Mercury – ASP’s Online Magazine
For over 50 years, the ASP has proudly published Mercury magazine for its members. In 2023, we introduced a long-awaited digital version as a more interactive, and adaptable subscription-based online magazine featuring the many ways astronomy intersects with society - education, scientific research, art, culture, and history.
As the ASP embarks on an exciting new chapter with a Strategic Plan to guide our future we are temporarily pausing Mercury's current format. At the same time, we are reimagining Mercury as a dynamic new media platform that will continue to tell inspiring stories about the many ways astronomy intersects with society. We're thrilled about this new direction and look forward to sharing it with you in the near future.
Beginning March 19, 2025 all existing Mercury website content will remain free of subscription fees and available to everyone. Additionally, our complete archive of Mercury issues from 2007 to 2023 will remain accessible and will be fully searchable for your convenience beginning April 1. We encourage you to explore and enjoy these resources.
Access Now
Beginning March 28, 2025 the Mercury website will continue to be available in its current format along with the archive issues (now searchable) between 2007 - 2023 without a subscription. Please note that content will not be updated or added. Subscriptions to Mercury are currently not available. If you have any questions about your subscription, please do not hesitate to contact us at mercury@astrosociety.org
Visit our FAQ page for additional information
History
Mercury began as the membership publication of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. For decades, the magazine has brought stories about astronomy and astronomy education to the ASP members. The first issue of Mercury magazine appeared in January 1972 as a bimonthly popular journal to provide better public understanding of astronomy. It was intended to interpret the results of astronomical research for the non-specialist and was filled with high-quality space news, opinions, guides and features to the Society's members.
By 2007, Mercury magazine was offered in printed and digital form transitioning to all-digital a year later as the world turned digital. The year of 2021 marked Volume 50 of this publication, a time when we began to explore ways to bring this high-quality publication to a wider audience. Between 2019 - 2023 the ASP website also featured Mercury Online, including our recognized columnists and current space news in a blog format.
Beginning in January 2024, the ASP launched the new Mercury online magazine to offer the public the opportunity to subscribe to Mercury.
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