14 SKYNEWS •NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019OUR HOLIDAY
WISH LIST
SkyNewseditors
and columnists dream
big (and small) with this
selection of gi itemsDREAM PRODUCTSYou!
W
HAT TWO ITEMS would you most like to find under the tree on Christ-
mas morning? That’s the question I put to the dedicated stargazers who
make up the SkyNewseditorial team. I was genuinely curious. I know
what I’d like, but what about Alan Dyer, who has used (and written about) more equip-
ment than just about anyone? I had a good idea what deep-sky maven Ken Hewitt-White
might select (he surprised me anyway!), yet I was clueless about what would catch the
eye of Paul Deans, who authors our Sky News Briefs. And what about our resident
astrophotography expert, Tony Puerzer? (Scratch that—I was pretty close to guessing
Tony’s picks since I got to talk with him at the 2019 Mount Kobau Star Party. Perhaps he
was cleverly dropping hints.)
I expect a few of the items on our wish list are goodies you covet as well, or perhaps
there’s one you think would make a great gift for a close astro-friend. Even if you don’t
splash out on a new piece of gear this holiday season, it’s always fun to dream.
—Gary Seronik, Editor
(Please note that all the prices shown are approximate.)WINTER RAILSThe Canadian Pacific Holiday
Train stopped in Gleichen, Alberta, on December 7,- Overhead are the bright stars of the winter
sky, including Betelgeuse and Rigel, in Orion,
Aldebaran, in Taurus, and—rising where the
tracks converge in the distance—Sirius, in Canis
Major. PHOTO BY ALAN DYER