Astronomy - February 2014.pdf

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Searching for
SMART LIFE
around
SMALL STARS
p. 28
OUR SUN’S FATE
NEW LIGHT ON
p. 44
FEBRUARY 2014
The world’s best-selling astronomy magazine
Explore
Titan’s
strange
rivers
p. 22
SPECIAL REPORT
Comet ISON’s
best photos
p. 50
Beautiful Saturn makes an
impressive backdrop for
the giant haze-shrouded
moon Titan.
www.Astronomy.com
AND MORE
Pushing the limits of astrophotography
p. 52
What cosmic dust teaches us
p. 56
Discover open star clusters
p. 62
BONUS
ONLINE
CONTENT
CODE
p. 4
Vol. 42
Issue 2
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VOL. 42, NO. 2
FEBRUARY 2014
NASA/JPLCALTECH/SPACE SCIENCE INSTITUTE
ON THE COVER
The giant moon Titan appears in
silhouette against Saturn’s cloud
tops and edge-on rings.
FEATURES
CONTENTS
44
New light on our
Sun’s fate
Te Sun will lose 46 percent of its
mass before becoming a carbon
and oxygen cinder in 6.5 billion
years. Here’s how astronomers
know its destiny.
JASON KALIRAI
Tiny particles in
the solar system
may answer
some of its
biggest questions.
MEENAKSHI WADHWA
22
56
What are we learning
from cosmic dust?
COLUMNS
Strange Universe
11
BOB BERMAN
22
COVER STORY
Does methane flow
on Titan?
Scientists are eager to prove that
the river valleys and streambeds
on Saturn’s largest moon carry
liquid methane to its vast lakes.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN
Secret Sky
14
STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA
Observing Basics
18
GLENN CHAPLE
Astro Sketching
65
ERIKA RIX
Cosmic Imaging
66
TONY HALLAS
28
Searching for smart life
around small stars
Researchers have set their sights
on red dwarfs in hopes of making
a big discovery.
SETH SHOSTAK
50
Comet ISON’s
opening act
Te most anticipated comet in
decades got of to a good start.
MICHAEL E. BAKICH
60
Astronomy
tests
Levenhuk’s new refractor
Te Ra R110 ED Doublet OTA
ofers high-quality optics, good
portability, and nice styling — all
at a great price.
TOM TRUSOCK
QUANTUM GRAVITY
Snapshot
9
Breakthrough
10
Astro News
12
34
Ask Astro
An iron meteorite on Mars.
52
Where other
astrophotographers
fear to tread
THOMAS V. DAVIS
is committed to
IN EVERY ISSUE
From the Editor
6
Letters
11, 66
New Products
67
Web Talk
67
Reader Gallery
68
Advertiser Index
73
Final Frontier
74
36
The Sky this Month
38
StarDome and
Path of the Planets
Visit
Astronomy.com/toc
for bonus material — it’s
exclusive to
Astronomy
magazine subscribers.
Astronomy
(ISSN 0091-6358, USPS 531-350) is pub-
lished monthly by Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027
Crossroads Circle, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI
53187–1612. Periodicals postage paid at Waukesha,
WI, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to
Astronomy,
21027 Crossroads
Circle, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187–1612.
Canada Publication Mail Agreement #40010760.
Z
62
Explore the Trumpler
classes of clusters
Since 1930, astronomers have
divided the thousands of open
clusters into 36 types. Find out
what makes them diferent.
MICHAEL E. BAKICH
shedding light on the dusty, dark
parts of the universe through his
portraits of nebulae.
ONLINE
FAVORITES
Go to
www.Astronomy.com
for info on the biggest news and
observing events, stunning photos,
informative videos, and more.
Cosmic
Adventures
A video series
of wonders
large and small
Seasonal
Observing
Find great
targets in your
winter sky
Reader
Forums
Chat with
astronomy
enthusiasts
Ask Astro
Archive
Answers to all
of your cosmic
questions
4
AS TR ON OM Y
•
FE Br UA ry 2014
w w w.A s tr o nom y.co m
5

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