Astronomy May 2008

Mercury reveals its hidden side
NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft found features on Mercury unlike any seen elsewhere in the solar system.
By Richard Talcott


Earth's troubled adolescence
When a Mars-sized object rammed Earth and created the Moon, it launched a sequence of events that made our planet what it is today.
By Richard Talcott


Could changing channels tune into alien civilizations?
A vast antenna farm in the Australian Outback may pick up the equivalent of talk radio and TV from other solar systems.
By Steve Nadis


Inside NASA's Deep Space Network
If you think talking to a spacecraft across the solar system is a challenge, try juggling 30 of them. Here's how NASA's far-flung missions phone home.
By Francis Reddy


How to observe dark nebulae
Challenge yourself to find a dozen cold, dark clouds among the stars.
By Steve Coe


Tele Vue's new eyepiece field tested
The Ethos offers an ultrawide field of view at high power.
By Stephen James O'Meara


Choose the dome that's right for you
Set up one of these three domes, and next time you observe you'll feel like a pro.
By Mike D. Reynolds