Astronomy February 2011

What are galaxies trying to tell us?
By Bill Andrews
Astronomers are using the latest techniques to learn what gives galaxies their shapes, what governs their interaction, and how they evolve.
pg. 24

Captured moons of the giant planets
By Liz Kruesi
Most satellites of the outer solar system didn't form with their host planets. So where did they come from?
pg. 30

Where has all the lithium gone?
By Bruce Dorminey
A relative lack of lithium in ancient stars means scientists don't completely understand how stars evolve or how the Big Bang forged the first elements.
pg. 44

How to hunt galaxies from the suburbs
By Neale Monks
You can see galaxies through moderate light pollution. The key is knowing where to look.
pg. 52

Why Gen X and Y should care about astronomy
By Karen Jennings
It doesn't take a genius to see the lack of young adults in our hobby. Yet an appreciation of the universe should be right up their alley.
pg. 54

How the equatorial mount changed astronomy
By Raymond Shubinski
An innovative design that allowed telescopes to track the sky made it the star of the 19th century — and today.
pg. 58