Astronomy June 2003

Lonely planets?
Planetary mass objects, planetars, planemos, sub-brown dwarfs — astronomers can’t even settle on a name for these free-floating outcasts, much less explain them. Learn what scientists have gleaned about this new class of objects and what mysteries remain. — Robert Naeye

Harvest the Moon
Our only natural satellite will offer a wealth of resources — both scientific and economic — to its next human explorers.
— Paul D. Spudis

Searching for alien Earths
A new generation of space observatories may answer the ultimate question: Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?
— Ray Jayawardhana

Crux, Musca, and Circinus
They may be small, but the Southern Cross, the Fly, and the Compasses contain an interesting variety of star clusters, nebulae, and other Milky Way delights. — Tom Polakis

Find the faintest planet
Think observing Pluto is an impossible feat? After reading Astronomy’s handy guide to spotting the most distant planet, you’ll change your mind. — Richard Talcott

Imaging the Sun in Ha
Join the author on a tour-de-force exploration of the Sun as seen through a hydrogen-alpha filter. Get up close and personal with sunspots, solar prominences, and the ever-changing face of our nearest star. — Jack Newton

View the universe in 3-D
Viewing the depth of celestial targets at astronomical distances isn’t impossible. The key is recognizing and understanding visual cues provided by the desired object. — James Mullaney

Coronado’s NearStar scope
Coronado’s NearStar solar telescope delivers the Sun as it always was described in science class: rich, majestic, and alive. Incorporating innovative Ha filtering, it optically slices through the photosphere to bring observers spectacular details. — John Shibley

Astronomy, 2003, June