''Sky & Telescope'' (''S&T'') is a monthly American magazine covering all aspects of
amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy is a hobby where participants enjoy observing or imaging celestial objects in the sky using the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Even though scientific research may not be their primary goal, some amateur astronomers ...
, including the following:
*current events in astronomy and
space exploration
Space exploration is the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. While the exploration of space is carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, its physical exploration though is conducted both by uncrewed robo ...
;
*events in the amateur astronomy community;
*reviews of astronomical equipment, books, and computer software;
*
amateur telescope making; and
*
astrophotography.
The articles are intended for the informed lay reader and include detailed discussions of current discoveries, frequently by participating scientists. The magazine is illustrated in full color, with both amateur and professional photography of celestial sights, as well as tables and charts of upcoming celestial events.
History
''Sky & Telescope'' was founded by Charles A Federer and his wife Helen Spence Federer and began publication at Harvard College Observatory in November 1941, as a result of the merger of the separate magazines, ''
The Sky'' and ''
The Telescope''. In 2005, Sky Publishing Corporation was acquired by
New Track Media, a portfolio company of the private equity firm
Boston Ventures. In 2014, New Track was sold to
F+W Media
F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''.
Hist ...
. Following the mid 2019 bankruptcy of F+W media, the magazine was sold to the
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society (AAS, sometimes spoken as "double-A-S") is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC. The primary objective of the AAS is to promote the adv ...
.
The magazine played an important role in the dissemination of knowledge about
telescope making, through the column "
Gleanings for ATMs
Robert Edward Cox (March 12, 1917 – December 16, 1989) was an American optical engineer and a popularizer of amateur telescope making. He conducted the popular "Gleanings for ATMs" (Amateur Telescope Makers) column in ''Sky and Telescope'' mag ...
" that ran from 1933 to 1990.
Its main competitor is ''
Astronomy
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...
''.
See also
*
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy is a hobby where participants enjoy observing or imaging celestial objects in the sky using the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Even though scientific research may not be their primary goal, some amateur astronomers ...
*
Amateur telescope making
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sky and Telescope
1941 establishments in the United States
Amateur astronomy
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Science and technology magazines published in the United States
Astronomy in the United States
Astronomy magazines
Magazines established in 1941
Magazines published in Boston