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Online Content Code: ASY1606<br />
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JUNE 2016<br />
VOL. 44, NO. 6<br />
CONTENTS<br />
FEATURES<br />
20 COVER STORY<br />
How we discovered<br />
Planet Nine<br />
In early 2016, astronomers<br />
stunned the world by announcing<br />
the discovery of a very distant<br />
outer planet in the solar system.<br />
Here is its story, direct from the<br />
team leader. MIKE BROWN<br />
26<br />
How Vera Rubin<br />
discovered dark matter<br />
This famous astronomer carved<br />
herself a well-deserved place in<br />
history. SARAH SCOLES<br />
32<br />
Asteroid Day to highlight<br />
space rock dangers<br />
June 30, 2016, will mark the<br />
108th anniversary of the Tunguska<br />
event. DAVID J. EICHER<br />
34<br />
Ask Astro<br />
36<br />
The Sky this Month<br />
MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND<br />
ALISTER LING<br />
38<br />
StarDome and<br />
Path of the Planets<br />
44<br />
Camille Flammarion’s<br />
amazing universe<br />
Through detailed astronomical<br />
texts and fanciful accounts, this<br />
French adventurer walked the<br />
line between science and science<br />
fiction. FRED NADIS<br />
50<br />
Confessions of an<br />
eagle-eyed observer<br />
No one believed an amateur<br />
astronomer saw such fine details<br />
in Saturn’s rings. Then Voyager<br />
saw them, too.<br />
STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA<br />
26<br />
54<br />
Protecting America’s<br />
last dark skies<br />
Few stargazing sites deliver like<br />
America’s national parks. But<br />
even these places are under<br />
threat. ERIC BETZ<br />
60<br />
Target gems of Scorpius<br />
Although low in the sky for<br />
northern observers, this constellation<br />
boasts fabulous targets for<br />
telescopes of all sizes.<br />
MICHAEL E. BAKICH<br />
64<br />
We test Vixen’s new<br />
eyepiece line<br />
Gorgeous machining, highquality<br />
optical components, and<br />
a few nice extras catapult these<br />
eyepieces to the top.<br />
MIKE REYNOLDS<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Planet Nine, depicted in this artist’s<br />
illustration, was amazingly<br />
discovered this year by a team of<br />
astronomers led by Mike Brown.<br />
COLUMNS<br />
Strange Universe 8<br />
BOB BERMAN<br />
For Your Consideration 12<br />
JEFF HESTER<br />
Observing Basics 14<br />
GLENN CHAPLE<br />
Secret Sky 18<br />
STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA<br />
Astro Sketching 66<br />
ERIKA RIX<br />
Cosmic Imaging 67<br />
ADAM BLOCK<br />
QUANTUM GRAVITY<br />
Snapshot 7<br />
Astro News 10<br />
IN EVERY ISSUE<br />
From the Editor 6<br />
Letters 8, 18, 67<br />
New Products 68<br />
Advertiser Index 73<br />
Reader Gallery 70<br />
Breakthrough 74<br />
DON DIXON FOR ASTRONOMY<br />
ONLINE<br />
FAVORITES<br />
Go to www.<strong>Astronomy</strong>.com<br />
for info on the biggest news and<br />
observing events, stunning photos,<br />
informative videos, and more.<br />
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News<br />
The latest<br />
updates from<br />
the science<br />
and hobby<br />
Picture<br />
of the Day<br />
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from around<br />
the world<br />
Observing<br />
Basics<br />
How to get the<br />
most from your<br />
equipment<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> (ISSN 0091-6358, USPS 531-350) is<br />
published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing<br />
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4 ASTRONOMY • JUNE 2016
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