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CONTENTS

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T O

P H O

S T O C K

M C C A R T H Y/A L A M Y

A T T A R D

I L L I A M

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PA G E

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T H

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T O

P H O

S T O C K

S A N Z /A L A M Y

P E R E

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I M A G E

C O V E R

B B C

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N A S A /S D O

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L AW R E N C E

P E T E

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I O

T O S T U D

@ T H E S H E D _ P H O

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I M A G E S

I S T O C K /G E T T Y

L A /

B U Z Z O

A L B E R T O

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P E A C H

I A N

D A M

FeaturesFeatures

Features

28 See the Perseids in their prime

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How to get the best from this month’s exciting display

34 Catch Saturn’s rings before

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they disappear

Follow our beginners’ guide to photographing the ringed planet

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All about the incredible spectacle 40 The great American eclipses

60 10 locations to make you fall

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in love with the Moon again

Rekindle your passion with these off-the-beaten-track lunar sights

66 The mystery of solar

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maximum

Why the Sun is getting livelier

Regulars 6 Eye on the sky 11 Bulletin 16 Cutting edge 18 Inside The Sky at Night 20 Interactive 23 What’s on 25 Field of view 26 Subscribe to BBC Sky

at Night Magazine 72 Explainer 74 DIY astronomy 98 Q&A: a planetary expert

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Astrophotography 76 Capture 78 Processing 80 Gallery

4 BBC Sk y at Night Magazine August 2023

Reviews 86 Askar 130PHQ flatfield apo

refractor 90 iOptron HAE29 harmonic drive

mount with iPolar and tripod 94 Books 96 Gear

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16 -PAGE CENTRE PULLOUT

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The Sky Guide 44 Highlights 46 The big three 48 The planets 50 August’s all-sky chart 52 Moonwatch 53 Comets and asteroids 53 Star of the month 54 Binocular tour 55 The Sky Guide challenge 56 Deep-sky tour 58 August at a glance