Here is the transcript for my podcast about how to see the Pleiades star cluster, open cluster M34, and the Little Dumbbell Nebula . Check out the Astronomy.com's interactive star chart to see an accurate map of your sky. It'll help you locate some of this week's key targets. Astronomy magazine subscribers have access to a slew of cool functions with StarDome PLUS. --Start transcript-- The Pleiades star cluster, open cluster M34, and the...

Here's the transcript to our latest constellation tour podcast. In this one, we take a tour of Cassiopeia the Queen . Check out the Astronomy.com's interactive star chart to see an accurate map of your sky. It'll help you locate some of this week's key targets. Under "Options," on the right, be sure to click "Display," then select "Constellations." Then, click on "Show Names" and select "Constellations...

Here is the transcript for my podcast about how to see the constellation Lacerta, Pinwheel Galaxy, and Mirach's Ghost . Check out the Astronomy.com's interactive star chart to see an accurate map of your sky. It'll help you locate some of this week's key targets. Astronomy magazine subscribers have access to a slew of cool functions with StarDome PLUS. --Start transcript-- Hello, I’m Astronomy magazine senior editor Michael Bakich...

Paul Atkinson filed his third report from the 2008 Chiefland Star Party. Take it away, Paul! Monday night was pretty cold for Florida, and an unexpected cold front pushed through. The sky was clear, and the humidity all but disappeared. The seeing degraded from the front blowing through, and it caused the stars to dance quite a bit. On the field, the die-hard imagers continued while others decided to use the night to observe visually. A tripod with...

The final day in New Mexico and Arizona, traveling to the Arizona Sky Village (ASV) with Senior Editor Michael Bakich, was terrific. We enjoyed the hospitality of ASV founder Gene Turner and his girlfriend Loy Guzman, and we visited with an array of observers who spend time at the site. What a wonderful time we had as guests of David and Cathy Johnson at their home near Playas, New Mexico. Afterward, we readied for our third night of observing with...

Paul Atkinson sent us another report from the 2008 Chiefland Star Party. Thanks, Paul! Live from Chiefland Star Party 2008, here is the on-field report for Sunday night’s observing and Monday’s activities. Sunday night was an awesome observing experience. The site was abuzz with lots of activity right from dusk with reports of multiple attendees going until 5 a.m. or later! The seeing just seemed to get better as the night progressed. Estimations...

Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher filed this report from his trip to Arizona Sky Village: Friday opened up great adventures on our journey to the Arizona Sky Village (ASV). Senior Editor Michael Bakich and I continued our stay at Rancho Hidalgo, the newest development of ASV creator Gene Turner and his associates. The ranch lies just across the New Mexico border from ASV near the little town of Animas. Gene and his girlfriend, Loy Guzman,...

“The skies on our first night did not disappoint. Armed with the group’s 30-inch f/4.4 Starmaster Dobsonian reflector and a computer-controlled database, we went after dozens of deep-sky objects.” After flying from Milwaukee to Denver to Tucson, Senior Editor Michael Bakich and I arrived at the eastern arm of the Arizona Sky Village (ASV) yesterday and immediately began an on-the-spot star party with a group of ASV owners. Instead of going to the...

Noted astrophotographer and Astronomy contributor John Chumack sent us a cool video of the 2008 Orionid meteor shower ... this on the heels of a stunning Orionid image from magazine columnist Stephen James O’Meara. Both express a lot of enthusiasm for this year’s display. Read John’s comments below, then watch the video on Astronomy.com. You can see O’Meara’s image and read his comments in “ Orionid meteor image .” An unbelievable year for the Orionid...

Here is the transcript for my podcast about how to see the constellation Triangulum, double star in Perseus, and NGC 891 . Check out the Astronomy.com's interactive star chart to see an accurate map of your sky. It'll help you locate some of this week's key targets. Astronomy magazine subscribers have access to a slew of cool functions with StarDome PLUS. --Start transcript-- The constellation Triangulum, the Double Cluster in Perseus...