2019-12-01_Astronomy

CONTENTS 44

4 ASTRONOMY • DECEMBER 2019

20

Return to Pluto!

Researchers already are

planning an ambitious

spacecraft that will orbit

the mysterious world.

S. ALAN STERN

28

The oddities of

Isaac Newton

Revered as a great thinker and

scientist, he was also obsessive,

secretive, vindictive, and

paranoid. RAYMOND SHUBINSKI

36

Sky This Month

Gas giants bid a fond farewell.

MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND

ALISTER LING

38

Star Dome and

Paths of the Planets

RICHARD TALCOTT;

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROEN KELLY

44

Chasing a

Chilean eclipse

Peruvian nights, Incan sites,

and coronal lights were all on

full display during my recent

adventure through South

America. JAKE PARKS

52

Starmus V rocks

in Zurich

The fifth Starmus Festival, an

international celebration of

science and music, assembled

an all-star cast of astronauts,

Nobel Prize laureates,

musicians, and scientists.

DAVID J. EICHER

68

Ask Astro

How is Phoebe different?

IN EVERY ISSUE

From the Editor 6

Astro Letters 8

New Products 66

Advertiser Index 73

Reader Gallery 70

Breakthrough 74

FEATURES

DECEMBER 2019

VOL. 47, NO. 12

Astronomy (ISSN 0091-6358, USPS 531-350)

is published monthly by Kalmbach Media

Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P. O. Box 1612,

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Go to http://www.Astronomy.com

for info on the biggest news and

observing events, stunning photos,

informative videos, and more.

ONLINE

FAVORITES

9

QUANTUM GRAVITY

Everything you need to

know about the universe

this month: Jupiter’s

collision history, three

new exoplanets, India’s

failed lunar lander, and

more.

COLUMNS

Strange Universe 16

BOB BERMAN

Secret Sky 18

STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA

Binocular Universe 62

PHIL HARRINGTON

For Your Consideration 64

JEFF HESTER

ON THE COVER

The proposed Pluto orbiter mission

would explore the entire Plutonian

system in detail. RON MILLER FOR

ASTRONOMY

Venus Globe

Get the hottest

globes around.

Dave’s

Universe

The inside

scoop from

the editor.

My Science

Shop

Perfect gifts for

your favorite

science geeks.

Trips and

Tours

Travel the world

with the staff of

Astronomy.

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