September–October 2012

Features

10   In the footsteps of Captain Cook    Ian Morison

19   Spacefest IV  Nick Howes & Jane MacArthur

24   Arizona space adventure    Nick Howes & Jane MacArthur

Regulars

4    Past Pages    Peter Grego
Rubble resolved

5    AstroNews    
Standard maintained as Higgs is finally freed from slammer
Pluto now has a fifth moon / Faulkes Telescope images Rosetta target at aphelion

8   The Astro-Historian    James D. Robinson
A man of distinction

13    Amateur Scene    Peter Wade
Radio amateurs aim high / UK transit watchers under a cloud
North West’s rocket roots / Asteroids have our name and number
Out and About / Light nights still with us / East Anglian graze success

16    Telescope Topics    Ian Morison
The Celestron Sky Prodigy 130

23    Space Exploration    
In a whirl over startling new images of Titan / Aurora delights ISS astronauts

27    Young Stargazers    George Ford & Elizabeth Pearson
Famous astronomers: Sir Isaac Newton    David Scanlan
Jargon buster: Spectral type
The view from afar    Margaret Penston
Observing challenge: Square of Pegasus    Robin Scagell

31    Reviews    
How it Works Book of Space / Stargazers’ Almanac 2013 / Exoplanets
Classic Review: The World of Comets

33     Letters
Marston Sicca transit gloria
Looking up down under
The first time I observed... / Pit stop / Simulacra: music of the spheres

37    Section Reports
The Sun, our nearest variable star
Dot matrix
Springtime evening trio
Situla at the edge
Spring meteors and fireballs / The ‘wow!’ factor

42    The Society Pages
Announcement of the 2013 SPA AGM / SPA Diamond Jubilee, 2013
Come to the SPA meeting on 27 October 2012 / Cosmic distinctions / SPA meetings to come

44    Deep Sky Notes    Dale Holt
Going deep with the flying horse

45    Sky Diary    Peter Grego
Lunar occultations    Mell Jeffrey
Meteor notes    Tony Markham

46    SPA contacts

47    Showcase