Sky & Telescope's Weekly Bulletin - May 26

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SKY & TELESCOPE'S WEEKLY BULLETIN - May 26, 2006
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Welcome to SKY & TELESCOPE's Weekly Bulletin. Images, the full stories
abridged here, and other enhancements are on our Web site at
http://SkyandTelescope.com

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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
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Amateurs Help Find a Transiting Exoplanet

For the first time, amateur astronomers have made a major contribution
to the discovery of a transiting extrasolar planet. Such planets
periodically cross (transit) the face of their parent star, causing a
slight dip in brightness that generally lasts several hours. Transiting
planets are of particular importance to professionals because the
scientists can pin down their masses and diameters. Better yet,
follow-up studies with space telescopes such as Hubble and Spitzer can
reveal information about the planet's temperature, atmospheric
composition, and cloud coverage. . . .

http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1730_1.asp

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OBSERVING - SKY AT A GLANCE
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May 26 -- June 3

Jupiter shines in the southeast awaiting your telescope, Mars lines up
with Castor and Pollux in the west, and three asteroid occultations
cross parts of North America this week.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing...icle_110_1.asp

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OBSERVING - THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
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Catch A Very Young Moon!

If you live in North America, look low in the west soon after sunset on
Saturday, May 27th. You may be able to see a hairline-thin crescent
Moon less than 24 hours old. Will this be your personal record?

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing...cle_1732_1.asp

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SHOP AT SKY (Advertisement)
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http://www.shopatsky.com/index.asp?P...ROD&ProdID=855

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Stuart Goldman
Associate Editor http://SkyandTelescope.com
Night Sky Magazine http://NightSkyMag.com
49 Bay State Rd.
Cambridge, MA 02138