Welcome to the Summer 2008 issue of The Deep-Sky Observer.
It feels quite a challenge to succeed Owen Brazell, who has stepped down as Editor of the DSO after sixteen years in the post. Since he took the helm in 1992, the DSO has blossomed from an A5 black-and-white publication into an A4 glossy magazine with a full-colour cover and a wide variety of interesting articles inside. Our thanks are due to Owen for his many years of great work, and the task now is to maintain the standard that he has set.
A few words about myself. I have been an avid amateur astronomer since childhood; I first saw the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades with a small hand telescope when I was ten years old. I am primarily a visual observer, with much experience of observing and sketching deep-sky objects, usually with small to medium-sized telescopes -that is, telescopes of less than 10-inches (250mm) aperture. I also regularly observe the Sun, and I am the author of How to Observe the Sun Safely, published by Springer in 2002.
I hope you enjoy the current issue. My aim is to present a broad mixture of articles, from material of interest to beginners and users of small telescopes and binoculars to more advanced articles for users of large telescopes and CCD cameras. I also hope to strike a balance between articles presenting results of scientific value and material on recreational observing. I would also like to reintroduce reviews of books, software and astronomical equipment; an example of the latter category is Ron Morales' fine article on binoculars in this issue.
No magazine, however, can continue without its contributors, and more material is always needed. If you have made some interesting observations, or would like to review a book or a piece of equipment that you have purchased, do please consider writing it up and sending it to the DSO. Even just, say, 500 words on how you tracked down a very faint nebula, will be adequate. Articles should be e-mailed to me, preferably in Microsoft Word or Plain Text (Windows or ASCII). Images are also very welcome, as stand-alone items as well as accompaniments to articles. Please submit images in JPEG format and keep them below about 1 Megabyte in size. While on the subject of online matters, may I encourage you to visit the Society's website... www.webbdeepsky.com... recently improved and expanded by our Web Master, Tim Walker. The site contains much of interest to Society members and all deep-sky observers, including indexes to back issues of DSO, past Double Star Section circulars and links to other astronomical websites. Particularly useful is a bulletin board giving news items which arrive too late to be published in print form.
Finally, an advance date for your diary. The Webb Deep-Sky Society's Annual Meeting this year will be held on 6 December 2008 at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. Much more than an AGM, this meeting offers a whole day of great talks by top speakers on the deep-sky scene, from both the UK and overseas, as well as a selection of trade stands and the chance to discuss all matters deep-sky with your fellow enthusiasts. More details will be published on www.webbdeepsky.com as they become available.
Wishing you clear skies,
Lee Macdonald
Editor
E-mail: lt@macdonald42.freeserve.co.uk