Fred Schaaf

by richard tresch fienberg jFrom Venice to Venusi had to choose my topic for this column before traveling to Italy for the June 8th transit of Venus across the Sun (see page 140). Three centuries ago, Edmond Halley described such an event as "by far the noblest [sight] astronomy affords." Back in...

by richard tresch fienberg ^1Good Stuff CheapYou can get a surprisingly good telescope for surprisingly little money this holiday season.THE HOLIDAYS ARE APPROACHING AGAIN, and telescopedealers are gearing up for their busy season. While a serious amateur astronomer is as likely to buy a new...

focal pointThe Stars in OppositionNicole Gordon looks formeaning in late-night munchiesand the Milky Way.It is after midnight, and I am sitting on an outcrop of volcanic rock at the edge of the sea on the Big Island of Hawaii, munching on trail mix and gazing at the sky. It strikes me that, while...

Adventures in Sidewalk AstronomyKevin Bourque frequently strutsline, asking intelligent questions and expressing their thanks. We talked for a while about astronomy and skateboards and other weighty topics. As they left, I thanked them for being good customers. I sent them off with a heartfelt...

Last Tango in MinneapolisDouglas Aalseth bids farewell to his longtime partner.We knew the end was coming for months. Since 1961, generations of people had come through the doors to see what tire grand old lady in the library could do. OK, maybe her star fields weren't as bright as they once were....

FOCAL POINTDon't Politicize NASAReaders of Sky

FOCAL POINTAffecting EternityAs a teenage amateur astronomer, I filled my head with grandiose plans for adulthood: 1 would become a leading planetary astronomer, a famous historian of science, maybe even an astronaut. Having already mapped out my life, 1 turned my attention to the acquisition of a...

Spectrum littr^Amateurs Have ResponsibilitesJOHNNY HORNEA year has passed since the Heaven's Gate mass suicide. The initial hysteria, hand-wringing, and finger-pointing is past, so I think this is a good time to reflect on that insanity. I'm still depressed that an amateur astronomer indirectly...