Astronomy - USA (2020-06)

CONTENTS 28

4 ASTRONOMY • JUNE 2020

18
Warm and not so fuzzy
The Spitzer Space Telescope
ceased operations in January,
but not before giving scientists
keen insight into star birth,
exoplanets, and the shape of
our galaxy. RICHARD TALCOTT

28
Explore the world
of galaxies
These star cities are vast islands
of matter, floating in a nearly
limitless sea of inky black
space. DAVID J. EICHER

36

Sky This Month

Jupiter and Saturn shine

together.

MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND

ALISTER LING

38

Star Dome and

Paths of the Planets

RICHARD TALCOTT;

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROEN KELLY

44

Prepare for launch:

Perseverance

Equipped with a suite of high-

tech tools — including a rock-

blasting laser, two microphones,

23 cameras, and a helicopter —

NASA’s latest rover will explore

the Red Planet like never

before. JAKE PARKS

54

Discover exoplanets

from your backyard

With the right equipment

and techniques, finding these

elusive objects is easier than

you think. JERRY HUBBELL

58

Enjoy the sky’s great

globulars

These 20 top clusters offer

magical targets in any season.

MICHAEL E. BAKICH

68

Ask Astro

How meteorites form.

IN EVERY ISSUE

From the Editor 5

Astro Letters 6

Advertiser Index 65

New Products 67

Reader Gallery 70

Breakthrough 74

FE ATURES

JUNE 2020

VOL. 48, NO. 6

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

is published monthly by Kalmbach Media

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

Waukesha, WI 53187–1612. Periodicals postage

paid at Waukesha, WI, and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to

Astronomy, PO Box 8520, Big Sandy, TX 75755.

Canada Publication Mail Agreement #40010760.

Go to http://www.Astronomy.com

for info on the biggest news and

observing events, stunning photos,

informative videos, and more.

ONLINE

FAVORITES

7

QUANTUM GRAVITY

Everything you need to

know about the universe

this month: newly proven

marsquakes, the launch of

a solar orbiter, revelations

from the farside of the

Moon, and more.

COLUMNS

Strange Universe 14

BOB BERMAN

For Your Consideration 16

JEFF HESTER

Secret Sky 64

STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA

Observing Basics 66

GLENN CHAPLE

ON THE COVER

The Spitzer Space Telescope

revolutionized astronomy by opening

investigation in infrared wavelengths.

Ask Astro

Archives

Answers to all

your cosmic

questions.

Picture of

the Day

Gorgeous

photos from

our readers.

News

The latest

updates from

the science

and the hobby.

My Science

Shop

Perfect gifts for

your favorite

science geeks.

NA

SA

/JP

L-C

ALT

EC

H/N

.^ FL

AG

EY^

(IA

S/S

SC

)/^

A.^ N

OR

IEG

A-C

RE

SP

O^ (

SS

C/C

AL

TEC

H)

Online Content Code: ASY

Enter this code at: http://www.astronomy.com/code

to gain access to web-exclusive content