About Astronomy Now For over two decades, Astronomy Now magazine has provided a monthly source of information for amateur and professional astronomers alike. It is the U.K.'s best-selling astronomy magazine. Features A wide range of feature articles cover subjects such as observing, cosmology, the history of astronomy and space science. Focus articles A series of articles each month takes an in-depth look at specific areas of astronomy and space science.

Regulars Each month, Astronomy Now includes a 14-page section on the night sky, an extensive news section, readers' astronomical images, book reviews and advice for beginners and seasoned astronomers alike.

February 2010 BUY ONLINE NOW!

Mars Attacks!

Welcome to our Mars special issue of Astronomy Now, timed to coincide with the opposition of the red planet on 29 January, and complete with free giant poster "The Waters of Mars". Learn about the evolution of the Martian climate and why Mars is red, journey across the surface with Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, and master the art of drawing Mars through the eyepiece, and then turn your images into a rotating movie of the red planet! We also explore the extreme behaviour of Martian dust storms, the violent history of moons Phobos and Deimos and consider what it might be like to partake in a human mission to Mars in the future.

Mars Attacks!

• Why is Mars red? • The Martian Chronicles • A storm is coming • Roving the red planet • Sifting the soil for Martians • Mars through the eyepiece • Make Mars rotate • Keeping dangerous company • Mission to Mars•

Why is Mars red?
It has been known through the ages as the red planet, but have we ever stopped to ask why it is red? Alan Longstaff finds a surprising answer that doesn't involve a rusty planet.

The Martian Chronicles
Has climate change turned Mars from a warm and wet haven of life into the dead and dry world that we know today? Keith Cooper investigates what happened to Mars' climate.

A storm is coming
Dust storms that enshroud the entire world can wreak havoc on Mars, but what causes them to be so extreme, asks Keith Cooper.

Roving the red planet
Far and away the most successful of our robotic Martian explorers, the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity have traversed a total of 26.6 kilometres across Mars' terrain and far outlasted their warranty. Emily Baldwin talks to rover bosses Steve Squyres and Ray Arvidson and discovers what the rovers have been up to during the last six years.

Sifting the soil for Martians
The Viking landers have been our best shot at finding life on Mars so far, and their results were controversial to say the least. David Powell dusts off their findings.

Mars through the eyepiece
Paul Abel invites you to take advantage of Mars' opposition on 29 January to create your own map of the surface of the red planet by drawing what you see through the eyepiece.

Make Mars rotate
For the imaging fraternity, we encourage you to attempt something a little bit more ambitious than just a static picture of Mars - Martin Mobberley describes how you can create a photographic animation that shows Mars rotating.

Keeping dangerous company
Mars' two diminutive moons, Phobos and Deimos,are two captured asteroids that tell of a violent past, and an even more violent future, as David Powell explains.

Mission to Mars
What would it be like to partake in a human mission to Mars? Gemma Lavender finds a crew that is attempting just that - in a sealed facility in Moscow.

Free poster!

Follow the water on Mars with our giant-sized poster that describes some of the water-formed features discovered on the red planet, and the orbiters, rovers and landers that found them. Created by Emily Baldwin and designed by Greg Smye-Rumsby.

AstroFest Exhibition Guide

In the centre of this issue you can find our AstroFest 2010 exhibition guide, with news of special exclusive show offers available from many of our exhibitors.

Regulars

• News Update • Your Views • Key Moments • Drawn to the Universe • The Night Sky • In the Shops • Tech Talk • Astrolistings • Ask Alan • Picture Gallery • Classifieds • Gearheads • Starting from Scratch • Talking Point •

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Missed out? The January 2010 issue of Astronomy Now, along with all other back issues, is available to buy from our online store

Our latest 132-page Astronomy Now special edition is an extravaganza of astronomy for the year ahead, with a complete 30-page guide to observing the planets, moon, meteor showers, two solar eclipses, and the deep sky in 2010.
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Hubble Reborn
Hubble Reborn takes the reader on a journey through the Universe with spectacular full-colour pictures of galaxies, nebulae, planets and stars as seen through Hubble's eyes, along the way telling the dramatic story of the space telescope, including interviews with key scientists and astronauts.
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3D Universe
Witness the most awesome sights of the Universe as they were meant to be seen in this 100-page extravaganza of planets, galaxies and star-scapes, all in 3D!
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This special publication features the photography of British astro-imager Nik Szymanek and covers a range of photographic methods from basic to advanced. Beautiful pictures of the night sky can be obtained with a simple camera and tripod before tackling more difficult projects, such as guided astrophotography through the telescope and CCD imaging.
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Explore the Universe with these new versions of the award-winning Starry Night Software. Available now from the Astronomy Now Store.
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Astronomy Now is pleased to announce the publication of Exploring Mars. The very best images of Mars taken by orbiting spacecraft and NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers fill up the 98 glossy pages of this special edition!
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This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
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