Magazine time..

[iceman]

It's that time of the month again..

Just picked up the Feb edition of AS&T.. haven't given it more than a quick flick through so far, will digest it in-depth tonight.

I reckon S&S will come out some time next week, maybe they're waiting for Huygens to land (or crash) so they can print news about it.

I love getting magazines :clap: :D

[Dave]

SKY & SPACE Magazine has indeed been on hold for this issue -due to the expected Huygens landing.

As we were only a week or two away from print we thought it best to hold back and hit the news-stands with the very latest info, rather than wait 2 months and then just reprint what everyone else had already done (logical)... so guys and gals, fingers crossed for some good news from Titan. I think they're gonna find 'something' there!

I believe, after rapping this over with the 'Starman' Paul Floyd today, that Huygens is due to enter the atmosphere on Friday at 9.13pm NSW time (corrected for daylight saving) then land at approx. 11.31pm (+/- 15 mins) and start sending back data via relay at 2.07am on the 15th.

[[1ponders]]

Exciting! Wot?:cool: :jump: :rover2:

[Vermin]

Looking forward to my first subscription issue of S&S, and I don't mind waiting for Huygens.

I haven't seen AS&T yet, my subscription is for the regular flavour S&T. Is it on the news stands now or do you have a subscription Mike?

[iceman]

I picked it up at the news stand, I haven't ordered a subscription yet - if I enjoy this issue I might subscribe and save myself a few dollars.

Thanks for the info Dave, really looking forward to it.

[Vermin]

Cool I'll have a look for it tomorrow.

[wavelandscott]

I was curious about the next S&S too...thanks for the update.

Any first thoughts on the AS&T?

[Gordon]

Hello Vermin

I'm only new to this forum am already enjoying reading many of the posts. When I saw you note below regarding a subscription to S&S I nearly cringed for you. I've always picked up copies from the newstand (often out of date) but I know of several friends who are now bitter ex-subscribers. It would seem that the magazine has a history of being late and an excuse offered each time. I purchased one copy late last year out of interest and support for Australian content and found that although the layout has somewhat improved, the general content has suffered. I've been an S&T subscriber since the 70's so I guess that is an unfair comparison to make but value for money is important. I've yet to get the new Australian version of S&T but by all accounts it sounds promising especially if it is along the quality lines of the american version.

Good luck with the subscription - I sincerely hope it does not cause you the frustrations that it has to others in the past.

[Vermin]

Hi Gordon,

I've heard they had problems, we'll see how it goes. I was impressed by the last two issues so I thought I'd help support it.

Didn't get a chance to check out AS&T today as I got called to a remote job. Hopefully tomorrow.

[silvinator]

Firstly, good call on waiting for the news on Titan Dave. It's good to try to be ahead of others sometimes. I really can't wait to see what they discover about that fascinating moon. You would think that its thick shrouded atmosphere must be hiding something! And let's not forget that even if the initial news shows nothing, that we still have a lot to learn about these other worlds, something that is happening with our very own planet - there are still being things discovered about mother nature that will keep on surprising us for years to come (eg. discovery of life existing in the far reaches of the earth, living in what we may think as impossible conditions for life, yet there it is!)
Secondly, I just received my first AS&T subscription yesterday. The articles look great and some of them are reprints of articles from the regular S&T, which is ok since they did say it would be about 40% Australian content (or was it the other way around?). Anyway, my only gripe with this subscription is that there is not much saving to be had. I got the two year subscription which equates to roughly 20% discount off the shelf price. Better than nothing I suppose and hopefully, with a growing readership, they may decide to drop the price a little. Compare that saving to my fiance's computer magazine subscription, which has a 40% saving. We just can't escape the expense factor in this hobby of ours!
And lastly, in regards to Gordon's post about S&S I just have to say that I too was one of those bitter subscribers but once people know the full story of what went on behind the scenes over at S&S headquarters, they should be a little more understanding. Those ex-esubscribers are missing out on what is becoming an even better magazine. Before S&S ran into problems, I never had a late issue. S&T is a great magazine too which I also subscribe to, but we really need to support our Australian magazine so that it can continue to grow and improve. Despite all the past problems S&S is still a great magazine and though I have griped about it's lateness, I will still support it because if everyone started becoming ex-subs, then we will have no aussie mag to be proud of at all. So Gordon, you were good to point out that though these people were frustrated, that these frustrations were felt by "others in the past".
Now for the disclaimer! Please don't take my above rant as a lashing out on you Gordon, I'm just pointing out that though S&S may have run into problems in the past, that other people shouldn't hold that against them because they have now been delivering a better looking magazine filled with 100% Australian content. I'm not saying anything personally directed to you at all so I hope you don't take my post the wrong way.
Vermin, I really hope you enjoy your S&S subscription. I remember the first time I got my subscription as an 18th birthday present from a friend. It was also the same time my other friends bought me my first telescope so the two pressies went well together. I have enjoyed the subscription ever since and I reckon I'll be a lifetime subscriber. Unless they do something weird to the mag like make it full of news items and getting rid of equipment reviews.... :D But that won't ever happen....right?

[Gordon]

Hello Silvie

Nothing taken the wrong way. You make some good points in your reply and after all this is what good forums are about - thoughts and opinions. My views arise not simply from the constant lateness of the publication but also the repeated changes of editorial staff in the last year or so. This may perhaps be due to illness or whatever. I actually picked up a copy of the AS&T February issue today. It is a nice looking magazine and I was especially pleased to see the return of David Frew's deep sky column. He was once a writer for S&S but clearly now has a more advanced medium for which his high quality accounts of the deep sky will be better appreciated. Yes I can see there are a few american pieces but given that the US magazine doesn't appear to be on the newsstands any longer I guess the non-US subscriber is getting the benefits of local and overseas content. Looking on the inside page it doesn't look like the magazine is produced by the U.S S&T but an Australian publisher called Paragon Media who produce several other Australian based magazines. Either way it is good to support Australian content.

[beren]

Interesting read on page 82 about a mysterious cloud sighted by "amateur astronomers" , turned out to be dumped fuel from a service rocket in orbit {great more pollution} .

Good reads on Frank Bateson ,big scopes and a review of astronaut Story Musgraves bio plus a handy guide to the Moons seas { must find Pico}

[silvinator]

Yeah I just read that fuel bit. Would have been an interesting sight. I also liked the article on the last page, about a Melbourne Planetarium worker's enjoyment with teaching people about astronomy. The kids in her story are just so adorable! I especially like the Milky Way bit. You all must read it, it would make your heart melt :)

[gaa_ian]

For my part I like all the Mags :)
S&T have their subscription problems too, I had to ring up to get my first mag sent, which as it turns out was the second edition:confuse2:
Astronomy too had a good Feb edition, great stories on Einstien & relativity :abduct:
That whole time space fabric thing and the bending of light, slowing down time etc is a mind blower :atom: :anaut:

[iceman]

I've been happy with my S&S subscription - I subscribed during the downtime and so my first issue was a while coming, but since the "new look" and new staff, i've been more than pleased with each issue i've received.

The AS&T looks good too, i'm happy with them both.

[Dave]

Hi and thanks to all of you who have come out so positively in support of the 'New S&S.

As I mentioned, we've held off print to accomodate the news from the Huygens mission and as I write we are getting ready to go get the new issue out into the news-stands.

I want to thank in particular comments from Iceman, caa_ian, Aragon, vermin, wavelandscott, and especially silvinator.

Silvinator, you've put things so well in your post and your reply to 'Gordon' and I needn't expand on that. You understand what we've been through and like the others listed above, you have faith in us!

You all (well almost all) support an Aussie endeavour. S&S has been around for a long time and has always supported the Australian astronomical community FIRST.. that's you guys. Over the last 18 months there were problems with things but that was then, this is now. It's taken a long time to put things right and repair the damage done from past involvements.

No-one goes through life without some dramas!

There's a new and enthusiastic team assembled who are working damn hard for you. We've got new ideas, new storylines and features in mind, PLUS all the money stays in Australia! (Gordon, you might like to have a look into this before commenting on astronomy magazines in the future).

Comenting on S&S Gordon also says, quote: 'the layout has somewhat improved, the general content has suffered" - He goes on to add "I've always picked up copies from the newstand (often out of date) but I know of several friends who are now bitter ex-subscribers." He also goes on to say "I've been an S&T subscriber since the 70's" - Thanks for the support Gordon and letting everyone know this, this is exactly the type of thinking which destroys anything Australian!

Gordon, have you ever thought the 'out of date' issues might have been there because many others had been sold prior, and the owner overpurchased stock? I see lots of weet-bix on my supermarket shelves with older dates.. doesn't mean they aren't selling the newer ones!

Anyway, thanks to you all for backing the magazine and the people who are now working long hours to make it better. Over the last 9 months I can't begin to tell you how many emails and letters of support we've received and how many new subscribers have come in ... it's great to see that!

Thanks too for thinking of buying or subscribing to both mags. There's plenty of room for all and we're happy to see both flourish. It's you guys who will benefit in the long run.

[mch62]

I have subscription to Sky and Telescope but was given a subscription to Australian Sky and telescope.
Got the first copy of AS&T and thought DA Jau Vu.
I've got this mag.
Compared it to the US one and yep lots of the articles the same.

Bit peeved and won't renew this subscription of AS&T or should i keep the AS&T and ditch the US :confused:

[seeker372011]

keep the AS &T and subscribe to Astronomy !

[mch62]

My subscription to the US version goes a couple of years so will most probably keep it instead.
Plus I like to peruse the adds and see what equipment actually costs over seas:D

[ballaratdragons]

I have not bought an astronomy mag in years. How much is the subs to S&S.

I am only going to buy 100% oz.

A percentage of AS&T will go to the U.S.(I don't like that idea).

I wish someone would manufacture Oz telescopes so we could keep that money here too! lol.

lol
lol
and I'm not a young'en.
lol
:D cheeky bugger aren't I.

[iceman]

Get your subscription online..

http://www.skyandspace.com.au