Astronomy June 2011

In search of the first stars
By Ray Villard
Big, blue, and bright, the first stars were unique monsters that changed cosmic evolution.
pg. 26

What happens when stars die?
By Liz Kruesi
Stellar corpses litter our universe — white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
pg. 32

A century of variable star observing
By David H. Levy
Since its start in 1911, the American Association of Variable Star Observers has served amateur and professional astronomers.
pg. 44

Explore Abell's obscure planetary nebulae
By Michael E. Bakich
Scant details, low surface brightnesses, and tiny sizes scare away most amateur astronomers. The best observers, however, see this list of faint, dead suns as a challenge.
pg. 50

10 great summer binocular sights
By Phil Harrington
Give your telescope a night off and target these wonders through binoculars.
pg. 54

Choose a star atlas that's right for you
By Michael E. Bakich
Before heading out into the night, make sure you're armed with the best maps.
pg. 56

Meet the PowerNewt
By Phil Harrington
This new Boren-Simon astrograph offers 8 inches of aperture, a fast focal ratio, and high-quality optics.
pg. 60