Got it Covered

Going to the mail box to check for bills and stuff is not typically an exciting thing... but opening up my mailbox on Saturday November 28th 2020 was quite a memorable event.  I was greeted by the view to the right- the cover of Sky and Telescope Magazine highlighting one of my images and the article within. WOW!

This is a really a rare thing and  holds particularly special meaning. I have worked at or visited many historic observatories and without fail there is always a library of dusty tomes somewhere astronomers reside. And on these bookshelves inevitably journals such as the "ApJ" (Astrophysical Journal) and other proceedings. Alongside them is always a collection of Sky and Telescope magazines dating back to perhaps the first issues in the 1940s and 1950s. Typically they are bound in folders- and equally typical the collection dwindles or stops with the advent of the digital age during this century. 

To date, there have been a little less than 1,000 issues/covers (assuming it has always been monthly) and I am so honored to grace one of them. Although my name has appeared within the folds of the magazine by image credits frequently- this is really on another level because now the images and their creator have a "voice" in the article I wrote. 

The article was a suggestion by the editor, Sean Walker, to describe image processing tips and techniques especially with respect to galaxies. I was intrigued by the idea and I guess I wrote the article I wanted to read- rather than the one that is conventionally written. When I submitted my first draft to Sean his initial response was "Well that's different." I couldn't read if that was a good thing or not, but with his expert editorial eye we iterated on the result seen in the January 2021 issue- and I think we both feel we landed in a good place.

If you do see a copy of the article I hope you enjoy the "voice" I gave to some of the images and if I do not write again before the holiday season I wish you all the best and a Happy New Year. 
​
-Adam