated with the two most recent years – inclusive of issues 1-96  or the thumb drive version with “25 Years” issues 1-100.                             

25 Years of Amateur Astronomy Magazine
Available as Thumb Drive – Current Special includes issues 1-110 for the same low price – LESS THAN $1 per issue!!
Volume I contains issues 1 – 54
Volume II contains issues 55 – 100
Also available as a complete set of the entire 100 quarterly issues spanning 25 years

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The Essential Journal for Practicing Amateur Astronomers