The newest 2022 issue (Vol. 51 No. 2) of Mercury magazine is now available for our members!
Featured in this issue:
- The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration is now two for two. The first image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy, was revealed to the public three years after their groundbreaking image of galaxy M87’s black hole. The Earth-size telescope has now given astronomers two laboratories to study supermassive black holes, each with a different story to tell.
- Last month, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) team showed the world the observatory’s first views of the cosmos. These stunning images are a culmination of precision engineering, astronomical dreams, and complex software all working together to reveal a new cosmic view filled with discoveries. “I’m so thrilled and so relieved,” said JWST’s Senior Project Scientist John Mather following the release of these first images.
- In June, a wildfire hit the Kitt Peak National Observatory, burning several structures to the ground. (Good news, though, is all the telescopes and their buildings are still standing.)
- We also have our regular columnists describing the observational efforts related to the total lunar eclipse of 1638, encouraging having students evaluate their fellow group members, introducing a fascinating and enormous antimatter jet, and more. Download your copy of Mercury today to read all the latest space news and opinion!
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Liz Kruesi is the editor of Mercury magazine and Mercury Online. She has shared the stories of astronomy since 2005. Read more articles by Liz.