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CONTENTS

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FeaturesFeaturesFeatures

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28 Insight Investment

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Astronomy Photographer of the Year – The winners

We reveal the stunning 2020 victors in astronomy’s most prestigious photography prize

36 Observe Mars at its best

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October’s opposition of the Red Planet is the best opportunity to view the world for years to come

60 Neighbourhood watch:

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Tour our local galactic group

How to observe the Milky Way’s nearby galaxies this autumn

66 The comet that crumbled

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We look at what happens when a comet disintegrates and reveals the secrets at its core

neowise

special

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

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at Night Magazine 72 Explainer 74 DIY Astronomy 98 Q&A: a Mars moon scientist Astrophotography 76 Capture 78 Processing 80 Gallery

Reviews 86 Sky-Watcher Heritage-150P

Flextube Dobsonian 90 Bresser Spezial Astro SF

15x70 binoculars 94 Books 96 Gear

16-PAGE CENTRE PULLOUT

The Sky Guide 44 Highlights 46 The big three 48 The planets 50 October’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 October at a glance

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4 BBC Sky at Night Magazine October 2020