Popular Astronomy is the bi-monthly magazine of the UK's Society for Popular Astronomy, published in January, March, May, July, September and November.
.jpg) May–June 2018 | |
| Editor | Robin Scagell |
|---|---|
| Categories | Amateur astronomy |
| Frequency | Bimonthly |
| Publisher | Society for Popular Astronomy |
| First issue | 1953 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Website | http://www.popastro.com/main_spa1/about-the-spa/our-lively-magazine-popular-astronomy/ |
| ISSN | 0261-0892 |
History and profile
editThe magazine was started in 1953 with the name The Junior Astronomer.[1] Before 2011 it was a quarterly publication. Before 1981 the journal was known as Hermes,[2] and earlier still it was called The Junior Astronomer. The magazine is published by the Society for Popular Astronomy, a national society for amateur astronomers.[3]
The magazine aims to present the science in plain English, avoiding unnecessary jargon. As well as main features covering professional and amateur research, regular articles include:
- AstroNews - updates on some of the most interesting current developments in professional astronomy;
- Amateur Scene - a look around local astronomy clubs;
- Deep Sky Notes - surveying the season's deep celestial sights;
- Sky Diary - what's happening in the sky in the coming weeks;
- Glorious Universe - comparing amateur and professional observations of celestial objects and phenomena;
- Also, readers' letters, plus book and product reviews, society news, competitions and more.
The magazine also includes a section for Young Stargazers to help younger readers to understand modern astronomy.
Editors past and present
edit- Richard Baum (1953 June–1955 October)
- Patrick Moore (1956)
- Richard Baum (1957 January–July)
- Gilbert Satterthwaite (1957 October–1961 April)
- John Lytheer (1961 July–1964 April)
- George Teideman (1964 July–1967 April)
- Ian Ridpath (1967 July–1974 April)
- Paul Sutherland (1974 July–1982 July)
- Enid Lake (1982 October–1985 October)
- Ian Ridpath (1986 January–1989 July; editor-in-chief until 1992 October)
- Tom Hosking (1989 October–2000 July)
- Peter Grego (2000 October–2016 February)
- Amanda Doyle (2016 February-2018 July)
- Mandy Bailey (acting ed.) (2018 July-2019 January)
- Osnat Katz (2019 January-2020 January)
- Robin Scagell (acting ed.) (2020 January- ).
Changes of name: The Junior Astronomer from 1953 June until 1960 July; Hermes from 1960 October to 1980 October; Popular Astronomy 1981 January to present.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "50 Years of the Society for Popular Astronomy" (PDF). Federation of Astronomical Societies Newsletter (72). Spring 2003. ISSN 1361-4126. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ "Popular Astronomy Writers' Guide". SPA. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ New Scientist. Reed Business Information. 21 October 1976. p. 191. ISSN 0262-4079. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
External links
edit
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