Astronomy 2018-02.pdf

The mystery of FAST RADIO BURSTS p.20FEBRUARY 2018EXPLORE the Large Magellanic Cloud p.32Hunt Orions deep-sky gems p.50Enceladus on Earth p.44EXCLUSIVE!New Horizons explores the Kuiper Belt p.26 www.AVol.46 Issue 2The world s best-selling astronomy magazine PLUS!COMPLETE SKY EVENT COVERAGEp.36NEW RESEARCHDISCOVER the sky with a small scope p.56TOUR Monoceros the Unicorn p.60CHECK OUT Fornax LighTrack II mount p.62BONUS ONLINE CONTENT CODE p.4BONUS ONLINE CONTENT CODE p.4SEND US YOUR OLD EQUIPMENT FOR CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW L-SERIES MOUNTDIRECT-DRIVE HIGH-RES ENCODERS ALT/AZ OR EQUATORIAL SLEWS 50O PER SECONDNEW L-SERIES MOUNTSBUYBACK PROGRAMEXCLUSIVELY WITHL350$10,000100 LB.PAYLOADL600$29,000300 LB.PAYLOAD$18,000200 LB.PAYLOADL500MOUNT ONLYWWW.OPTCORP.COM 800-483-6287AVAILABLE ATYou ll have 5 uninterrupted evenings of private,southern sky stargazing from the grounds of our star lodge,plus:Daily birding and nature walks with anexpert guide.A relaxed atmosphere with no distractions.Special included day excursion to a macaw sanctuary.15th AnnualP31155Reserve your spot today!Learn more A superb views of the southern night sky exploring the Southern Cross,the Eta Carinae Nebula,Omega Centauri,and the countless Milky Way gems found in Scorpius and Sagittarius.Join us March 10-17,2018,in Costa Rica for an unforgettable star party!CONTENTSTrips and Tours Travel the world with the staff of Astronomy.News The latest updates from the science and the hobby.Sky This Week A daily digest of celestial events.Picture of the DayGorgeous photos from our readers.4 ASTRONOMY FEBRUARY 201820 COVER STORYCosmic firecrackers:The mystery of fast radio bursts These bright but fleeting explosions unleash more energy than the Sun produces in a day and yet we dont even know what causes them.YVETTE CENDES26New Horizons explores the Kuiper Belt On January 1,2019,NASAs Pluto explorer will fly past a distant,enigmatic world left over from the solar systems birth.S.ALAN STERN32Explore the LMCThe Large Magellanic Cloud,the Milky Ways largest satellite galaxy,contains a vast number of deep-sky gems.DON GOLDMAN AND JOSEP DRUDIS34Ask AstroOur solar system.36Sky This MonthMorning planet trio.MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND ALISTER LING38StarDome and Path of the PlanetsRICHARD TALCOTT;ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROEN KELLY44Enceladus on Earth Michael Carroll and Rosaly Lopes visit Antarctica to learn what the frigid continent can tell scientists about icy moons.MICHAEL CARROLL AND ROSALY LOPES50Hunt Orions deep-sky gems You know the Orion Nebula.Now discover many more telescopic sights within winters showpiece constellation.PHIL HARRINGTON56Around the sky with a small scope Think you need a huge telescope to get anything out of astronomy?Think again.GLENN CHAPLE60Meandering through Monoceros Spend some time observing the Unicorns wonders.MICHAEL E.BAKICH62Fornax LighTrack II mount tested Light weight,ease of use,and high accuracy make this mount a terrific choice.JONATHAN TALBOTCOLUMNSStrange Universe 8BOB BERMANFor Your Consideration 14JEFF HESTERSecret Sky 18STEPHEN JAMES OMEARABinocular Universe 66PHIL HARRINGTONObserving Basics 68GLENN CHAPLEQUANTUM GRAVITYSnapshot 7Astro News 10IN EVERY ISSUEFrom the Editor 6 Astro Letters 9 New Products 64Advertiser Index 67 Reader Gallery 70Breakthrough 74FEATURESFEBRUARY 2018VOL.46,NO.226Astronomy(ISSN 0091-6358,USPS 531-350)is published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing Co.,21027 Crossroads Circle,P.O.Box 1612,Waukesha,WI 531871612.Periodicals post-age paid at Waukesha,WI,and additional offices.POSTMASTER:Send address changes to Astronomy,P.O.Box 62320,Tampa,Fla.33662-2320.Canada Publication Mail Agreement#40010760.ONLINE FAVORITES Go to www.A for info on the biggest news and observing events,stunning photos,informative videos,and more.DON DIXON FOR ASTRONOMYON THE COVER Fast radio bursts present a cosmic mystery that astronomers are just beginning to unravel.Online Content Code:ASY1802Enter this code at: gain access to web-exclusive contentWWW.ASTRONOMY.COM5The Sky-Watcher USA Star Adventurer multi-purpose mount is perfect for anyone Milky Way photographers,eclipse chasers and budding astrophotographers.Compact and portable,its the ideal night-and-day,grab-and-go package.The Star Adventurer converts easily from a tracking photo mount to a grab-and-go EQ astronomical mount.Allowing you to spend more time doing what you love and less time setting up.For a list of specifications,features and available accessories,please go to 2018 Sky-Watcher USA.Specifications and pricing subject to change without notice.20-17020 What do you think of our new signature colors on our products?Send us an email.Dont forget to follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram!Follow A ASTRONOMY FEBRUARY 2018BY DAVID J.E ICHERFROM THE EDITOREditor David J.EicherArt Director LuAnn Williams BelterEDITORIALManaging Editor Kathi Kube Senior Editors Michael E.Bakich,Richard TalcottAssociate Editors Alison Klesman,Jake ParksCopy Editors Dave Lee,Elisa R.NeckarARTGrap