Best magazine

[Skooby]

Hi all I'm wondering what the best astronomy magazine for both visual and astrophotography I already subscribe to sky at night magazine but looking for another? What about astronomy now or the American sky and telescope? Thanks.

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[houston]

Astronomy now is very similar to sky at night. Not sure if it would be worth getting both.

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[Paul M]

I've had most of them on subscription, on and off over the years, though I've only ever picked up the odd issue of S@N magazine.

I've recently just re-subscribed to Sky & Telescope after a break of some years. Although the paper quality seems to have dwindled slightly it's still the better read for the active amateur in my view.

I remember the very first issue of Astronomy Now and think it's matured into a good magazine. Particularly good for those looking for UK based point of view and advertisers.

[Peter Drew]

I would swap from S@N to Astronomy Now for an upgrade. Sky & Telescope, although good is naturally very USA orientated. 

[mr jambon]

As a beginner I love S@N. Is there an implication here that AN is a little more advanced?

[Peter Drew]

That's been my observation. YMMV. 

[Ryan_B]

I've been buying Astronomy Now for a few months and very pleased with the content. Only bought a few S@N but found them to be simplified in comparison to AN, kind of like Focus vs New Scientist (not that they are as comparable as S@N and AN).

[jnb]

If anyone is interested in getting S@N they's currently got an offer of five issues for £5. It's only available if you pay by direct debit so you'll need to make a not to cancel unless you then want to carry on at full price.

Personally I'd like to find something a bit more technical, sort of newscientist level but dedicated to astro. As it is I often buy New Scientist in preference to a dedicated astro mag.

[Ryan_B]

Personally I'd like to find something a bit more technical, sort of newscientist level but dedicated to astro. As it is I often buy New Scientist in preference to a dedicated astro mag.

I know what you mean, however I think that the more specialist it becomes, the smaller the audience and so less sales etc. I feel the same about documentaries, I enjoy the BBC's stuff, Horizon, Dr. Iain Stewart's stuff, Brian Cox to a point (but that point arrives quickly!   ) But it would be nice to have something more advanced that also has the budget for visuals. There was a half decent documentary I saw a while ago called 'The Seven Ages of Starlight', watched it with my partner and she enjoyed it. I can't remember it exactly but I do recall it was beyond the 'this is a star, here are some planets, some are hard and made of stones, some are soft and made of air' level!

[crazyjedi]

I only get the sky at night as I subscribe to a PC mag as well and my wife will kill me if I get anymore.

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[jnb]

I only get the sky at night as I subscribe to a PC mag as well and my wife will kill me if I get anymore.

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Digital subscription! Then she can't see the postie delivering it 

[jnb]

I know what you mean, however I think that the more specialist it becomes, the smaller the audience and so less sales etc. I feel the same about documentaries, I enjoy the BBC's stuff, Horizon, Dr. Iain Stewart's stuff, Brian Cox to a point (but that point arrives quickly!   ) But it would be nice to have something more advanced that also has the budget for visuals. 

I like the documentaries even if they're pitched at a slightly too low level (though I find SGL far too low level). Documentaries are ideal copied to a tablet to fill in a train journey when I'm feeling brain dead at the end of the day.

[dph1nm]

I came across this new online astrophotography magazine yesterday, which might be of interest to some

http://www.amateurastrophotography.com/

NigelM

[crazyjedi]

Digital subscription! Then she can't see the postie delivering it

Clever!

I like your thinking.

I have on occasion acquired other mags but haven't felt the need to subscribe. Astronomy now looks pretty good though

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[jnb]

Clever!

I like your thinking.

I have on occasion acquired other mags but haven't felt the need to subscribe. Astronomy now looks pretty good though

Unfortunately AN's digital subscription is only available on iPad and iPhone.

[ollypenrice]

You'll start a civil war with this question! Writers for both mags are members here but fortunately they get on well!     

Olly

[crazyjedi]

Unfortunately AN's digital subscription is only available on iPad and iPhone.

I have read a couple on my iPhone but it isn't the easiest thing to do. Perhaps I'm not doing it right or missing a trick as it seems to require quite a bit of zooming in and scrolling around the page. I'm a bit old fashioned and like to have the pages in my hands

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[steppenwolf]

Wot Olly said!

I subscribe to both S@N and AN and they complement one another well in that I always find articles of interest in both of them.

[Dave In CT]

I get Sky at Night digitally and like it.

I also have Sky and Telescope print edition delivered.  When you get it delivered, you also get the digital edition, but I find it next to unreadable digitally.  Whatever it is that they are using, it stinks.  They should really switch to something else.  I get Sky at Night via Google Newsstand and that works as it allows me to zoom into the point I can actually read it without issue.  Sky and Telscope, not so much, but at least I get the print edition of that to read.

My Astronomy club gets Astronomy Mag, but I haven't really sat down and looked at it in a very long time.

[Fatrick]

I'd be interested on an astronomy mag myself, but I already get quite a few other genres of mag already. Just wondering what sort of content is included in an astro mag? Is it much different than you can find on the net?

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[Ryan_B]

I'd be interested on an astronomy mag myself, but I already get quite a few other genres of mag already. Just wondering what sort of content is included in an astro mag? Is it much different than you can find on the net?

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I suppose you could find similar articles online, however for me having them already compiled and not having to either view on a phone or tablet screen, or sit at the desktop and get distracted, is a major plus.

[Davey-T]

Although I have S@N on subscription I usually buy AN and find I prefer it, one problem with S@N is that they tend to keep repeating the same stuff, Pete Lawrences' how to image Saturn in RGB springs to mind, I think it's been repeated at least three times,

perhaps they think no one will notice.

Dave

[CSM]

I subscribe to S@N but often end up buying AN as well, especially when away from home, for something to read.  S@N probably do more equipment reviews but AN is generally more 'interesting'.

[cantab]

For the observing guides, I've come to favour Sky At Night. Astronomy Now's is OK, but getting both tends to give duplication. All About Space isn't great on the observing side of things, I only get it if I'm somewhere that doesn't stock S@N or AN. I've not tried the US mags.

[L8-Nite]

To be quite honest, Buying an astronomy magazine nowadays is kind of like buying a bag of crisps, a lot of air, and little content.

Occasionally I stop by the periodicals rack for a quick scan while shopping, and skim through the quagmire of advertising to see if there are enough interesting articles to be " worth " the cover price, there rarely are.  Astronomy Now seems to be better than the others.   

Edit: I seem to recall Astronomy Now for sale at Tesco, but not sure if I've seen it at the Maesteg store ?