Astronomy March 2016

The race to cosmic dawn
by Eric Betz
Inflation stands at the heart of modern cosmology. So why haven't astronomers seen any signs of it?

Oxygen: The color of life
by Bob Berman
Nature’s eighth element allows us to live, breathe, and think, but it also colors the cosmos with its distinctive greenish hue.

How Pluto got its name
by Kevin Schindler, Lowell Observatory, Lauren Amundson
The public's suggestions for naming the new planet ranged from the scientific to the personal, revealing a glimpse into the social mindset of the day.

15 stellar software packages
by Tom Trusock
These programs will bring your astronomy experience into the digital age.

Plan now for the 2017 eclipse
by Michael E. Bakich
Follow these 25 commonsense tips, and you’ll be ready to rock on eclipse day.

Run a non-Messier marathon
by Michael E. Bakich
For a new adventure, challenge yourself to see these 109 objects in a single night.