October AS&T

[iceman]

Got my copy on Friday..

Some nice stuff in this issue.. had a browse tonight, haven't read the articles in full yet but some interesting stuff includes:
- A nice article and pics about Neptune and Uranus
- An article about the deep impact mission and lots of photos of the impact
- How to catch the green flash when the sun sets, and why it happens
- A nice observing list for the SMC
- A great planetary astrophotography article from the US version, with great pics from Damien Peach, Donald Parker and others
- An article about Dave Gault's setup and occultation work
- A review of the DSI/Pro
- A mention about the IceInSpace Competition! (p84)
- A mention about the IceInSpace Ballarat Star Camp (p99)
- Some more IIS member astrophotos contained within, from
. Zac Pujic (Mars image)
. Chris Venter (IC4628 - great fullpage spread)
. Rob Charteris (xreckor) - great half moon mosaic

Well done to the staff on another great issue and congrats to those who got their work published!

[[1ponders]]

How's this, the posty just dropped mine in the letterbox just as I opened this thread. Someone up there likes me :D

Congrats Rob, Zac and Chris :cool2:

Also congratualtions to Erwin van der Velden for his image of Temple 1 after impact (p42)

[mick pinner]

l just read the article on the new DSI Pro and there seems to be a lot more to this camera than just an upgrade, the new drizzle technology seems fantastic, l will order one tomorrow and do a review after l get the hang of it.

[davidpretorius]

i have subscribed now and got it today.

i have been tinkering and writing some software to do with image aquisition, movement detection with the toucam. I intend to do what they were talking about with drizzle, ie if the image starts to rotate in alt/az mode, then rotate the image to compensate.

also with el's focusser, i was also starting to review auto focus with software.

[dhumpie]

Congrat's guys (Rob especially!). Just saw the mag two days ago :)

Darren

[h0ughy]

nice photo rob. top effort guys. Lets see how many we can get in next month. ;-)

[Rodstar]

Yes, another great edition, thanks to the guys at AS & T. I particularly enjoyed David Frew's survey of the SMC, and look forward to his coming articles on the LMC.

I notice that Celestron has decided to drop its prices so that its CPC range can compete more effectively with the Meade LX200. Has anyone tried the CPC? I notice that the 11" version is priced at $5,500, which for the extra inch on the 10" LX200 (which costs $5,200), may be worth the price tag.

[Miaplacidus]

Isn't it nice to have an astronomy magazine that you can rely on to actually comes on time! Good work, AS&T!

[dhumpie]

But Sky and Space got theirs out on time this time round :)

Darren

p/s: What happened to the american version of S&T? Are they not bringing them in anymore? Have not been able to get a copy in any of the newsagents since the aussie one came out....

[ving]

congrats to all that had thier stuff published :)

[Greg Bryant]

Hi Darren,

The US S&T is no longer distributed to newsagencies in Australia - the last one was December of last year.

One of the reasons Australian Sky & Telescope has replaced the US edition in newsagencies is that each issue of the US edition would not appear in newsagencies until well after the 1st day of the cover month in question (ie. it would be late) - though a selection of shops got their copies airfreighted in. With AS&T, it's in newsagencies by the due date.

[janoskiss]

Darren, Many university libraries subscribe to the international edition of S&T. Uni of QLD and QLD Uni of Technology both do. So if you're really curious to see what you're missing, you can always read them at the library (along with other major astro mags and journals). :)

[Striker]

Well done to all who got their work published....you must be very proud.

I think that would almost be the ultimate to get some of your work published for all to see.

[jdb]

You aren't missing much Darren - apparently some of the stories from US S&T are re-hashed or directly copied into AS&T...

For example; compare the Sept 05 TOC's from the two magazines. Many of the articles are repeated in both issues...

If you miss it heaps, you can get .pdf versions of all the articles by subscribing to an online database like Proquest...as a uni student - I get it for free!

[fringe_dweller]

I thought that the Oct. AS&T was one of the most cracking reads and awesomely put together issue's of ANY astro mag i have EVER seen - it literally took my breathe away - how close that is to perfection it is simply amazing. Speechless!

But I am also loved the S&S latest too - damn we are spoiled rotten atm :) I really liked Dave Reneke's Mars up close in 2005 article
Kearn

[jdb]

What are the other reasons Greg?


Isn’t it conceivable that if AS&T are just reprinting articles from US S&T that no one would buy the magazine? I mean, why would you buy two copies of virtually the same magazine? :shrug:

[RB]

I still enjoy reading S&T every month. Still love to check out whats on offer OS.
Also love AS&T and will be taking out a subscription now.
And I still buy S&S whenever it's out on the newstands.

Now will one of you publish my images please. :poke:


Rocket Boy.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[iceman]

Jason is it really necessary to post that? What are you trying to achieve?

[janoskiss]

That may be true, but a fair chunk of the supposedly all-Aussie mag, Sky & Space, is no more than a regurgitation of the articles in Sky & Telescope. That's why I rarely buy S&S. If you flick through S&S at the newsagent's after having read AS&T, most of it will look very familiar. Like you say, why buy two copies of virtually the same stuff?

[RB]

I've heard rumours that there will soon be a new player in the monthly astro mags race.

Mike is it true? - IIIS (International Ice In Space monthly).

Where did I hear this?

mmmmm
I started it. :poke:

What do you think. :D

:cool:

I'm a naughty boy huh? :innocent:


RB

[jdb]

Curious Mike....a fair question...

[jdb]

really depends on which magazine you pick up first...when you consider how focused a market astronomy is, there is bound to be coverage of similar material at similar times...

like saying, well I won't buy The Age, because the The Australian will have the same stories....or I wont watch 10 news because 9 news will have the same story...

[janoskiss]

S&T is always the first one out where I buy mags.


Good example. Indeed, most people will not watch the news on more than one channel in the one night, unless there is substantial difference in content (e.g. SBS world news & ABC national news).

[dhumpie]

I agree that many of the stories are rehashed but the american version still has some articles that do not make it to print in the aussie version. I especially like reading Sue French's column (not that our aussie counterpart is not good...some of the articles make excellent reading) and some of the product review stuff.

Darren

[jdb]

My point exactly, why would you buy two magazines with exactly the same articles.

To suggest that S&S regurgitates articles from AS&T is ridiculous...

S&S is all original content - some (in fairness) AS&T articles are directly copied from US S&T...buy copies of both and see for yourself. Greg B suggested one reason why US S&T does not ship here anymore...I was wondering what the other reasons are? Surely it has nothing to do with due dates (as he so subtly backhands S&S) - that didn't stop them shipping their slightly out-of-date magazine for the decades previous to now!

[iceman]

I'm not interested in seeing an AS&T vs S&S slanging match here. And i'm pretty sure everyone else would be the same.

Let's just play nice and keep our subtle or not so subtle comments about each others magazines to ourselves, ok?

I have no problem with representatives of each magazine chatting on the forum and where relevant, talking about their magazine. I don't consider it advertising because it's in the communities interest and the community wants to talk about it. I've told Lyle this already.

But please, stay out of each others threads.

[fringe_dweller]

As Mike said, what is your point Jason!!? we are not stupid! we know what the deal is. It is an smart economical survival decision on S&T's part to do it the way they are doing it. methinks you have got S&S rattled here Greg!
- I wouldnt pull the flag waving card here - that will backfire on ya - i remember some old issues of S&S, pre A&ST, that looked like they had been half downloaded off the net by schoolkids (from American NASA sites) cheeky!
Kearn

[jdb]

Spoken to Jonathan too about it Mike?

I just want to ensure that when people with obvious interests speak out and criticise Australian institutions that a bit of free speech is excersised in the form of a right to reply.

This is your thread isn't it iceman?

[Robby]

I got my AS&T mag today.... alomost!! Well all I got was the white covering sheet with my address on it... arrghh.. It seems the posty must have taken a liking to the magazine and nicked it!!... I'll e-mail AS&T and hopefully get them to send out another one.
By the way the latest S&S is a very good read!
Cheers

[jdb]

If it is smart economics, then state that as a reason...don't say because 'it's in newsagencies by the due date'...

I am sure Greg B can speak for himself fringe_dweller.

[iceman]

Jonathan isn't a member of the forums, Greg is.. If Greg had a concern about advertising I would say the same thing to him.


And that would of course be fair.. however I don't think people read "criticism" into Greg's comment the same way you did. To call it a subtle backhand of S&S is reading too far into it, in my opinion.


Yes, it is.. but you know exactly what I mean. It's a thread about AS&T. Just as I wouldn't want or expect Greg to comment in the recently posted S&S Oct/Nov thread that Dave47Tuc started.

[jdb]

Nor is Lyle - so why drag him in?



It quite obviously was a subtle comment - as I suggested, I am sure puctuality is not the only reason.



Fair enough too mate...as I said, just wanted a bit of equality.
I totally respect your decision Mike... thank you for letting me have a say !
---ends---

[h0ughy]

:stupid: I have to say that as an “observer” on the sidelines this match up is pathetic. As avid readers of both magazines and myself will attest it serves the Astronomical community no favours. If it really came down to a decision between the two I think you would both lose out. The new medium that you have not yet really considered that may spell the demise of both is the internet. I feel that both magazines serve a purpose and offers a choice.

I agree S&T need more Aussie content, but then I agree that S&S needs to be more regular and on time. Both magazines need to service the needs of the “Southern Hemisphere”. You both have different weaknesses and strengths.

I think (and that this is IMHO) that the market share for the mags is reaching a saturation level that either one or the other will eventually find it unviable to be sustained. That would be sad, and that is true! If one folds the other may gain but at what cost? Bitter, broken, beaten!!!! Things need to be more civilised and refined, controlled and adept at integration with a broad community who really appreciates quality, content and timeliness. No mag will ever fill that void totally, and that is why we do appreciate there being a few options around. Needs gentlemen, needs! We Need you (the printed media) to stay focussed on your task to deliver us, the reader, a product that is informative, timely, current with news and information and above all serving our community.

Why bother with a slanging match as Mike said “I have no problem with representatives of each magazine chatting on the forum and where relevant, talking about their magazine. I don't consider it advertising because it's in the communities interest and the community wants to talk about it.”. We do talk about your magazines here in IIS because they either a part of the community or are not in tune to what the readers want!

It is our right to critique your magazines. It is our right to bag the absolute out of you for your failings, and it is also our right to praise you for your triumphs. That’s what we Aussies really do the best! Remember our fields of dreams are up there, you guys help to bring them to us in a form that we can readily administer to or minds and hearts.

If you cannot simply leave it at that and either grow up and be mature about it then you will have to go to your room…………………………..and wait for us to tell you to come out :nerd: !!


And I have never written this much about anything in these forums yet. :doh:

[fringe_dweller]

I would not dare presume to speak on someone elses part - that was purely my own take on things. I have no affiliation with AS&T whatsoever.
kearn

[ballaratdragons]

I, for one, hope Magazines never go completely and give way to the net! I like being able to hold a beautiful picture of astro objects, show other people a magazine and pick it up and read it when relaxing in the loungeroom.

My boys prefer magazines pics to net pics and so do I. If I show them the pics on the net they say "that's nice" but they spend hours on end going through the Astro mags and will stare at DSO pics for ages!

Long live the hard-copy!

[h0ughy]

I agree Ken, there is a need for all forms of media and each has its place. It is much easier to flip open a mag and read then to boot a PC logon and retrieve it. i like to read the mags, cover to cover :D see the ads and buy the astro gear :whistle: after a review or two. :thumbsup:

[jdb]

Well said houghy - I just wanted to know why US S&T is not available on newstands anymore...!?!?! Greg B mentioned one reason, I was wondering if there were others...?

[ballaratdragons]

I do use the net a lot for astro info, but ya still can't beat the good ol' fashion 'mag'. It's there in your hands.

Interesting that AS&T mentions the Star Camp again!
Is that your doing Mike? or Greg?

Whoever, thanks. :thumbsup:

[iceman]

That was Jonathan, and yes it's very much appreciated!

Hope a few of the newer Vic members come down, even if just for a night of observing!

[ausastronomer]

Thats the most accurate statement thats been made in this entire thread.



I agree and I would hate to see that happen, I enjoy both Mags immensely. I am a subscriber to AS & T and have been buying S & S off the newstands since the early 1990's. I also have all 8 editions of Southern Astronomy, what happened to that BTW.

In conclusion:-

AS & T more local content is a must.

S&S learn to get the Magazine out on time.

CS-John B

[ballaratdragons]

Southern Astronomy became S&S!

[ballaratdragons]

Why don't they just buy each other out and become 'Australasian Astronomy'. They print similiar stories and have the same advertisers anyway!! Competition is good but one will die eventually. Why not join forces and help develop and nurture Amatuer Astronomy. Other competing companies are doing it and it's working for them!!

[janoskiss]

Competition's good. Keeps people on their toes. :D
"Brothers! Brothers! We should be struggling together! - We are!"
:fight:

[Greg Bryant]

A lot of posts. To respond to a few queries raised here:

- My comments about appearance dates related to S&T. Another US magazine, Astronomy, has the same problem, but a long time ago they adopted the approach of inserting, in the copies that went to the Southern Hemisphere, a skychart insert + sky phenomena 2 months ahead of the cover date eg. their September issue would have a November southern sky chart inserted into it. Those inserts aren't in the Northern Hemisphere copies.

Here's what S&T said last year about the launch of AS&T. Note the reference to delivery times.
http://skyandtelescope.com/aboutsky/pressreleases/article_1347_1.asp

- Content: With regard to local content, in the past year, we've covered some of the large star parties and what amateurs here are doing (I also write the Activities column each month). We've also covered professional facilities and news. Here's an index.
http://www.austskyandtel.com.au/Index.htm

There's still more to do.

[ballaratdragons]

Greg, while you are here just a quick question? I see IIS members Astrophotos in your mag, would you publish Astrosketches sent in? Or how about a section on doing Astrosketches and how to invert on the pooter? It is another branch of astronomy.

[xstream]

Refering back to a thread and PM from a couple of months ago, at least you guys are listening Greg. :thumbsup:

[jdb]

Thanks Greg.


Outsourcing your answers too is see (re: Media Release link) :rofl:
only joking mate...!

At least you help promote Australian astronomy, and for that, I commend you!

Keep up the good work.

[xrekcor]

here! here! nothing like sitting on the dunny of a morning, having a good read of AS&T.


Btw, thanks to the folks for the nice comments on my Luna image in this edition :thumbsup: Also thanks to AS&T for publishing it :cool:

regards,CS