Sky & Telescope March 2012
The March issue features a special report on a long-standing stellar mystery in astronomy: the nature of the star Epsilon Aurigae. Epsilon Aur has befuddled observers since they first noticed variations in its brightness nearly 200 years ago. Every 27 years the star dims for at least 18 months — but thereís no companion star to be seen that could explain the dip by blocking the light in an eclipse. Now, an international campaign by amateur and professional astronomers may finally have built up enough evidence to clear up the enigma.
Epsilon Aurigae isnít the only mystery in the March issue. A strange glow from Venusís nightside, called the ashen light, has puzzled astronomers even longer than Stencel's eclipsing binary. Thomas Dobbins explores what this light might be, admitting that he, too, once thought it was merely a trick of the eye until he saw it for himself.
Tracking down where the Sun might have shone its first light, spotting all five classical planets, and picking telescopes for peeking at the Sun — all these adventures and more can be had in the March issue. To find out more, read our online Table of Contents.
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