November 2025 Issue | Astronomy.com

How I flew to space, by S. Alan Stern

S. Alan Stern — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In late 2023, I flew in space. But I didn’t fly as a NASA astronaut or a space tourist. Instead, I flew on a training and research mission aboard a Virgin Galactic spaceplane for my company, the more-than-3,000-person research and development nonprofit Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The mission, named Galactic 5, was barely an hourContinue reading "How I flew to space, by S. Alan Stern"

The post How I flew to space, by S. Alan Stern appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

November 2025: What’s in the sky this month? Mercury switches from evening to morning as giant planets dominate the night

Martin Ratcliffe — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 05:01:00 +0000

Mercury switches from the evening to morning sky this month, while the giant planets dominate the night. The moons of Jupiter and Saturn offer many events. Venus stars on early November mornings, but drops lower day by day. Mercury shines at magnitude –0.1 on Nov. 1 and hangs low in the southwest after sunset. ItContinue reading "November 2025: What’s in the sky this month? Mercury switches from evening to morning as giant planets dominate the night"

The post November 2025: What’s in the sky this month? Mercury switches from evening to morning as giant planets dominate the night appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

November 2025: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month?

Alison Klesman — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

As November begins, two of the solar system’s rocky planets form a nice pair low in the western sky during twilight. They add a sparkle to our view of the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion as it sinks toward the horizon. Innermost Mercury comes into view first. It shines at magnitude –0.1 and appears 8° directlyContinue reading "November 2025: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month?"

The post November 2025: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

A fond farewell: Editor-in-Chief David J. Eicher signs off

David J. Eicher — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

“Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man,” said Abraham Lincoln on the train platform as he addressed a crowd of his friends, ready to leave Springfield, Illinois. I suppose I feel a slightly analogous way. In September 1982, I moved to Milwaukee, straightContinue reading "A fond farewell: Editor-in-Chief David J. Eicher signs off"

The post A fond farewell: Editor-in-Chief David J. Eicher signs off appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.