Astronomy - December 2013.pdf

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ENTER AND YOU COULD WIN $2,500
From the National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences
GIVE US YOUR
BEST SHOT!
Submit stunning images
of Comet ISON for
impressive cash prizes!
Astronomers predict ISON may become
one of the best comets in decades.
To commemorate this grand sky event,
head out this fall to capture your fnest
images of Comet ISON, and you could
win cash prizes and have your photo
featured in
Astronomy
magazine.
Through the
scope
Piggyback camera
a an
C a me r
d t r ip o
d
Register and submit your
Comet ISON images to
www.nsf.gov/comet.
The photo contest runs
October 15, 2013, through
January 15, 2014.
National Science Foundation
Division of Astronomical Sciences
Discover
SCIENCE FOR THE CURIOUS
MAG A Z I N E
®
See
www.Astronomy.com/ISONphotos
for imaging guidelines and offcial contest rules.
DON KNABB (BOY & TELESCOPE); ANDY D'ARIENZO (PIGGYBACK CAMERA); GERALD RHEMANN (THROUGH THE SCOPE); DAMIAN PEACH (CAMERA AND TRIPOD)
ENTER TODAY!
OPT Telescopes – 800.483.6287 – www.opttelescopes.com
B&H Photo – 800.947.9970 – www.bhphotovideo.com
Hands On Optics – 866.726.7371 – www.handsonoptics.com
Astronomics – 800.422.7876 – www.astronomics.com
Adorama – 800.223.2500 – www.adorama.com
High Point Scientific – 800.266.9590 – www.highpointscientific.com
Optics Planet – 800.504.5897 – www.opticsplanet.com
Telescopes.com – 888.988.9876 – www.telescopes.com
Focus Camera – 800.221.0828 – www.focuscamera.com
Woodland Hills – 888.427.8766 – www.telescopes.net
Online Content Code: ASY1312
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vOL. 41, NO. 12
December 2013
NASA/ESA/J. BlAkESlEE (NRC HERzBERg ASTROpHYSiCS pRO-
gRAm, DOmiNiON ASTROpHYSiCAl OBSERVATORY)/k. AlAmO-
mARTiNEz (NATiONAl AuTONOmOuS uNiVERSiTY
Of mExiCO); Bill AND SAllY flETCHER (COVER COmET)
ON THE COvEr
Math describes how matter, energy,
and the mysterious components
of the universe interact. Learn to
embrace the equations.
CONTENTS
FEaTUrES
24
COVER STORY
Speaking the language
of the cosmos
Let’s take the scare factor out
of equations and ask scientists
a fundamental question: How
much of astronomy is math?
BOB BERMAN
30
56
Comet ISON’s dazzling
all-night show
Tis cosmic interloper should
remain a grand sight throughout
these long December nights.
RICHARD TALCOTT
COLUMNS
Strange Universe
12
BOB BERMAN
Secret Sky
16
STEpHEN JAMES O’MEARA
38
StarDome and
Path of the Planets
RICHARD TALCOTT;
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROEN KELLY
Observing Basics
20
GLENN CHApLE
Cosmic Imaging
66
TONY HALLAS
Astro Sketching
68
ERIKA RIX
30
Torrid Mercury’s
icy poles
Te MESSENGER spacecraf re-
veals water ice lurking in deeply
shadowed craters.
JAMES OBERG
44
Spacecraft: Where are
they now?
What happens afer planetary
missions end?
YVETTE CENDES
62
11 top winter binocular
gems
One supernova remnant, two
double stars, and eight clusters
beckon cold-weather skygazers.
pHIL HARRINGTON
QUaNTUM GraviTy
Snapshot
9
Astro News
10
48
Ask Astro
Auroral zones.
iN EvEry iSSUE
From the Editor
6
Letters
12, 16, 66
Web Talk
23
New Products
67
Advertiser Index
69
Reader Gallery
72
Final Frontier
74
36
The Sky this Month
ISON continues to shine.
MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND
ALISTER LING
50
Behind the scenes at
Celestron
For more than 50 years, this
innovative company has helped
amateur astronomers observe the
sky.
MICHAEL E. BAKICH
64
Grab a Cometron scope
to view Comet ISON
Celestron has made a pair of
low-cost telescopes for beginners
watching the great sky show.
MIKE REYNOLDS
visit
Astronomy.com/toc
for bonus material — it’s
exclusive to
Astronomy
magazine subscribers.
Astronomy
(ISSN 0091-6358, USPS 531-350) is pub-
lished monthly by Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027
Crossroads Circle, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI
53187–1612. Periodicals postage paid at Waukesha,
WI, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to
Astronomy,
21027 Crossroads
Circle, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187–1612.
Canada Publication Mail Agreement #40010760.
ONLINE
FAVORITES
Go to
www.Astronomy.com
for info on the biggest news and
observing events, stunning photos,
informative videos, and more.
DaveÕs
Universe
The inside
scoop from
the editor
Weekly
podcast
Observing
targets for all
skywatchers
Reader Photo
Gallery
Share your
astroimaging
efforts
Interactive
Star Atlas
Pan and zoom
through the
night sky
4
As tr on om y
•
D ec e mber 2013
OPT Telescopes – 800.483.6287 – www.opttelescopes.com
B&H Photo – 800.947.9970 – www.bhphotovideo.com
Hands On Optics – 866.726.7371 – www.handsonoptics.com
Astronomics – 800.422.7876 – www.astronomics.com
Adorama – 800.223.2500 – www.adorama.com
High Point Scientific – 800.266.9590 – www.highpointscientific.com
Optics Planet – 800.504.5897 – www.opticsplanet.com
Telescopes.com – 888.988.9876 – www.telescopes.com
Focus Camera – 800.221.0828 – www.focuscamera.com
Woodland Hills – 888.427.8766 – www.telescopes.net

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