Sky and Space

[fringe_dweller]

wow! what an issue, the McNaught issue! I have to remark, has anyone else noticed, that probably for the first time in memory for me, THEY HAVE SOLD OUT IN NEWSAGENTS IN RECORD TIME! i went back to get some pristine copies for my collection and they were sold out!! i am used to seeing at least some, if not most of them languish on the shelves for some time - not this time!
Its a ripper, cant stop looking at the mcnaught shots and stories BRILLIANT! nothing like a blazing once in 30 yr + comet on the cover to make it a sell out :) that definately struck a chord with the public :thumbsup:
oh lots of great other stuff in there of course :thumbsup:

bring on the A S&T McNaught issue - :eyepop: :thumbsup: :hi:

[h0ughy]

yes there was some great images of the comet in the Mag, and an article by Paul Mayo (AKA Photoncollector) was top stuff.

[erick]

"Pristine copies" - I know what you mean. I only have the last two editions of S&S and S&T, and they are worn out from thumbing through and using as references while I'm out under the night skies! Dew-proof pages would be nice! :rofl:

[rogerg]

It was a good issue... I think... I have to admit I'm useless at reading the articles in magazines, I just keep flicking through the adverts...


Mmmm... big Meade LX200's... must resist ringing BINTEL... :doh:

:whistle:

[fringe_dweller]

h0ughy, yes Paul did well! cover shot an all :thumbsup: love all the writeups :thumbsup: :)

Erick, my wear and tear is mostly due to pride of place on the coffe table, IT MUST NOT BE REMOVED! hehe, much to partners puzzlement :D oh and the occasional drool stain :screwy:

Roger, in what publication can i expect to see your magnificent images from the peak, the ones with perth in foreground (one of yours is my mates stewarts fave of all! blew him away completely) - i am gonna be upset if i dont ever see them in print somewhere :tasdevil: :whistle:
and btw - getthedob! :lol:

[rogerg]

Actually, I realised when I received my S&S that I hadn't submitted any. I think Greg from AS&T asked if he could use one of my early ones, but I have to admit, it's quite possible none of mine will get in to any mag, simply because I didn't think to submit them :( I can sell you a print though ;)



Noooo, not the dob! :eyepop:

[fringe_dweller]

:lol: that'll do it for sure :rofl:



PM coming your way




yes the Dob ;)

[RAJAH235]

MMMmm, quite happy with the spread we W.A.A.C.ers got.
Not bad pics all round. It was such a fantastic sight 'naked eye'.
One I'll never forget.
Filed,(in memory), along with my 'Earth Grazer'.
Regards, Laurie..

[erick]

Any of you subscription people have your next S&S yet? I'm tired of looking the the newsagent every week.

Would someone please let me know when it arrives, then I'll give it a week then go to the newsagent.

(I have a subs in for S&T, not sure whether I want to subs S&S yet?)

[casstony]

Eric, Sky & Space is in our newsagent a week before I get my subscription copy, so you might see it before us subscribers. I'm thinking of letting my subscription lapse for that reason.

[bizarro]

Eric,

Funny I was just wondering the same about S&S today. The March/April issue is the first one I've bought (mainly because of McNaught) so I knew nothing about the normal release date. Usually not a good sign when issues run late. Have gone through this before with other Australian hobby mags and this normally happens before they go under.

Just checked their website and they're still showing March/April as the current issue. Have they run late before or is this the first time?

[rogerg]

It's been normal for the last few years. I agree with casstony, my subscribed copy normally arrives after it's been in the news agencies for a while.

It's a shame.

But I don't think they're about to go under, it's just how they are.

It's a shame.

But they do a good effort for the return they get from it and the amount of volunteer work involved.

[JethroB76]

I think they ran so late last year they scrapped an issue and moved onto the next month/issue.

[rumples riot]

Kearn, Blackwood News agent still has fresh copies of S&S.

I think it ought to be borne in mind that Sky and Space is run completely by volunteers. It is not a US subsidised mag and as such the people involved are doing the work in their spare time. I have received many emails on Sundays from Dave and Lyle when they are working on the next edition. I pay tribute to their tenacity and appreciate the effort they put into each edition.

I know this will be disputed by someone here, but I know these guys and I know they are doing it the hard way. Sky and Space gets my vote for the gutsy effort they have to make. I wonder how many of you would go to work and then go home to do more work each night and each weekend?

[casstony]

I prefer Sky & Space over S&T, I think S&S is a quality production and the guys do a good job. But it is debatable whether one should subscribe or not, given that the magazine is available in the newsagent a week earlier. Maybe the guys need to work all night and every weekend (just kidding, really).

[erick]

OK, thanks all - I'll keep checking the newsagent. :)

[fringe_dweller]

this thread rose from the dead eh! lol

thats interesting re copies still at your local Paul, that was not my experience at the time, which included 3 different newsagents locally.

I still think it was a great issue, and they beat A&ST to the punch IMO, the punters must of been sated, coz theres still many issues of the A&ST left at a local, unless they have all switched to subscription in that area?

Sadly, I know a rather large newsagent that refuses to deal with/carry S&S anymore, due to the general tardiness, to put it mildly, innocent or not. But i think i remember that happening in the past/before, a few years ago? That we have any, let alone 2 aussie mags!!, surviving in the internet/broadband world, is a miracle I spose?
..as I like to constantly (mis?)quote from the film 'Billy Liar' a young Tom Courtenay say-ing in a thick northern accent ' Grateful, always bloody Grateful... ;):lol:

[OneOfOne]

I think if they were to change their "nominal" issue date to interleave with AS&T their sales could go up as it would mean they would be competing less with their main rival. Of course, at the moment, their release schedule essentially creates this effect. The biggest problem with slipping of issues is that they have information that has a very definite expiry date, there is no point in describing the positions of the planets for May in the April/May issue if people don't get it until June...:(

Anyway, I subscribe to both mags (and will continue to do so) as well as S&T. The alternative is reading the mags my wife and daughter occasionally bring home (Cleo, Women's Weekly, New Idea etc). I would rather sit on the couch and talk to the cat...more intelligence!

[bizarro]

My thanks too for the feedback from everyone. I agree that it's worth supporting a local mag as that's the only way we'll see local content that's relevant to us. This is the first time I've noticed this mag at my newsagents so I thought I'd give it a try (plus I liked the McNaught imagery/articles). I'll probably end up buying it along with AS&T but was just curious why I hadn't seen May/June turn up.

Cheers,
Greg

[Astroman]

Had a look in my local Newsagesnts, they still have copies of S&S and AS&T from the last batch. Guess when the new one turns up they will be replaced. Good job to all the Mags no matter how late or early they are. Always seem to bring out something of interest to everyone.

[davidpretorius]

i like both, and appreciate the amateur nature of S&S.

I got my renewal for membership for my local Astro society this week and it is an absolute no brainer, I will probably stay a member for life...

I really do not give a rats arse if it is late, it is great value!

[jjjnettie]

I always look forward to my copy of S&S arriving.
Great ranges of articles for the beginner to the more advanced amateur.
Gotta support the local Mag.

[Outbackmanyep]

Whens the next issue out??

[StarLane]

Just wondering the same thing.
I sent them an email congratulating them on their great Oz astro mag and politely asked when the next edition will be released and have never received a reply. I was also wondering if they have discontinued to produce the mag. I`ve never understood why a May/June edition doesn`t come out at the beginning of May.
I will not be subscribing to the mag. If they skip an issue like they have in the past (which I have just learned from this thread) your not really getting the full amount of issues you have paid for.

But, It`s an excellent mag and I`ll continue to buy it from the newsagents for as long as they continue to produce it. It would have been nice if they replied to my email though.

[Outbackmanyep]

I'm chomping at the bit........i need something to read! lol

[h0ughy]

Look its simple - it will come out when it ready? Lyle and the rest of the guys and gals that put it together are probably chopping and changing things to fit the schedule. as was metioned before they run on donated stories and images apart from the ones that they write themselves. Getting those organised from a bunch of people who themselves have their own lives to run can be a daunting task, then to edit those stories and get them proofed and the advertisers onside....They are well aware of the deadlines that are set, and sometimes in the process of attempting to maintain them things happen, so what if its out late - at least it will get out sometime. It just means your subscription period is longer and you get a longer period to enjoy the magazine.

[astroron]

Houghy, I disagree with your reasoning, after twenty years of publashing a magazine,one would think that they would have mastered the art of getting the magazine out on time:shrug:

[matt]

Agreed.

People pay money for this thing and there is an expectation that deadlines will be met and publication times can be relied upon.

They are not a charity. They are a business, and they are in competition in a fickle marketplace.

[Outbackmanyep]

Me either, it usually comes out halfway through the 2nd month.
I guess its quality and not quantity they try to fit into the mag, and the publishers i believe have a huge load on their hands with other mags.....maybe its just the pecking order of things....but yeah it does get frustrating when the May/June issue isn't out at that time, maybe they should call the May/June issue July/August ?

[cahullian]

I dont subscribe to either mag but I like to buy them when I see them on the newsagant shelves. I wonder if S&S would be better as a quaterly than a bi-monthly, that way they might get the mag out on the due date rather than a month or so late each edition.

Gazz

[Satchmo]

You've got to give Sky and Space credit for flying the flag producing a magazine with all Australian content, in competition wih a magazine that can simply pad itself out with as much USA content as might be required to keep to its publishing deadline.

[alan meehan]

i did here from our newsagent that s/s should be out on the 11th we will see .i still think it is agood aussie magazine