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Perpetual lunacy The extraordinary new C1 Moonphase from Christopher Ward. A watch that tracks the moon for 128 years – without missing a beat. With an aventurine glass dial infused with copper oxide to represent the night sky. And a 3D ‘moon’ sculpted from Globolight© – a luminous ceramic – that precisely follows the real moon’s journey across the sky. A watch this advanced can cost up to £45,000. But the C1 Moonphase starts from less than £2,000. As someone once said, you don’t have to be mad to work here… Do your research. christopherward.com
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Welcome 12 months, 3,741 entries and 10 judges. And the winner is… The winners of 2024’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, the 16th edition of the internationally acclaimed quest for the world’s best astro images, are something to behold. They capture our cosmos with a clarity, innovation and knowledge that sparks a deep sense of wonder. See for yourself in the gallery of stunning winning images on page 26. My hat goes off to the 10 judges for selecting the prize-winners from more than 3,700 entries! One target that will hopefully feature in next year’s competition entries is C/2023 A3. This keenly anticipated comet swings through its closest approach to the Sun at the end of September, and October is the month when the deep-space visitor will be at its brightest… or not. This is the comet’s first-ever visit to the inner Solar System and no one truly knows if its solar encounter will cause the spectacular tail we’re all hoping for. Make sure you don’t miss the best times to observe C/2023 A3 with the Sky Guide on page 46, then discover more about long-period comets like it with our Explainer on page 72. Two exciting space missions are due to launch this month too. ESA’s Hera mission will follow up on DART’s landmark 2022 asteroid deflection and NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will hunt for signs of life in the ocean beneath the icy moon of Jupiter. Turn to page 66 to find out more about Hera, and read our report on Europa Clipper on page 34. Enjoy the issue! Chris Bramley, Editor PS Our next issue goes on sale on Thursday 17 October. HOW TO CONTACT US  Subscriptions, binders and back issues 03330 162119* Mon–Fri 9am–5pm *Calls from landlines will cost up to 9p per minute. Call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute but are included in free call packages. If calling from overseas, please dial +44 (0)1604 973727 Editorial enquiries +44 (0)117 300 8754 9:30am–5:30pm, Mon–Fri Advertising enquiries +44 (0)117 300 8803  Print subscription enquiries www.ourmediashop.com/contactus Digital subscription enquiries www.ourmediashop.com/contactus Editorial enquiries contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com  Subscription enquiries UK enquiries: FREEPOST OURMEDIA (please write in capitals) Overseas enquiries: PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF, UK Editorial enquiries Please write to the Editor, BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Our Media, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST Become an Insider The more we know about what you like, the better placed we are to bring you the best magazine possible. So we’d like to invite you to join our exclusive online community. To get started, visit ourinsiders.com to fill out the short registration survey and we’ll be in touch from time to time to ask for your opinions on the magazine and other relevant issues. Sky at Night – lots of ways to enjoy the night sky… Television Find out what The Sky at Night team have been exploring in recent and past episodes on page 16 Online Visit our website for space news, astrophoto galleries, observing guides and more Social media Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram for the latest astro news Podcasts Discover the best things to see in the night sky every week by listening to our Star Diary podcast Tablet/phone Get each month’s issue on your Apple or Android device, now with bonus image galleries eNewsletter The best targets to observe each week, delivered to your inbox. Visit b i t . l y/ skynewsletter Find out more at: www.skyatnightmagazine.com October 2024 BBC Sk y at Night Magazine 3

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Welcome

12 months, 3,741 entries and 10 judges. And the winner is…

The winners of 2024’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, the 16th edition of the internationally acclaimed quest for the world’s best astro images, are something to behold. They capture our cosmos with a clarity, innovation and knowledge that sparks a deep sense of wonder. See for yourself in the gallery of stunning winning images on page 26. My hat goes off to the 10 judges for selecting the prize-winners from more than 3,700 entries!

One target that will hopefully feature in next year’s competition entries is C/2023 A3. This keenly anticipated comet swings through its closest approach to the Sun at the end of September, and October is the month when the deep-space visitor will be at its brightest… or not. This is the comet’s first-ever visit to the inner Solar System and no one truly knows if its solar encounter will cause the spectacular tail we’re all hoping for. Make sure you don’t miss the best times to observe C/2023 A3 with the Sky Guide on page 46, then discover more about long-period comets like it with our Explainer on page 72.

Two exciting space missions are due to launch this month too. ESA’s Hera mission will follow up on DART’s landmark 2022 asteroid deflection and NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will hunt for signs of life in the ocean beneath the icy moon of Jupiter. Turn to page 66 to find out more about Hera, and read our report on Europa Clipper on page 34.

Enjoy the issue!

Chris Bramley, Editor

PS Our next issue goes on sale on Thursday 17 October.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Subscriptions, binders and back issues 03330 162119* Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

*Calls from landlines will cost up to 9p per minute. Call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute but are included in free call packages. If calling from overseas, please dial +44 (0)1604 973727

Editorial enquiries +44 (0)117 300 8754 9:30am–5:30pm, Mon–Fri Advertising enquiries

+44 (0)117 300 8803

Print subscription enquiries www.ourmediashop.com/contactus Digital subscription enquiries www.ourmediashop.com/contactus Editorial enquiries contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com

Subscription enquiries UK enquiries: FREEPOST OURMEDIA (please write in capitals) Overseas enquiries: PO Box 3320, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton, NN4 7BF, UK

Editorial enquiries Please write to the Editor, BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Our Media, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST

Become an Insider

The more we know about what you like, the better placed we are to bring you the best magazine possible. So we’d like to invite you to join our exclusive online community. To get started, visit ourinsiders.com to fill out the short registration survey and we’ll be in touch from time to time to ask for your opinions on the magazine and other relevant issues.

Sky at Night – lots of ways to enjoy the night sky…

Television

Find out what The Sky at Night team have been exploring in recent and past episodes on page 16

Online Visit our website for space news, astrophoto galleries, observing guides and more

Social media Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram for the latest astro news

Podcasts Discover the best things to see in the night sky every week by listening to our Star Diary podcast

Tablet/phone Get each month’s issue on your Apple or Android device, now with bonus image galleries eNewsletter The best targets to observe each week, delivered to your inbox. Visit b i t . l y/ skynewsletter

Find out more at: www.skyatnightmagazine.com

October 2024 BBC Sk y at Night Magazine

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