Australian Sky & Telescope is a world-class magazine about the science and hobby of astronomy.  Combining the formidable worldwide resources of its venerable parent magazine with the talents of the best science writers and photographers in Australia, Australian Sky & Telescope is a magazine produced specifically for the Southern Hemisphere’s astronomers.

Living off the (lunar) land

Australian Sky & Telescope

Earth-size planets are common, Kepler finds

How big is Betelgeuse really?

Potential biosignature found in Venus’ atmosphere

IN BRIEF

Hubble images reveal dark matter problem

The origin of Earth’s water

The search for Planet X • The discovery of Pluto was a combination of mathematical prediction and luck.

Seasons in the sky • Watching the stars and planets can lead to a greater appreciation of the universe around us and our place within it.

Your night sky guide for 2021 • Planets on parade, eclipses, meteor showers, close conjunctions and many other celestial sights await stargazers this year.

2021 Returning Comets

Choosing your first telescope • Ready to take the plunge into the astro-gear universe? Let’s see what’s out there.

Looking for Ice in the dark • Several tiny spacecraft will tell us more about the water ice that lurks in shadowed places on the Moon.

SUNNY, WITH A CHANCE OF FROST

Observing Geo sat Flares • Your guide for spotting “stars out of place.”

PHOTOGRAPHING GEOSATS

The fires of youth

USING THE STAR CHART

Orion’s magnificent seven • Summer’s best-known constellation is also its brightest.

VISTAS

Three planets move to the morning • Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn all swap the evening sky for pre-dawn vistas.

Southern summer shower • February’s Alpha Centaurids should not be missed.

SKY PHENOMENA

LUNAR PHENOMENA

Here’s hoping for a cometary 2021 • Several regular comets are returning, and fingers are crossed for some new arrivals.

Star on a diet • This red supergiant is on a serious mass-loss program.

ANTS on the Moon • Warm rocks hint at recent geological activity.

A tourist’s guide to the summer sky • Jerry Oltion takes us on a guided tour of some famous and not-so-famous delights of the summer sky.

Studying THE PLANETS • Contributing to the study of our neighbouring worlds is easier than you might think.

DOUBLE DOUBLE VISION • Here’s a great way to boost your imaging output when conditions are favourable.

Venus surprise • Will phosphine be the “Mars rock” of our sister planet?

The Unistellar eVscope • Does this little reflector live up to the claim “100× more powerful than a regular telescope”?

A place for everything • Better storage solutions for home observatories

Astronomical awards • Amateur and professional astronomers are recognised with prestigious prizes.

Rick Stevenson

Astrophotos from our readers

The scope I built with dad • The author’s first telescope showed him that anything is possible.