The New Sky and Telescope

Well, the May issue just arrived in my mailbox and it shows the effect
of a number of important changes:
It is wider. Good idea, it's easier to read and better for images.
Sue French has taken over the Deep Sky Wonders column, formerly
written by the near-legendary Walter Scott Houston. Very good idea. Sue
is easily the best writer, and (very important) the most inspiring deep
sky writer, (Houston too was an inspiring writer) and one of the most
original, since Scotty. I am kind of amazed that the editors had
sufficient insight to choose her.
Charles Wood is given more space for his column on the moon. Very
good idea. A neglected object because it is too easy) that deserves
attention because of its beauty and the wealth of detail it offers.
Sky & Tel doesn't say this but it is obvious: a much more probing,
candid, equipment testing reviews. The review of the Hardin 10 inch Dob
in the May issue by Gary Seronik is a model of what such reviews should
be. You don't have to look between the lines in his review. (On the
other hand, I found his "buyer's guide" to 10 inch Dobsonians to be so
vague and general s to be a lot less helpful than the kinds of reviews
found in Phil Harrington's StarWare.)
The Hobby Q&A, by the Editors, seems a good idea also.
Looks like Gary Seronik will be answering the ATM inquiries, which is a
good idea.
A better grouping of topics and columns, so it is easier to find all

the columns on observing, for example.
An observing column by Steve O'Meara. Hard to go wrong here. Steve
is a superb observer who has a strong interest in objects other people
can actually find and see, as opposed to abstruse IC objects and Abell
clusters (which latter are also important, especially if you have an 18
inch scope and mag 6 or 7 skies).
An observing column, by the redoubtable Tony Flanders, this month
on his observing trip to Chile. What is good about Tony's column is that

he is able to give you a sense of what it is like to observe from there
(as opposed to the more usual, "NGC... is another great southern skies
cluster, too bad you Northerners can't see it.") The emphasis on
personal experience rather than catalog data, makes Tony a valuable
columnist.
And there are other changes. (The editors have for example, wisely
reduced the size and prominence of the date (in this case, May) on the
front cover, so the newsstand passers-by won't wrongly interpret an
issue as out of date if it is an earlier month.)
Perhaps you have a different perception of these changes?
Ciao,
Bill Meyers

In article ,
Bill Meyers wrote:
SNIP_
Perhaps you have a different perception of these changes?
Ciao,
Bill Meyers





Bill,

I especially like the new paper, which has a finish that is a lot easier
on these old eyes, and the unjustified (ragged) right margins. Also the
wider width allows for a more versatile layout.

I certainly agree about the writing style of Sue French. I didn't read
her much in the beginning, as her articles seemed aimed at the novice,
but each month she has covered subjects in greater detai. And even
though her work is obviously heavily researched, it is very readable.

Sue gets better and better each month. I especially like the fact that
she is now including larger apertures in her deep-sky column. I also
like her references to earlier articles, such as her inclusions of
Leland Copeland's poetry in this issue.

Sky & Tel is a classy rag, and it just keeps getting better.

Starry Skies,
Rich

Three thumbs up from me! :-)

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

To reply remove spleen

Hello, Rich,
It is a rare post where I agree strongly with everything in it, but this
is one.
I do like the new paper, the ragged right margins, and the greater
width, for the reasons you give..
I agree too that Sue French'a columns get better and better. She
includes lots of things I don't often see elsewhere. I was pleased too that
she includes a 10 inch scope, since I use a 10 and an 11.
Very important to me is that she is an inspiring writer. The ability to
inspire people to observe also distinguished Walter Scott Houston. Lots of
people, appropriately, try for it, but it's not so easy to do. Burnham's
Celestial Handbook had this quality, and so does James Mullaney's Celestial
Harvest, I feel. I have a theory about the ability to inspi it requires
caring about the reader, as well as about the sky.
It is heartening to see a makeover that actually improves the magazine
substantially, especially since it was a very good magazine even before the
makeover.
Ciao,
Bill Meyers

Richard DeLuca wrote:

In article ,
Bill Meyers wrote:
SNIP_
Perhaps you have a different perception of these changes?
Ciao,
Bill Meyers




Bill,

I especially like the new paper, which has a finish that is a lot easier
on these old eyes, and the unjustified (ragged) right margins. Also the
wider width allows for a more versatile layout.

I certainly agree about the writing style of Sue French. I didn't read
her much in the beginning, as her articles seemed aimed at the novice,
but each month she has covered subjects in greater detai. And even
though her work is obviously heavily researched, it is very readable.

Sue gets better and better each month. I especially like the fact that
she is now including larger apertures in her deep-sky column. I also
like her references to earlier articles, such as her inclusions of
Leland Copeland's poetry in this issue.

Sky & Tel is a classy rag, and it just keeps getting better.

Starry Skies,
Rich

I LIKE the new look, and that's laying it on pretty thick, since I'm an
old fuddyduddy and I'm usually uncomfortable with change. Well done!
That being said, I sure miss the way they used to put the name on
the cover with the "Sky" in script, and the "Telescope" in print like on
the original magazines. (Like I said...)
Marty

Greg, uhh, thats not your thumb.. *g*
I can understand and appreciate the excitement though
Congrats to S&T and best wishes for ongoing success.

Greg Crinklaw wrote in message ...
Three thumbs up from me! :-)

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

To reply remove spleen

Bill Meyers wrote:

Well, the May issue just arrived in my mailbox and it shows the effect
of a number of important changes:
It is wider. Good idea, it's easier to read and better for images.
Sue French has taken over the Deep Sky Wonders column, formerly
written by the near-legendary Walter Scott Houston. Very good idea. Sue
is easily the best writer, and (very important) the most inspiring deep
sky writer, (Houston too was an inspiring writer) and one of the most
original, since Scotty. I am kind of amazed that the editors had
sufficient insight to choose her.

Congratulations to Sue. I've been to star parties with Sue and Alan.
Always had a great time.


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Marty wrote in message:
I LIKE the new look, and that's laying it on pretty thick, since I'm an
old fuddyduddy and I'm usually uncomfortable with change. Well done!
That being said, I sure miss the way they used to put the name on
the cover with the "Sky" in script, and the "Telescope" in print like on
the original magazines. (Like I said...)

Hi, Marty (and everyone)

Kudos from me as well. The paper, margins, look, feel, content, staff,
layout - all wonderful in my opinion - but not necessary in that order.

Clear Skies,
Dave Jessie

(Marty) wrote in message ...
I LIKE the new look, and that's laying it on pretty thick, since I'm an
old fuddyduddy and I'm usually uncomfortable with change. Well done!
That being said, I sure miss the way they used to put the name on
the cover with the "Sky" in script, and the "Telescope" in print like on
the original magazines. (Like I said...)
Marty

I agree with you, Marty. I'd like to see the name written on the cover
the way it was done for many years. DR

No kudos from me...yet. Sky and Telescope persists in its dogged
refusal to send its magazine out to west coast subscribers earlier than
it does its east coast subscribers, so that we all get it *at the same
time*. I detect a subtle anti-west coast bias. (Of course, I'm very
sensitive to that.)

So, we wait and hope.

Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt