Astronomy January 2012

Top 10 space stories of 2011
By Liz Kruesi
Astronomers discovered our galaxy blows giant bubbles, scientists found evidence of flowing water on Mars, and NASA ended its shuttle program.
pg. 26

How the universe reveals its secrets
By Bill Andrews
From the farthest supernova to our home planet, chemistry is at work everywhere, and understanding it is key to figuring out how the cosmos runs.
pg. 34

The man who measured the cosmos
By Ron L. Voller
Milton Humason went from janitor on Mount Wilson to world-famous astronomer.
pg. 52

Brian May's world of stereo astro pictures
By David J. Eicher
One of the world's great rock stars has a passion for astronomy — and for sharing space in 3-D.
pg. 58

The science of Star Trek
By Ayla Besemer
Find out how our descendants might travel at warp speed, beam down to a planet, or take a shortcut through a wormhole.
pg. 60

How to sketch deep-sky objects
By Brandon Doyle
Create an illustrated record of your views through the telescope and become a better observer at the same time.
pg. 64

Astronomy tests Stellarvue's 4-inch APO refractor
By Jon Talbot
The new SV105-3SV imaging scope boasts high-quality construction, superb optics, and an oversized focuser.
pg. 70