Sky and Space Magazine?

[koputai (Jason)]

Hi Guys,
Have been waiting for the Nov/Dec issue of Sky and Space, but it hasn't shown up in any newsagent, and I've looked in heaps.
Maybe they don't do a Nov/Dec? Maybe they combine it with Jan/Feb (also not out yet)? Maybe they're defunct?
Anyone know anything? I'm hanging to see Paul Mayo's second article on photography.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Dennis]

I’ve just had a look at their website and it shows the cover of the September/October 2007 Issue. The various subscription links indicate that a Nov/Dec issue is expected, as those dates default into the fields on the subscription form.

Like you, I enjoyed Paul’s article and it is good to see a locally produced magazine. Helps pass the time on those long, cloudy nights eh.

Cheers

Dennis

[acropolite (Phil)]

I know some of the S&S crew are lurkers on IIS, perhaps they could give us an expected date for release.

[edwardsdj (Doug)]

I'm sure S & S has missed the occasional issue before. They allow for this in the subscriptions. Must be a small operation and getting an issue out every two months is difficult for them at times.

A great local magazine though I alway thoroughly enjoy it

[Alchemy (Clive)]

unfortunately their production has been somewhat spasmodic, pity as it really is the aussie astro magazine, having said that i buy all of them as they turn up at the newsagents.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by acropolite

I know some of the S&S crew are lurkers on IIS, perhaps they could give us an expected date for release.

Hi Phil

I wouldn’t hold your breath awaiting an answer. I suspect that no one will reply if like most organisations, Sky & Space have implemented a policy, procedures and authorisations covering who can communicate organisational matters to the press or public.

Most organisations only authorise someone like the Marketing or Media Manager to represent the company to the public and the media, to avoid employees making blunders.

Most senior executives in organisations where I have worked had a general mistrust of the media.

Cheers

Dennis

[Outbackmanyep]

I emailed S&S before christmas, and the email came back that the new issue WOULD BE OUT before christmas......

[Dennis]

I reckon the folks at Sky and Space are doing the best they can and I’m sure the next issue will be out soon. It is good to have two astronomy magazines that are local and that publish such good articles, discuss interesting issues and cover fascinating topics that are of interest to us amateur astronomers down under.

I take both and enjoy both, no matter any occasional delay and as I don’t use the star charts in either magazine, being late doesn’t affect their usefulness, or my enjoyment of the magazine.

Cheers

Dennis

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

Well, who's opening the sweep?

[Alchemy (Clive)]

Well, who's opening the sweep?

i'll have 10th march please

[Dennis]

I guess the humour can help alleviate the boredom of these rainy, cloudy nights, in Qld at least, but I think that it is worth pausing to reflect that Sky and Space has been published at least as long as I have been living in Australia; I arrived in 1993.

Any endeavour that has been operating for that length of time, with what appears to be limited resources, along with a staff of mostly unpaid contributors, really has to be admired for their gutsiness and dedication to our hobby.

We know that it occasionally misses a scheduled issue, but let’s also pause and think that the people behind the magazine probably sweat blood and tears to get it out as best they can. It has to be a labour of love for them to continue this way for so many years.

Let’s acknowledge their achievements and spare a thought for their feelings in this New Year and wish them well.

Cheers

Dennis

[Alchemy (Clive)]

A little bit of tom foolery....

i buy and have brought their magazine for years and will continue to do so.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

A little bit of tom foolery....

i buy and have brought their magazine for years and will continue to do so.

And funny it was too – nothing wrong with that.

I was just reminded of a recent post by Alex, which struck a chord in my heart; in it he mentioned it is nice to also say good things about people, so I was just following his sage advice.

Even the Australian and Indian cricket teams appear to have heeded Alex’s message.

Cheers

Dennis

[Outbackmanyep]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Even the Australian and Indian cricket teams appear to have heeded Alex’s message.

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, OI! OI! OI!

[AJames]

I have been reading these posts for a few days now and have become very concerned with the somewhat saccharin-sweet; passive and agreeable replies - probably fearing the "Terms of Service" regarding criticisms of vendors.
With all respect, especially when this is in terms of service for paying subscribers, surely there must be real issues with contractual legal agreements. If you advertise some product(s), under common law you are obliged to fulfil what you agree to provide or sell. This is just common Australian business practice, which is controlled in the end by government legislation.
While business organisations might have problems from time to time, repeated lateness of some delivered product simply shows either a lack of regard to the customer, or at the very least, poor business practices in producing some product.
I do not wish to be unfair, but like any other vendor, this on-going issue with lateness makes me totally uninterested in becoming a paid subscriber.
Nor do I feel like reading information that is already out of date. For example, At the moment, I am very interested inn the current fly-by of Mercury happening on the 14th-15th January. What I would like is to have is an short article focussing on present knowledge and some previously available relevant images of Mercury. Then when the fly-by occurs and images are returned, I would have some idea of what was new has been discovered - so much so that the moment can be placed in history - at least in my own mind. Ie. The last of the planets to have its entire surface imaged in the Solar System - an event never to come again.
Yet, because of my limited and finite budget to do as I wish, I have to carefully choose what I do subscribe or purchase. I want to buy something like a magazine so I can receive some information that is useful to me. This is especially true for astronomy, as future events are often unpredictable, therefore readers need to be informed regularly and promptly. As both the main local products are bi-monthly, this means the timeframe of information can be as old as two or three months. (Imagine if a fictitious Nova had risen to 1st magnitude in late-October 2007, for example, yet after two or three month some subscriber in mid-January probably would miss the event all together if they relied on one source of information. Many do.)

So sorry, this kind of unreliable service is really totally unacceptable regardless of the vendor in question - especially made worst when it continues to be repeatedly sporadic and episodically troublesome in delivery.

Frankly, get either organised and do what you advertise for your subscribers. If not, then allow someone else to fill the vacuum.

Note: Bloggers at ISS might think that this does not affect amateur astronomers in Australia and beyond. In fact, some of the paying advertisers I would think must be pretty angry in not being able to advertise over Christmas. If they lose money, needing to pay their rents, wages and advertising, etc., then it is the amateur who will ultimately pays for the vendor costs via necessary increased price rises.

(Here I have no affiliations or associations with any astronomical commercial companies or vendors, and make these comments without bias of favour.)

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by edwardsdj

Must be a small operation and getting an issue out every two months is difficult for them at times.

Hi,

They could do a good issue just with the stuff in IIS here, 5 articles straight off! I hereby release them from copyright restrictions

I have a subscription running and regard it merely as a welcome reminder when one arrives, like a night of good seeing.

Cheers

[AJames]

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

I have a subscription running and regard it merely as a welcome reminder when one arrives, like a night of good seeing.

... and that probably explains why really good seeing is such a rare event!

Yet clearly your adopted passive view will always keep the peace - admirable in nearly all cases - however, haven't you paid for these goods that you have not yet received?

Doesn't there just come a time when tolerance of the state of things just become instead an example of pure exploitation?

[AJames]

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

They could do a good issue just with the stuff in IIS here, 5 articles straight off! I hereby release them from copyright restrictions.

Really Good Point GeoffW1!!

We already have great imagers who produce superb quality results. We have enough those with enough nice guys with sufficient astronomical knowledge that are mostly beyond reproach, and would have enough "Letters to the Editor" (or Q&A) from intelligent folk who would love an interested and decent regular pdf magazine.
Just need a couple of volunteer Editors to review the stuff, and where all in business! Best of all it could kill all the narrow views of local astronomical society journals which most of your fees go towards contributing! Then Viola!
The monies raised - via some donation - that could go to something worthwhile like the Salvos, Red Cross, Home for the Astronomically Inept, etc.
As to having copyright who cares, and long as you could identify the source - it becomes the ultimate is self advertising.

Indeed... Isn't Competition the Ultimate Revenge?

[Though I've always personally liked;

" “War is hell,” and so is competition."]

[iceman (Mike)]

Let's hope it comes out soon, eh?

I'm going to lock this now before it heads somewhere I/we don't want it to go.