AS&T to go bi-monthy

[gary]

Australian Sky & Telescope report that they will soon become a bi-monthly
magazine.

Gary Kopff
Mt. Kuring-Gai

[Astroman]

Hope they have double the stuff in it to keep us happy over the extra month. Some more equipment reviews would be good :D Also EP test reports etc.....

Anyway enough dribbling, I am sure they have their reasons.

[h0ughy]

Not good news, things must be tough, they are going to be like S&S
Hope not though, everyone needs a mag to read I like both

[acropolite]

If it has twice as much content that would be OK, but if not I'd like to see the US version back on the shelves. :confuse3:

[fremanwarrior]

How are subscriptions affected? Term doubled?

[avandonk]

Just like the computer magazines they cannot be as up to date as what we all can find on the internet right now! All these magazines have a problem if their target audience is net savvy. The only mags that barely survive is the celeb mags as they keep their 'information' secret.

There has to be a complete paradigm shift for any publication. I don't know what that could be.


Bert

[h0ughy]

but having personal stories and articles is different, and great to read, cant do that with the net everywhere, but can with a mag, no matter what publication. Sometimes more detail may come out or refresh our memories. Wish they would have asked us for permission before they did it!

[Nuri]

Speaking of mags.. Anyone notice that Lee Andrews did not advertise in the latest AS&T... any inside news on that?...

[astrogeek]

I'm not very happy about the whole bi-monthly thing. The thing I liked best about AS&T was the fact that it was monthly, so I didn't have to wait so long between copies. If they go bi-monthly what's the point of having their mag as there is already a great bi-monthly astro mag, Sky and Space. I wont by AS&T anymore if they go bi-monthly because I would prefer to support the all aussie Sky and Space. Just my two cents....

Leon

[mickoking]

I concur

[matt]

ditto

[33South]

2 months is too long to wait between issues, but if the months alternate with Sky and Space at least I can buy one mag a month - and get both.

[astrogeek]

Actually, thats a good idea. If they must go bi-monthly than I think that they should alternate months with sky and space as you suggested. I hope they read these forums :)

[robagar]

poor show. I'd prefer they just put the price up if the mag's not making enough money

[Greg Bryant]

Australian Sky & Telescope will be shifting to bi-monthly as of the next issue (Jul/Aug). The community's response to our Jan/Feb issue was so high that it was felt that moving to bi-monthly now was the preferred option.

I do appreciate the comments here that monthly frequency is preferred. I love the monthly clockwork cycle too. However, we have decided to go down the bi-monthly path for now.

We will continue to be on-time with each issue, as we have been all along. Subscribers will not be penalised - their subscriptions are for a certain number of issues, so that will be carried through - ie. your subscription period is virtually doubled.

And in our upcoming Jul/Aug issue, we have a free Gemini Observatory CD on each cover.

While the size of each issue of AS&T will remain the same, I will be expanding our online content. Look for some enhanced coverage shortly.

Regards,

[gaa_ian]

I also hope that they are alternate months to the release of S&S.
That will actually be better as far as i am concerned.

[ballaratdragons]

Having alternate months could improve sales of both mags.

[jjjnettie]

I don't know how I'll cope having to wait 2 months inbetween fixes.

[iceman]

'tis a shame, I enjoyed the monthly cycle too.

I guess both bi-monthly magazines will have to create their own niche in this very competitive industry.

I think Bert made the most valid point.. with "news" related information available so freely on the internet, it's always "late news" by the time it's printed in the magazines. Only the weekly celebrity magazines can be "current", as there are always celebrities doing stupid things :lol:

By the sounds of the release date (Jul/Aug) it's going to be the same "cover date" as S&S, but I guess it just depends when each magazine actually hits the shelves/mailboxes.

[wavelandscott]

I too consider this a shame and enjoyed greatly the monthly edition...

Oh well, at least I still also get the US version monthly...

[Satchmo]

This is exactly what I predicted would happen, with 2 oz based magazines on the market: that we would end up with both magazines on bi-monthly , and as a by product losing the monthly Sky and Telescope from the news stands http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/images/icons/icon8.gif.

Since 1978 I have collected Sky and Telescope, rarely by subscription, mostly off the newstand. As I can only digest a small amount of any magazine I tended to buy only one a month if it had some articles that interested me. The choice of two OZ magazines, is becoming a little harder now that that they will both go bi -monthly. They are both doing a _fine_ job, but do we really need two ?? I suspect that they were each expecting the other to have bitten the dust by now. Perhaps they could join forces instead of trying to kill each other off..:)

*I sorely miss the availability of the monthly USA edition of Sky and Telescope from the newstands*

Mark

[Miaplacidus]

"Australian Sky, Space, and Telescope". Mmmmmm...

Would perhaps be the best solution, but alas I suspect there is too much bad blood lying about from days gone by.

Hopefully I'm wrong.

[iceman]

I think there's about zero chance of them recombining.

[h0ughy]

Never say Zero. 99.99 and allow for error. Looks like I will have to renew my subscription for S&T in the US again, I let it go in April thinking that the Australian version is now monthly and that I could live with that. I can't now.

[ACE]

I think the whole magazine industry is on the decline and has been for some time now. Since the intro of the GST, prices for mags have increased making them less affordable to buy regularly. Can someone tell me if magazines are dearer now or are on par with CPI and prices of say, 6-7yrs ago.

Also with the internet, most information that one requires can be easily found there. Don't get me wrong, I like magazines and the internet will never close that gap completely, but maybe there needs to be a change in thought with the publishers.

When things go up, whether its petrol prices, groceries, non essentials are the first to go.:(

[rogerg]

It's the cost that turns me away more than the bi-monthly. I haven't been a subscriber to either for a while.

Magazines are great for just browsing adverts/gadgets and a few interesting articles. I rarely read more than a couple of articles but love the adverts & seeing what's new etc in the gear.

I could in theory do the browsing of adverts by simply going to all the websites of the advertising companies, but it doesn't work that way.

What I'd like is a cheaper online version - say, a few bucks cheaper and download in PDF format. Then I can browse what I want, get it cheaper, archive them easily rather than filling up a bookshelf, etc.

I suppose Sky & Telescope have their .com website I'm not sure how much of their content they put there, have to admit I haven't looked around it much.

Back on topic - it is a shame to see AT&S go bi-monthly but I hope the good that comes out of it is that Sky & Space does better, I've always preferred them except for the regularity (or not as the case may be) of their issues.

Roger.

[mickoking]

I would like to see S&S and AS&T co-operate and work together. Maybe alternating their months of release. I must say AS&T is a much better magazine than the old US version of S&T and much more relevent to us southeners. S&S is still my allround favorite astronomy mag. I believe there is room in the market for 2 Aussie astronomy mags.

[gaa_ian]

I'm not sure the Magazine Editors will share that desire for Co-operation Micko :fight:
I like both & would not like to see Either go under.
They both support the local Astro community & each has different style.

[mickoking]

Pity :(

[chunkylad]

Imho, it's a great pity to see AS&T go bi-monthly. While I don't subscribe to any magazines, I buy both Aussie mags as soon as they're available at my newsagent, and read them from front to back.

US based mags just don't have the content for us Southerners!

Sad news indeed.

[jjjnettie]

While there is a lot of good content on the Internet for us to reference, it doen't compare to having the hard copy in your hands. A glossy mag full of interesting, beautiful pictures and well written articles. LOL I love to read the ads as well.
There'll always be a place in the market for AS&T magazine.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Many years ago in Australia there were 2 "local" magazines for electronics enthusiasts: EA (Electronics Australia) and ETI (Electronics Today International, what we bought here was basically an all aussie mag despite the name). The 2 mags were both published monthly, had great articles and projects, etc. They were basically parallel publications covering the same things with slightly different perspectives.

Sound familiar??

Anyway the day came when these 2 magazines became one: Electronics Australia ("with ETI" written in smaller font on the cover).

However .. that's not the end of the story!

A new comer had also come along, named Silicon Chip - despite what some newsagents aparently thought this was NOT a computer mag but an all-fields electronics magazine - fresh perspective, aimed at newer projects and cutting edge tech and attracting new fresh minds to the field.

What happened?? I've pasted this from another webpage:

"Eulogy for Electronics Australia

http://lios.apana.org.au/fruit/orangeball.gif - Electronics Australia (http://www.electronicsaustralia.com.au/) was Australia's longest-running electronics magazine until it ceased to exist in late 2001. EA was also one of the longest-running technical publications in the world. The rights to the trademarks, projects, etc. were purchased by Silicon Chip (http://www.siliconchip.com.au/) magazine during 2002."


The moral of the story? You never can tell what may happen in the future!

I for one love AS&T and will continue to buy it bi-monthly, but I agree it would be great if the 2 mags came out in opposite months. But who knows - there may yet be another newcomer on the shelves in years ahead, the mag that wins out most likely will be the one that presents the best product to the market overall.

[Blue Skies]

Having spent some time with Lyle Rumble at NACAA this Easter I know he would never consider a merger since he is dedicated to an all-Australian product. I also like to have a choice, so two mags is fine with me.

On the other hand I like having a monthly publication as sometimes events move fast, such a new discovery or comet, and you want the latest news. The internet does not always provide you with what you need or want.

[gaa_ian]

You are right there Blue Skies, that was my experience at NACAA too !
Long Live S&S and Aust S&T, alternate months would be great I think.

[h0ughy]

Non essentials:eyepop: !!! It is essential for the well being of ones sole;) I gave up getting the american Mags:sadeyes:

[norm]

I think its time that ICEMAN starts a monthly print edition of ICEINSPACE. Mike's got the talent, skills (I've read his journalistic style in his IISAC write-up).

It's got to be in glossy paper though, none of that cheap New Idea type paper.

Mike Salway - Senior Editor - hmmm got a good ring to it !!!:P ;)

[astroron]

Didn't you people who have subcribed to AS/T sign up for eleven issues per ONE year, not eleven issues per TWO years?:shrug:

[ving]

hmm... well thats a downer. alternate months between the two mags might be good tho.
that said i dont buy either mag on a regual basis, only when i see an article of special interest. most info i get is (like many others) on the net. ultimately this will probably kill all mags?!

[astrogeek]

I don't know. I still like having a hard copy of something to read, especially on the tram to uni. Same with books, I prefer to have a hard copy in my hand. There's just something nice about it, turning the pages etc. I sound so wanky don't I :)

Leon

[mickoking]

Despite the computer/ information revolution I think books and magazines are still very popular, and will be into the forseable future.

[Rodstar]

You may be on to something there, Ron. If it was known to the publisher of AS&T at the time that they put out their last edition that they were planning to go bi-monthly, whilst at the same time actively attempting to sign up monthly subscribers, they could be in a spot of bother legally......:P

I am very disappointed at the news. Two months is a very long time between fixes. My suggestion is that we need to increase the astronomical market in Australia. The best way I know of to achieve this is through nature's way...reproduction. To the bedrooms, folks. Time to go forth, and multiply (astronomically-gifted children only though). :whistle:

[fremanwarrior]

Having just (May edition) subscribed for 2 years I'm concerned that the now 4 year subscription is an excessive time frame for a mag subscription.

I have been informed that AS/T refund unused parts of subscriptions. (What penalty, if any, is impossed I don't know)

I haven't enquired further yet.

[mickoking]

I got the latest copy of AS&T today and I noticed something, only minor, but good. Most of the star maps are south to the top. I hadn't noticed that on previous issues so It must be a recent innovation.

We must break the shackles of our northern hemisphere oppresors :D :P :rofl: :rofl:

[Roger Davis]

Let's recap:
The written word has been around for thousands of years and we can still read the pages.
Microsoft will not support their current software for ever.
You can archive the written word in boxes, bury it in clay jars, carve it into rocks.
If you archive the written word in a computer and bury it in a clay jar you can bet your bottom dollar that the CR2032 battery will be flat in a few years and the archived memory lost forever.
With technology changing every tick of the clock you better hope it's a wind up clock! What will you do with your iPod in 20 years time ?

[h0ughy]

Very true Roger very true. I firmly believe that both magazines should sit up and take notice. If they will continue on the bimonthly basis, they need to come out on alternate months and not together, therefore being able to cover a broader gamut of information. Has anyone sent this link to both magazine editors? I think we should, and is a matter of fact, I will do it right now.:D

EDIT: - i sent this link and a comment to both magazines

[astroron]

Good Idea Houghy but I don't like your chances of a successful outcome;)

[Argonavis]

well if they both merged then there would be one issue per month

[h0ughy]

well I received in the main today a renewal notice final reminder for my lapsed S&T US subscription. I think I might renew it for another 3 years. That way I get to have duplicated information only every 2 months!

[mickoking]

Alternate months, cmon guys. Get over your differences and do it for us, your loyal readers.

[JimmyH155]

Big shame. I read the mag several times cover to cover, and as you other guys have said, I am flat out waiting one month - let alone two. Last Christmas was just awful having to wait all that time

[CoombellKid]

It's a shame it's to go bi-monthly, what's even more annoying is where
did David Frew's "Deep Sky Delights" column go :shrug: I'm more
peeved he appears to be gone, I really enjoyed his column :( it went
hand in hand with S&S's Richard Jaworski "Seeing Double"

May have to join you Houghy and get a US subscription. So I can get
a monthly reading fix

regards,CS

Rob

[CoombellKid]

This will have a roll on effect, If I can only get AS&T once every 2 months
then the damn missus can only buy her New Idea once every 2 months.:rofl:

regards,CS

Rob

[Greg Bryant]

Hi Rob,

David Frew's deep sky column will return. He's taken a few months off.

[mickal555]

Bi-mounthly?

Damn that's a shame, can I ask why?

If they go out on alternitve mounths I'll probobly subscribe to both... if they came out together I probobly won't subscribe to any- just buy the most interesting one on the stand at the time.

I only subscribe to one now.