Astronomy March 2003

Will dark energy steal all the stars?
Using powerful supercomputers as cosmic crystal balls, astronomers are peering into a future dominated by dark energy. Astronomy reads our somber fortune. — Steve Nadis

Mysteries of the martian poles
As planetary scientists optically dig through millions of years of layered polar ice and dust, it is becoming clear that Mars is in the process of a climatic reversal. — Peter Thomas

Way too cool
One of the youngest pulsars known appears cooler and more dense than astronomers would have predicted, hinting at a strange new form of matter. — David Helfand

Corvus, Crater, and Sextans
These constellations may appear modest, but the Crow, Cup, and Sextant hold a treasure of spectacular galaxies.
— Tom Polakis

Mars — better than ever
The planet’s best appearance in recorded history promises grand views for all backyard observers. Don’t miss seeing the martian disk at its largest in your lifetime. — Daniel Troiani

Testing a CCD trio
Not satisfied with results from your deep-sky film photography? Give CCD cameras from SBIG and Starlight Xpress a chance. — David Healy

Star-test your telescope
A simple test can diagnose a host of maladies in your telescope’s most vital organ: its optical system. Learn how to recognize the symptoms and find a cure. — Phil Harrington


Get up-and-go power
The careful ergonomic engineering and user-friendly control system make the Nexstar 5i and 8i telescopes a pleasure to use. In minutes, you can observe objects that would otherwise be impossible to find. — Steve Edberg


Focus on finders
The best way to learn the sky is by star-hopping with an old-fashioned finder scope. Let’s meet a few finders that are grouped by design and function and discover the right finder for you. — John Shibley