YOUR SPACE

Let us know what you are thinking about the magazine and the Universe. Join the conversation via Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Or simply write to us at yourspace@astronomynow.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Steve Carol Butler

Simple setup guides

Replying to Chris Wareham’s letter in the April issue, and as someone who has written lots of user, operations, maintenance and training guides, I can offer a perspective. The reason telescope manufacturers do not supply comprehensive guides is cost. Comprehensive user guides require a lot of effort to produce and for a something like a smartscope would be hundreds of pages. Many of us are on limited budgets and extra pounds for a user guide could push the purchase price too high. An optional extra user guide would not get bought often either. In the case of the Seestar S50, the user guide is good compared to many others but still not impressive. The instructional videos more than make up for this.

The challenge for magazines is getting a setup guide onto two or four pages. This is why Chris’s point about skipping steps is so valid. What I think could be possible is to write articles describing how to use one feature of a telescope or app. Chris’s example of collimation is a good one and one I’d like to read. Phil Pugh

Astronomy Now at 40 – the countdown begins!

April 2027 marks our 40th anniversary. To help celebrate we’d love to hear from those of you who’ve been with us from the very beginning, like Chris Wareham (Hampshire, UK) pictured here.

Chris wrote to us in March: “Here is a photo of me with all my Astronomy Now magazines. I am holding the first and latest editions. All issues are in year boxes behind me. Keep up the fantastic work you are doing – superb!”

If you have a photo to share of you and your collection, or a story to tell about what’s kept you with us for the last 40 years, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at the usual Your Space email address.

Astronomy Now at the Practical Astronomy Show

We had a busy and rewarding day at the Practical Astronomy Show in Stoneleigh on 7 March. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat!

Which comet exploration generation are you?

On March 13, ESA celebrated the fortieth anniversary of Giotto’s historic 1986 flyby of Comet Halley. It occurred one year before our very first issue of Astronomy Now, so we asked, which comet exploration generation are you?

%

100

80

60

40

20

0

First generation (1970-80s)

International Cometary Explorer, Giotto, Vega, Sakigake & Suisei

Second generation (2000s)

Rosetta, Stardust, Deep Impact

Next generation (coming soon!)

Comet Interceptor

None – I prefer it when comets visit us!

e.g. Hale-Bopp, McNaught, NEOWISE…

Solar spots or sunspots?

Why is it that in English we say sunspots instead of solar spots, like we say solar wind, solar flares or solar disc? Or can we say it both ways? João Miguel Matos, Portugal

Stuart: Great question. We tend to say sunspots because of historical precedence. The term refers back to the early telescopic observations of the Sun in the 17th century by observers such as Galileo and Christoph Scheiner. When their writings were translated into English, the phrase ‘spots on the Sun’ was used. This was eventually shortened to just ‘sunspots’. It was not until the 19th century that the word solar, from the Latin word sol, was coined by the scientific establishment to refer to phenomena related to the Sun. By then, astronomers were already stuck in their ways over the nomenclature of the sunspots. But there is no reason, apart from convention, why you can’t refer to them as solar spots.

Erratum

The link in last month’s review of the Askar FRA 400C astrograph should have been: www.365astronomy.com/askar-fra400c-f-5.6-quintuplet-dual-ed-air-spaced-apo-apochromatic-refractor-telescope

Tributes to Owen Brazell

We were extremely sad to learn that deep sky expert and Astronomy Now columnist Owen Brazell was killed in a traffic accident on his way to Kelling Heath Star Party. This tragic loss to the UK astronomy community was reflected in your messages of condolences:

Steve Carol Butler

Been doing the skycamps over thirty years now, Owen was there from the start at Dower House, big shock to us all, we are having a tribute to him today at Kelling.

Phil Harrington

Very saddened to hear this news. Although I never had the chance to meet Owen Brazell, I knew his work well through his Astronomy Now columns and deep-sky writing, which I always found thoughtful, knowledgeable, and clearly written by someone with a real love for the night sky. It makes the loss even harder to hear knowing he was on his way to the Kelling Heath Star Party – exactly the kind of gathering that means so much to so many of us. The astronomy community is a small one, and contributions like his reach far beyond the people who knew him personally. My sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and everyone at Astronomy Now.

Mike Phillips

I will miss him. First met him in the mid-80s and he became very active in my local astro soc Mid-Kent. Caught up with him a few years ago at the August Astrocamp reunion. A good long chat with him. I shall cherish that moment. And all the time spent with him at MKAS events and various conventions. Really a one off, and a fantastic observer.

John Pilbeam

I met him at Astro Camp run by Norman Fisher in Sussex in 1990 I think, he always had just pretty much every top piece of kit available, compared to my Pentax J60. To this day I have no idea what he used, I saw the ring nebula in colour through an eyepiece, the guy was fun and an absolute wizard with a scope. Our paths never crossed again but I did hear his name from time to time. RIP Sir, you were an inspiration even if I didn’t show it.

Rob Greaves

Very sad news. I still remember Owen showing me Jones Emberson 1 P/N in his 20”, probably at Thetford. Haven’t been to Kelling for a number of years, but remember Owen well.

Warren A. Keller

Very sad to see this! Owen would publish my galaxy images at the Webb Society site. Thank you, Owen, and may you go among the imperishable stars!

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