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Night Sky, SkyWeek, and ESSCO.SPECTRUM by Peter Tyson
Thank Our Lucky Stars
LAST FALL AT A PICNIC for current and former Sky & Telescope staff,
I sidled over to Rick Fienberg, S&T’s Editor in Chief from 2001 to- Being a science magazine, S&T had always felt like the odd
one out amongst our parent company F+W Media’s stable of craft
and hobbyist publications. I asked Rick if he knew of any science-
savvy organization that might be interested in exploring a potential purchase of
S&T. He said he’d give it some thought.
A few days later, I received an email from Rick: “Further to what we dis-
cussed at the picnic, I have an idea I’d like to run past you.”
He soon did so, and the rest will go down in S&T’s annals as the most impor-
tant coming together since our founders, Charlie
and Helen Spence Federer, merged The Sky and The
Telescope into this magazine in 1941.
Rick is now Press Offi cer of the American Astro-
nomical Society (aas.org), and sometime between
his burger and his email he had a brainstorm: What
about the AAS itself? Founded in 1899, the Society is
the major organization for professional astronomers
in North America. Yet recently, eager to better bridge
the gap between professional and backyard astrono-
mers, the AAS formed an Amateur Affi liate membership. It also hosts Education
Affi liates who work in astronomy education and public outreach. By bringing
S&T within its orbit, the Society could more thoroughly address its broader mis-
sion: to enhance and share humanity’s scientifi c understanding of the universe.
Rick shared his idea with Kevin Marvel, AAS Executive Offi cer, who imme-
diately grasped the inherent synergies and approached his Board of Trustees.
The Board bought in, and Kevin reached out earlier this year to F+W’s Ray
Chelstowski, who since late 2016 has very effectively overseen the S&T business
as General Manager. The timing proved propitious: On March 10th F+W fi led
for bankruptcy protection. Suffi ce it to say that the parties on both sides came
to an agreement, and in mid-June the Society won the bid for Sky & Telescope.
By the time you read this, the AAS will be our new owner.
What are the Society’s designs for S&T? I think you’ll be pleased to hear that
it plans a light touch. As stated in our jointly issued press release of June 18th
(https://is.gd/AASpurchase), “the Society anticipates making few if any changes
to the editorial content or the way the magazine operates.. .” With the AAS’s
support, we’ll continue to produce the magazine, website, products, and tours as
we always have, with complete editorial independence.
As Kevin enthused in his online letter to AAS members
about the new alliance (https://is.gd/Marvelpost), “Our
future is so bright, we’re going to have to wear shades!”
Editor in Chief
The Essential Guide to Astronomy
Founded in 1941 by Charles A. Federer, Jr.
and Helen Spence Federer
EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Peter Tyson
Senior Editors J. Kelly Beatty, Alan M. MacRobert
Science Editor Camille M. Carlisle
News Editor Monica Young
Associate Editors S. N. Johnson-Roehr, Sean Walker
Observing Editor Diana Hannikainen
Project Coordinator Bud SadlerSenior Contributing Editors
Robert Naeye, Roger W. SinnottContributing Editors
Howard Banich, Jim Bell, Trudy Bell, John E. Bortle,
Greg Bryant, Thomas A. Dobbins, Alan Dyer,
Tom Field, Tony Flanders, Ted Forte, Sue French,
Steve Gottlieb, David Grinspoon, Shannon Hall,
Ken Hewitt-White, Johnny Horne, Bob King,
Emily Lakdawalla, Rod Mollise, James Mullaney,
Donald W. Olson, Jerry Oltion, Joe Rao, Dean Regas,
Fred Schaaf, Govert Schilling, William Sheehan,
Mike Simmons, Mathew Wedel, Alan Whitman,
Charles A. WoodContributing Photographers
P. K. Chen, Akira Fujii, Robert Gendler,
Babak Tafreshi
ART & DESIGN
Art Director Terri Dubé
Illustration Director Gregg Dinderman
Illustrator Leah Tiscione
ADVERTISING
VP, Advertising Sales Kevin D. Smith
Advertising Sales Director Tim Allen
Advertising Coordinator Connie KostrzewaF+W MEDIA
Chief Executive Offi cer Gregory J. Osberg
SVP / GM — F+W Fine Art, Writing, Outdoors &
Small Business Group Ray Chelstowski
Managing Director — F+W International
James Woollam
VP, Consumer Marketing John Phelan
VP, Digital Jason Revzon
VP, Product Management Pat Fitzgerald
Newsstand Sales Scott T. Hill, [email protected]4 SEPTEMBER 2019 • SKY & TELESCOPE