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As a sidebar to Rod Mollise's article on the astronomy magazines:

Sometimes the content is there, but important information is "Tombstoned," and unless one reads carefully, doesn't receive the attention that it should.

On the other hand, sensationalism (very speculative) reigns.

Case in point, July issue of Astronomy; article: "Are we looking for life in the right places?" I really get tired of this question, and the usual hand waving that it generates. The astrobiologists need to ask this question of some of the top tier organic and inorganic chemists for their answers. Much of the speculation would vanish, since CHEMISTRY RULES in this arena. Silicon chemistry is very difficult to perform under lab conditions, and temperature problems tend to be minimized in these discussions (or maybe the laws of thermodynamics temporarily suspended).

Then, in the same issue, a two sentence report of the discovery of aminoacetonitrile in a gas cloud near the galactic center! Sentence 2: "Scientists think the molecule is a direct precursor to the amino acid glycine." There is no "think" about it; it IS a direct precursor to glycine. Aminoacetonitrile and (gasp!) WATER (2 moles of water, to be exact) yield a mole of glycine, and a mole of ammonia. To me, this is a very significant discovery. Nitriles are a general intermediate in the synthesis of carboxylic acids; I predict that in a relatively short time, other nitriles will be discovered that will be the chemical precursors to alanine, leucine, valine , and others.

I prefer to focus on real science, and not speculation. I seldom buy Astronomy or Sky 'n' 'Scope anymore. This has only happened recently. I do like to have bathroom reading material, tho'.

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I think ASTRONOMY magazine has almost always included some more "speculative" material. I recall getting one of the very first issues when the magazine started up, and one of the main articles was, "The Zeta Reticuli Incident" (Dec. 1974 issue). Sky and Telescope has tended to stay away from that level of "journalism", although it is wavering a bit with some of the current issues. Face it, their job is to sell magazines and not necessarily to "sell scientific astronomy". Clear skies to you.

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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info

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