Sky & Telescope

Sentinel · #1 16-07-2010, 03:39 PM

I am just about to come off a subscription of Sky & Telescope in NOV 10. I double subscribed in 2004 to take advantage of a good exchange rate.

I briefly subscribed to both the US & AUS versions a few years back, but now need to make a call either way.

The Australian Sky & Telescope is $150 for 2 Years, approx NZ$182 for 16 issues = NZ$11.38 an issue.
The US Sky & Telescope is US $114 for 2 Years, approx NZ$159 for 24 issues = NZ$6.63 an issue.

This makes the Australian Sky & Telescope seem like bad value. However the US Sky & Telescope is not as good as it used to be...it's smaller in size and the magazine is steadily had less content in it. The August 2010 issue has 86 pages, while the June 2008 had 96 pages. I don't know much about the Australian Sky & Telescope recently. Can someone give me a 'heads up' on the latest magazine. I will go an buy a copy of the Australian S&T but just would like a opinion from you guys & girls.

I am leaning towards the US version. But could be swayed. What are the benefits of a subscription to the Australian S&T?

So what would you do?

leon · #2 16-07-2010, 03:45 PM

Paul although both are equally as good as each other I reckon you get better value from the Australian version as it it is all home based, and that is where i would like to be, but that is OMHO.

Leon

Sentinel · #3 16-07-2010, 03:48 PM

Hmmm...$4.50 more per issue though?

You'll have to convince me.

mick pinner · #4 16-07-2010, 06:14 PM

l agree with Leon, our version is for our hemisphere primarily and gives info on the latest new equipment as it becomes available. worth every bit of the extra $4.50 to me anyway.

Ian Robinson · #5 16-07-2010, 06:25 PM

USA version.

Most your gear comes from the USA and for a few pages of local content I can't see the value in spending so much more for a local magazine when the USA version is cheaper.

Peter Ward · #6 16-07-2010, 09:22 PM

The US version has unfortunately long past its halcyon days. The mag is now being run by a bunch of venture captilists who can't see beyond the cost of production. Getting thinner in pages and on content. The paper quality is one step away from toilet tissue, with massive bleed from the reverse pages. More the pity.

The print quality of the Oz version is still superb. Content could do with a bit more variety, but looks to me like the sibling is blooming while the parent is withering on the vine....

SkyViking (Rolf) · #7 16-07-2010, 09:49 PM

I'm thinking of subscribing as well so it's good to hear you guys' assessments. I didn't really consider the US version though, I'm more set on local content.

astro744 · #8 18-07-2010, 03:45 PM

I dropped my printed US S&T subscription too as I found the magazine getting thinner and thinner. I was always annoyed why the publisher chose to go from the flat bind version to the stapled version just three issues short of a complete year and ever since then I have felt the magazine has gone downhill. Mind you having the Australian version with many articles duplicated meant one had to go and now that the Aussie version is not monthly perhaps the US S&T could be sold at the news stands again should anyone want to buy an issue occasionally.

I was still on the S&T mailing list and I got a promotional offer to subscribe to the online edition of S&T for 6 months. I forget the cost but it was ultra cheap. The magazine has everything the printed issue has but I find I tend to read it less. You can flick through pages just like the real thing and the pages look darker toward the bind in the centre also just like the real thing. All the ads are there to unlike the archives which have the ads removed. The magazine is read using Adobe Air but is also available as a PDF download.

goober (Doug) · #9 19-07-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sentinel

Hmmm...$4.50 more per issue though?

You'll have to convince me.

Skip the next couple of boardgame purchases, and pick up the Aussie version. It's got ngcles!

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #10 20-07-2010, 07:35 AM

I have subscribed to both S&T magazines for several years now (~10?) and find that up to 30% of the Australian version is content seen in a previous US version, however, the Australian version has more content per se. My subscription to the US one expires early next year and I won't be renewing but will continue to subscribe to the Australian one. This will mean there will be no overlap of content as I won't see the US one any more. Overall I will get more pages to read as the Aussie one is bigger and southern hemisphere centric, some of the US articles are very much "Uncle Sam and Ma's apple pie", which is fine if you live in that sort of flag waving society, but I don't (in many ways, we may be better off if we were

).

ngcles · #11 23-07-2010, 12:08 AM

Hi Doug & All,

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

Skip the next couple of boardgame purchases, and pick up the Aussie version. It's got ngcles!

Thanks Doug -- its good to know someone occasionally reads my ramblings.

Best,

Les D

erick (Eric) · #12 23-07-2010, 07:08 AM

Always Les, both sections!

Hagar (Doug) · #13 29-07-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sentinel

Hmmm...$4.50 more per issue though?

You'll have to convince me.

I don't know why we have to convince you either way. It's your choice after all, your money. Depending on the content you are after it's obviously pretty easy.

Just buy whichever you like. No skin off our noses whichever way you go.

Jen · #14 02-08-2010, 12:20 AM

Well i like Sky & Telescope mag
Aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi ALL THE WAY
I hang out for the next issue every time
Much more exciting than Womans Day or New Idea

hotspur (Chris) · #15 13-09-2010, 03:42 PM

Like all magazines its just printed to make money-personally I find all it is,is a way for retailers to push their wares,the "reviews" of scopes etc,are just ads.

I stopped buying this publication years ago.I would rather buy 'Astronomy 20xx" and that's all for the year.Just my personal opinion.

Chris

shelltree (Shelley) · #16 13-09-2010, 05:11 PM

I'm definitely subscribing to the Australian Sky and Telescope, I find it more relatable and really enjoy the content. I also hear that if you subscribe at the end of the year you receive the Astronomy 2011 book as the free gift? I could be wrong though but that's what I heard.

DavidTrap (David) · #17 13-09-2010, 05:19 PM

Be thankful there is a Southern Hemisphere edition and support it!

DT

danielsun · #18 13-09-2010, 09:57 PM

I think the Australian Sky and telescope is the way to go.
It has all the new products in Australia with all the Aussie retailers.
It has Astro pics, many from members of IIS.
It has all the up coming star camps info and write ups.
Great articles from ngcles and the gang and the money supports an Aussie product even if it does cost a little more.
So I think there are many reasons to go for the our great local mag.

Cheers Daniel.

danielsun · #19 13-09-2010, 11:02 PM

Go Jen!

That should go in the thread " You know your crazy for astro when......"
[Quote from Jen]
I hang out for the next issue every time
Much more exciting than Womans Day or New Idea

Jen · #20 14-09-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsun

I think the Australian Sky and telescope is the way to go.
It has all the new products in Australia with all the Aussie retailers.
It has Astro pics, many from members of IIS.
It has all the up coming star camps info and write ups.
Great articles from ngcles and the gang and the money supports an Aussie product even if it does cost a little more.
So I think there are many reasons to go for the our great local mag.

Cheers Daniel.

lol Daniel is that your 200 words or less for the S&T competition hehe