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35 CONTENTS = on the cover C FeaturesFeatures Features , @ T H ES H E D_ , N ASA I D E.CO M H U B L /CCD G U R E N CE, B ER N H A R D : PE T E L AW PAG E I S R E N CE, T H : PE T E L AW I M AG E COV ER , B B C I D E.CO M I S/CCD G U LTS E K A I S TO P H T E A M /CH R I C A PL, CE D I N S H O PK N ASA /J O H N S , I O P H OTO S T U D 28 25 sights of Christmas C A fabulous, festive countdown of stunning astronomical sights to see before the big day 35 Magnificent Mars at its best C Your essential guide to the Red Planet riches on offer this month 60 How to deflect an asteroid C How DART’s great success was hitting rock bottom 62 Apollo 17 C 50 years on, we look back on the final triumphant Apollo mission 66 The legacy of Apollo C What NASA’s lunar odyssey meant for space science Regulars 6 Eye on the sky 11 Bulletin 16 Cutting edge 18 Inside The Sky at Night 20 Interactive 23 What’s on 25 Field of view 26 Subscribe to BBC Sky C at Night Magazine 72 Explainer 74 DIY astronomy 98 Q&A: an extreme space C C weather scientist Astrophotography 76 Capture 78 Processing 80 Gallery 4 BBC Sky at Night Magazine December 2022 Reviews 86 Sky-Watcher Explorer 130P C AZ GO-2 90 Opticron Oregon Observation 11x70 binoculars 94 Books 96 Gear 16-PAGE CENTRE PULLOUT C The Sky Guide 44 Highlights 46 The big three 48 The planets 50 December’s all-sky chart 52 Moonwatch 53 Comets and asteroids 53 Star of the month 54 Binocular tour 55 The Sky Guide challenge 56 Deep-sky tour 58 December at a glance
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New to astronomy? To get started, check out our guides and glossary at www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astronomy-for-beginners 62 28 86 Extra content ONLINE Visit www.skyatnightmagazine. com/bonus-content/PF5NNHB to access this month’s selection of exclusive Bonus Content DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Interview: Apollo 17, behind the scenes Dermot Gethings attended the launch of the last mission to the Moon. He reveals his first-hand view of the event. 60 72 This month’s contributors Stuart Atkinson Seasoned observer Charlotte Daniels Astronomy journalist Ezzy Pearson Features editor “Planets, nebulae, galaxies, stars: there’s going to be so much to see in the night sky this December, we’re in for a treat”. Turn to page 28, where Stuart reveals his top 25 night- sky sights for the run-up to Christmas “Mars is easy to spot and beautiful to view in the right conditions, so getting the chance to see it at its best is always a highlight!” Charlotte tells us how to get the maximum out of Mars season on page 35 “It’s been fascinating covering the Apollo programme, and none more so than the final mission. The sciencepacked expedition is still revolutionising planetary science 50 years later.” Travel back to Apollo 17 with Ezzy on page 62 Watch The Sky at Night: Question Time In this episode of The Sky at Night, filmed in front of a live audience, the team and guests tackle your queries about the cosmos. Observing forms and deep-sky tours Download extra materials including observing forms, deep-sky tours and astronomy software that will guide your mount. The Virtual Planetarium Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel guide us through the best sights to see in the night sky this month. December 2022 BBC Sky at Night Magazine 5

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35

CONTENTS

= on the cover C

FeaturesFeatures

Features

, @ T H ES H E D_

, N ASA

I D E.CO M

H U B L /CCD G U

R E N CE, B ER N H A R D

: PE T E L AW

PAG E

I S

R E N CE, T H

: PE T E L AW

I M AG E

COV ER

, B B C

I D E.CO M

I S/CCD G U

LTS E

K A

I S TO P H

T E A M /CH R

I C

A PL, CE D

I N S

H O PK

N ASA /J O H N S

,

I O

P H OTO S T U D

28 25 sights of Christmas

C

A fabulous, festive countdown of stunning astronomical sights to see before the big day

35 Magnificent Mars at its best

C

Your essential guide to the Red Planet riches on offer this month

60 How to deflect an asteroid

C

How DART’s great success was hitting rock bottom

62 Apollo 17

C

50 years on, we look back on the final triumphant Apollo mission

66 The legacy of Apollo

C

What NASA’s lunar odyssey meant for space science

Regulars 6 Eye on the sky 11 Bulletin 16 Cutting edge 18 Inside The Sky at Night 20 Interactive 23 What’s on 25 Field of view 26 Subscribe to BBC Sky

C

at Night Magazine 72 Explainer 74 DIY astronomy 98 Q&A: an extreme space

C

C

weather scientist Astrophotography 76 Capture 78 Processing 80 Gallery

4 BBC Sky at Night Magazine December 2022

Reviews 86 Sky-Watcher Explorer 130P

C

AZ GO-2 90 Opticron Oregon Observation

11x70 binoculars 94 Books 96 Gear

16-PAGE CENTRE PULLOUT

C

The Sky Guide 44 Highlights 46 The big three 48 The planets 50 December’s all-sky chart 52 Moonwatch 53 Comets and asteroids 53 Star of the month 54 Binocular tour 55 The Sky Guide challenge 56 Deep-sky tour 58 December at a glance

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