PERIODICALS

GENERAL ASTRONOMY

THE ASTRONOMER

Not a society as such but a truly international magazine for active amateur astronomers whose aim is to provide extremely rapid publication
of observational results in preliminary format. In addition, it features `News Notes' with details of discoveries and other work carried out by professional observatories world-wide. Four cover pages in each monthly issue provide CCD images and photographs and within the main
issue are charts and sequences for newly discovered objects such as novae, supernovae and variable stars. Observational reports are arranged in sections edited by a specialist observer in each subject. These cover comets, asteroids, planets, deep sky, variables, meteors, fireballs, aurorae and anything else observable. For such new objects as comets, ephemerides are provided to assist in future observations. As an optional supplement to the magazine, circulars containing news of discoveries and follow-up data are issued. These can be received by email, post or fax. The email service is the most comprehensive, averaging over 100 circulars per year sent via the Internet.
Secretary: Peter Meadows, 6 Chelmerton Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 9RE
Email
Website: http://www.theastronomer.org

ASTRONOMY

For over 20 years, ASTRONOMY has been the world's most popular magazine about the heavens. It contains easy-to-use star maps, observing tips, and guides to choosing and using telescopes and other equipment. Its science features are clearly and understandably written, colourfully illustrated, and will appeal to general readers as well as amateur astronomers of all levels. Each issue contains reviews of equipment, computer software and books as well as announcements of new products.
Obtainable in UK from most large magazine retailers and by subscription.
AstroMedia, Division of Kalmbach Publishing Co.,
21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187
Tel: 0101 414 796 8776 Fax: 0101 414 796 1142
Website: http://www.astronomy.com/home.asp

ASTRONOMY AND GEOPHYSICS (REPLACES THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY)

Astronomy & Geophysics is a journal for the publication of serious scientific papers on a range of subjects within the remit of the Royal Astronomical Society: astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, solar-terrestrial physics, global and regional geophysics and the history of these topics. Astronomy & Geophysics also focuses on topical items, reports of meetings, science in the news and acts as a forum for discussion of all matters of interest to professional astronomers and geophysicists. Astronomy & Geophysics is the House Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society and as such records the business of the Society and informs Fellows of Council matters.
Oxford: Blackwell, RAS, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1V 0NL, UK.
Website: http://www.ras.org.uk/publications/publications.htm

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

Astronomy & Space is a highly regarded monthly magazine, containing the latest news from space and the heavens, as well as articles of enduring interest and a list of the events coming to a sky near you. The magazine is sent out each month to members, and is also available in newsagents throughout the country and via postal or online subscription.
Astronomy Ireland, P.O. Box 2888, Dublin 5, Ireland
Website: http://www.astronomy.ie/

ASTRONOMY NOW

The first British periodical to rival Astronomy and Sky and Telescope. Contains regular features covering news of amateur astronomical societies, book reviews, monthly star charts, a newcomer's guide and so on, together with articles by both amateur and professional astronomers.
PO Box 175, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 4QX Tel. 1732 367542 Fax. 01732 356230
Website: http://www.astronomynow.com and companion magazine http://www.spaceflightnow.com

DOUBLE STAR OBSERVER

The DOUBLE STAR OBSERVER is an international amateur/professional quarterly journal dedicated to the task of promoting interest in the science of visual double star observing. The DOUBLE STAR OBSERVER still remains one of the world's few publications devoted exclusively to double star observing, and is the only one published in English.306 Reynolds Drive, Saugus, MA 01906-1533, United States of America, Tel. 781-231-1558
Email
Website: http://home.cshore.com/rfroyce/dso/

IAU CIRCULARS

About 250 per year. Postcard-sized notifications of information about astronomical phenomena that requires prompt dissemination. This service is used by most of the world's major observatories and by many leading amateurs. Also available via "computer service".
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Website: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/services/IAUC.html

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS

A semi-professional journal which contains papers presented at meetings as well as submitted papers, some as abstracts only, and reports of the Director and Committee Chairs. Includes Association matters and book reviews. The AAVSO also publishes the "Bulletin", usually once a year, which contains annual predictions of maxima and minima of long period variables; the irregular "Reports" which contain computerized light curves of variables in the AAVSO observing programme, usually covering an interval of 1000 days; a series of monographs giving computer-generated long-term (20 years or more) light curves of AAVSO observations - one star per monograph; "Alert Notices"; "Circulars" and the "Solar Bulletin", produced by the Solar Division. This publication is also available electronically from the web site along with some back issues. 1972-, 2 issues per year.
AAVSO, 25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Website: http://www.aavso.org/journal/

JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1890, this bi-monthly journal is the chief forum in print for amateur astronomers in the UK. Includes articles at varying levels on most aspects of astronomy, but strongly slanted towards the practical. Carries reports on observations and Association matters as well as book reviews and correspondence. The BAA also produces the "Memoirs", issued irregularly, which contain longer reports of the various observing sections, and "Circulars", which bring immediate information of newly-discovered objects, such as novae and comets.
The sections of the BAA are listed below; some produce, usually irregular, periodicals of their own, and these appear in brackets. Artificial Satellite, Aurora (Newsletter), British Fireball Survey, Comet (Bulletin), Computing (this section is responsible for the Handbook, q.v.), Deep Sky (Deep Sky Diary), Historical, Jupiter, Lunar (Circular, The New Moon, also Guide for Observers of the Moon, 3rd edition, 1979), Solar (Solar Bulletin, Solar Summary), Observing Techniques (a series of Observational Notes), Meteor (Newsletter), Terrestrial Planets (Inner Planets Newsletter, Notes), Saturn, Variable Star (Circular, "Light Curve", ISSN 0267-9272).
British Astronomical Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1V 0NL, UK.
Website: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~baa/

MERCURY

The bi-monthly journal of the ASP is a non-technical publication intended for the general reader, amateur astronomer and science educator. It features articles on current developments in astronomy research, connections between astronomy and other fields, innovations in astronomy education, interviews with astronomers, history and Society matters. Features bibliographic items, including annual round-up of the previous year's books. Often publishes articles debunking pseudo-science. Unfortunately not widely available in the UK, but new members always welcome; Mercury is a benefit of ASP membership.
The print version of Mercury magazine receives more article submissions than it can publish. As a result, an Internet version of Mercury has been created. This Mercury E-zine will include book excerpts, features, and sidebars that will not appear in the print version.
Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112, USA.
Website: http://www.astrosociety.org/

NEW SCIENTIST

This weekly science journal available on the newsagents shelves often contains latest developments in astronomy and space exploration.
Reed Business Information Ltd., 151 Wardour St, London W1F 8WE
Email
Website: http://www.newscientist.com

POPULAR ASTRONOMY

Originally titled "Hermes" (1953-1980), the quarterly Journal of the Society for Popular Astronomy contains articles on all aspects of professional and amateur space research. Regular features in PA include: AstroNews - updates on current developments in professional astronomy; Amateur Scene - a look round around local astronomical societies: Sections on the astronomical life and work of SPA members: Deep Sky Notes and Sky Diary for the coming weeks: amateur and professional observations of celestial objects and phenomena: readers' letters, book and product reviews, society news etc. Members also receive six issues of the News Circular each year, with extra issues for important news. For full details contact
The Membership Secretary, SPA, 36 Fairway, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5DU.
Email
Website: http://www.popastro.com/

SKY & TELESCOPE

The world's best known and, generally speaking, best loved astronomy magazine. It is aimed mainly at the amateur and the student. It contains articles on general astronomical and sometimes space science topics, news of research, news for amateurs, observing information, a feature on telescope making and observatories for the amateur, a bimonthly feature for beginners, astronomical computing and history. Includes correspondence and book reviews. Monthly pull-out star chart. The many advertisements feature mainly equipment.
Web astronomical latest news page updated every Friday night. Online archive available by subscription
Sky Publishing Corporation, PO Box 9111, Belmont, MA 02178-9111, USA.
Website: http://www.skypub.com/

SPACEFLIGHT

British Interplanetary Society, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ
1958-, monthly, ISSN 0038-6340, illus and diagrams (some col) Q.
Good coverage of space flight as it happens. Reviews what has happened with details of results of space missions. Regular interviews with both astronauts and cosmonauts included.
Email
Website: http://www.bis-spaceflight.com

THE WEBB SOCIETY QUARTERLY JOURNAL "THE DEEP-SKY OBSERVER"

The purpose of the Webb Society is to promote the study of double stars and other deep sky objects. It is named after the Rev T. W. Webb (1807-85), who wrote "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes". The quarterly Journal contains articles by amateur and professional astronomers on deep sky astronomy covering observation, background information such as news, book reviews and Observing Section reports.
Back issues are available from Don Miles Email
Other Webb publications available from Richard Flux, Email
Owen Brazell FRAS, 57 Earlswood Close, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6DB
Email Owen Brazell
Website: http://www.webbsociety.freeserve.co.uk/

ARCHAEOASTRONOMY: THE JOURNAL OF ASTRONOMY IN CULTURE

The Journal of The Center for Archaeoastronomy and ISAAC, the International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture. The Center is an independent foundation created to advance research, education, and public awareness of archaeoastronomy, including ethnoastronomy; and to promote archaeoastronomy as a discipline within the sciences, the arts, and the humanities.
Also available is the online companion publication, Archaeoastronomy & Ethnoastronomy News, on the website of The Center for Archaeoastronomy.
A&E News provides the latest news in archaeoastronomy, including conference notices, new books and web sites, as well as forthcoming events from the Center.

ISAAC

University of Texas Press, P.O. Box 7819, Austin, Texas 78713-7819 Tel: 1 (512) 471-7233 Fax 1 (512) 232-7178 Email
Website: http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/journals/jarch.html

SOLAR SYSTEM

INTERNATIONAL COMET QUARTERLY

Daniel Green, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
1979-, ISSN 0736-6922, 5 times per year, illus.
A non-profit journal devoted to news and observation of comets which acts as a link between amateur and professional astronomers. Includes some longer articles on topics of current interest. (This is a successor to "The Comet"). Includes annual Comet Handbook of ephemerides.
Website: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/icq.html

THE JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LUNAR AND PLANETARY OBSERVERS

(The Strolling Astronomer), ALPO, Dr. John E Westfall, PO Box 16131, San Francisco, CA 94116, USA.
1947-, quarterly, ISSN 0039-2502, diags, ads.
The ALPO, founded in 1947, is an informal, international group whose purpose is to stimulate, co-ordinate and generally promote the study of the bodies of the Solar System. The Journal contains articles, reports of the observing sections (with interpretation and often including drawings, photographs and charts), book reviews and notes on various Association matters. The sections of the ALPO are: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Remote Planets, Solar, Lunar, Minor Planets, Comets, Meteors, Instruments, Computing and Mercury/Venus Transits. The ALPO also offers a descriptive brochure and an annual Solar System ephemeris.
Website: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo/

MINOR PLANET CIRCULARS

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Minor Planet Centre,
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. About 1000 per year.
These circulars, which since 1978 have included data on comets as well as minor planets, and also contain the official announcements of the new names of minor planets, are issued in monthly batches on the date of the full Moon. Subscribers include most observatories and many advanced amateurs around the world.
Website: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/services.mpc.html

THE PLANETARY REPORT

The Planetary Society, 65 North Catalina Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106, USA.
Six issues per year, Available to Planetary Society members.
The Planetary Report is currently published in a 32-page full colour format. Feature articles by contributing scientists and engineers highlight new findings about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the planets or information about past, present and future planetary missions. Regular features include Society Notes (with news of the latest Society happenings of interest to members), World Watch (offering news of planetary science developments worldwide, with emphasis on space policy), Members' Dialogue (letters to the Editor), News Briefs, Factinos (small facts about planetary science) and News and Reviews (reviewing the contents of selected current periodicals in the field). The magazine is written with the lay reader in mind. Prior knowledge of technical terms and concepts is not automatically assumed.
Website: http://planetary.org/

WGN: JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL METEOR ORGANIZATION

The bimonthly journal of the International Meteor Organization provides between 250 and 300 pages with articles covering all aspects of meteor observing methods, the analysis of meteor observations, theoretical meteor astronomy and history annually. WGN subscriptions are available to non-IMO members on request.
International Meteor Organization, Alastair McBeath, 25 West Park, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2JP
Website: http://www.imo.net/

EDUCATION

GNOMON

Newsletter of the Association for Astronomy Education.
The AAE Newsletter Gnomon is sent four times a year to all members. It contains information on activities within the AAE and articles on astronomy teaching, book reviews, topical sky maps and notification of education events. Included with GNOMON are printed extracts from 'The Universe in the Classroom' - an excellent source of teaching ideas from Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Also included are sample educational leaflets. Advertising facilities, free to members
Website: http://www.aae.org.uk