Views on Sky & Telescope Magazine

I have just purchased the April edition of Sky & Telescope and in my opinion
the quality and content has already started to slide following the recent
'sell out' to another publisher.

First thing I noticed was the paper quality seemed below par - they was a
definite 'cheap feel' about the magazine now. The lay-out looks far more
simplistic with vast tracts of unused space (reminds me of how Astronomy
magazine whet some years ago. Furthermore the number of pages seemed to be
less than normal in this edition, which when combined with the
aforementioned and the visual intriviness of advertising, which may or may
not have increased, I am left wondering is this magazine worth buy again.

I have purchased this magazine since 1984 and over the years seen the
quality change, sometimes for the better, but there has been a slow decline
into dumbing down. If the April edition is anything to go by I'd say that
under its new ownership S&T has reached rock bottom and is truly in the
realms of Astronomy magazine .

What do you think ?

"Mark J Underwood" wrote:

I have just purchased the April edition of Sky & Telescope and in my
opinion the quality and content has already started to slide following
the recent 'sell out' to another publisher.

Bummer. I'm an electronic archive subscriber, and I'm never disappointed
with the quality of articles -- it is obvious that much research effort and
enthusiasm is put into them. I can't comment on the advertising or paper
quality as I haven't bought a paper-based issue since 1998.

I ceased subscribing 2 years ago (after 5 years) and never regretted
it. It is so worthless that I don't even leaf through it when shows up
on the newstand. There is only one amateur astronomy publication worth
reading and that is the BAA Journal.

Andrea T.