Martian Landings, Then and Now

August 2, 2012 | Curiosity is the latest in a string of Martian landers (and landing attempts) that stretches back more than 40 years. > read more

A History of Missions to Mars

August 2, 2012 | This comprehensive list, compiled by the editors of Sky & Telescope, provides a snapshot of every mission intended to reach the Red Planet since 1960. > read more

August 3, 2012 | A supermassive black hole spotted last year as it ripped a star apart and spat out a jet had another surprise up its sleeve: a short-lived X-ray heartbeat seen only once before from a galaxy’s central beast. > read more

The Curious Avalanches of Iapetus

July 31, 2012 | Saturn’s two-faced moon hosts extraordinary avalanches that cascade much longer than they should. Figuring out what makes them flow might help scientists better understand landslides on Earth. > read more

Viewing the Flags of Apollo

July 30, 2012 | It’s a question that still gets asked: “Can you see the six flags left on the Moon by Apollo astronauts?” The surprising answer is “Yes”. > read more

Observing

Sky & Telescope diagram

Mars in the Evening Spotlight

August 3, 2012 | This week countless space buffs will be riveted by Curiosity’s arrival at Mars — which can be found, along with Saturn and Spica, in the west after dusk. > read more

Tour August’s Sky by Eye and Ear!

June 22, 2012 | Mark your calendars for the night of Saturday, August 11th, when the Perseid meteor shower will peak. Stay up late to catch the risings of Jupiter and Venus, or just enjoy Mars and Saturn low in the evening twilight. > read more

Community

S&T

Miss a Sky Event? There’s an App for That

July 30, 2012 | Sky & Telescope has released its new SkyWeek Plus app, which combines all the good stuff of our regular SkyWeek app with new reminder and breaking-sky-news features. > read more

This Week’s Sky at a Glance