Here’s where you’ll find examples of my feature writing* in magazines & journals.
Cover features
The new season starts here, Sky at Night Magazine, September 2010
This article is a guide to the top sights in the night skies from September 2010 to March 2011. It lists the best star clusters, galaxies and nebulae for each month, and also has details of when to look out for notable meteor showers and lunar features. With it you’ll have everything you need to plan your next six months of observing.
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The impossible star, Sky at Night Magazine, August 2010
In May 2010 the European Space Agency released an image, from the Herschel Infrared Space Telescope, showing a star being born that was more massive than current theories say should be possible. Astronomers dubbed it the ‘impossible star’. This article looks at this new finding and discusses the intriguing science behind the formation of massive stars.
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Dark matter: how astronomers are closing in on the hidden Universe, Sky at Night Magazine, July 2010
For decades astronomers have been at the forefront of research into the elusive substance known as ‘dark matter’. No one knows what it is though. This article looks at new research from astronomers who think that studying and observing a special type of star may be able to tell us about the very nature of dark matter itself.
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Astronomy needs you! Sky at Night Magazine, June 2010
Have you ever wanted to help scientists spot and track solar storms, examine distant galaxies, or even map the Martian surface? Today you can thanks to several online citizen astronomy projects which rely on help from interested members of the general public. This article looks at fifteen such projects with information on what they cover and how you can get involved.
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The deadly supernova, Sky at Night Magazine, April 2010
Could the world be destroyed by a supernova? Could a solar flare really fry us? How often do asteroids impact the Earth (and what happens when they do)? And could samples returned from space pose a threat to life on Earth? With the help of expert scientists this article takes a look at the reality of the cosmic disaster stories that are loved so much by Hollywood & the media.
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Seven Wonders of the Solar System, Sky at Night Magazine, February 2010
This article looks at the new BBC television series ‘Wonders of the Solar System’, presented by particle physicist Professor Brian Cox. Illustrated with spectacular images of each, the article explores the fascinating science behind the seven wonders and includes an interview with Professor Cox about his experiences filming the series at locations all over the world.
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Remote control, Sky at Night Magazine, November 2009
If you’re often clouded out from observing at home, would like to remotely operate a big telescope or want to try your hand at astro-imaging then using a robotic scope, over the Internet, may be for you. This article examines how to use remote observatories, how much they cost, how they work and where to find them.
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Theia – Search for the lost planet, Sky at Night Magazine, August 2009
Scientists think the Earth and Moon formed after a violent impact between two objects in the early Solar System — the proto-Earth and a body called Theia, which was destroyed. This feature explores Theia’s birth, how it came to crash into the proto-Earth as well as how you can help search for the remnants from its formation.
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Return to the Moon, Sky at Night Magazine, July 2009
As the world celebrates Apollo 11′s 40th anniversary NASA is already working on getting back to our nearest neighbour. In this 6 page feature Will Gater explores NASA’s new ‘Constellation’ programme, how its technology compares to Apollo’s, as well as how a lunar mission is expected to unfold.
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How you can see what Hubble sees, Sky at Night Magazine, May 2009
What do the Hubble Space Telescope’s targets look like through a typical amateur telescope? The answer is, of course, that they look very different indeed. This feature looks at 10 of Hubble’s finest images, with a finder chart and sketch for each — to show you how to locate them in the night sky and what you can actually expect to see.
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Observing Challenge, Sky at Night Magazine, March 2009
“40 stunning sights, 8 hours, 1 telescope” This month Sky At Night Magazine challenges you to observe 40 beautiful celestial objects, all in the course of one night. Amongst the 40 objects to observe are planets, nebulae and glorious galaxies too. So prepare for an amazing observing experience!
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The Next Supernova, Sky at Night Magazine, August 2008
When will the Milky Way’s next supernova occur? This article examines several stars within our Galaxy which may well be on the brink of becoming the Milky Way’s next supernova. Which one will explode first no one can really tell, however some appear more doomed than others!
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50 Wonders You Must See Before You Die, Sky at Night Magazine, August 2008
The night sky is full of thousands upon thousands of stunning celestial sights. Everything from planets, stars, comets, galaxies, the Moon, the aurorae, shooting stars and countless more. This is Sky At Night Magazine‘s definitive list of the 50 astronomical wonders you must see before you die. How many have you seen?
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Britain’s Moon Shot, Sky at Night Magazine, April 2008
A group of UK scientists are gearing up to send an unmanned mission to the Moon. The proposed Moonlite craft will deploy 4 special probes to the Moon’s surface to study its geological composition and interior. The results from these sensitive probes may help plan for going back to the Moon and even building lunar bases.
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Feature articles
(Cover stories in blue)
“The new season starts here”, Will Gater, August 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
“The impossible star“, Will Gater, August 2010, Sky at Night Magazine.
“Dark matter: how astronomers are closing in on the hidden Universe“, Will Gater, July 2010, Sky at Night Magazine
“Astronomy needs you!“, Will Gater, June 2010, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Enceladus: water world”, Will Gater, May 2010, Sky At Night Magazine.
“The deadly supernova“, Will Gater, April 2010, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Seven Wonders of the Solar System“, Will Gater, February 2010, Sky At Night Magazine.
“How the Milky Way was built”, article by Will Gater within feature by Robert Matthews, February 2010, BBC Knowledge Magazine.
“Remote control“, Will Gater, November 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Sky At Night Magazine interviews: Ann Druyan“, interview by Will Gater, October 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“How a galaxy grows”, spread by Will Gater within feature by Robert Matthews, September 2009, Focus.
“Search for the lost planet“, Will Gater, August 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Return to the Moon“, Will Gater, July 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“How to use Norton’s star atlas”, Will Gater, July 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Asteroids: why do we keep missing them?”, Will Gater, June 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“A safe landing”, Will Gater, Man on the Moon, 2009, Sky At Night Magazine collector’s edition.
“How you can see what Hubble sees“, Will Gater, May 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Meet the time traveller”, Will Gater, April 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Return to the Moon”, Will Gater, April 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Observing challenge“, Will Gater, March 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Landing a lab on Mars”, Will Gater, February 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Frenetic fields”, Will Gater, January 2009, Sky At Night Magazine.
“5 years of Mars Express”, Will Gater, December 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Your first telescope”, Will Gater, November 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Mercury surprising”, Will Gater, October 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“The next supernova“, Will Gater, September 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“50 wonders you must see before you die“, Will Gater, August 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Taking it further”, Will Gater, July 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Summer sights”, Will Gater, June 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Where do comets really come from?”, Will Gater, May 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Britain’s Moon shot“, Will Gater, Apr 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Save the skies, save the world”, Will Gater, Mar 2008, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Inside the ESA/Hubble Internship Programme”, Will Gater, Dec 2007, ST-ECF Newsletter 43, ST-ECF/ESA.
“On the hunt for celestial jewels”, Will Gater, Oct 2007, Devon Life.
“10 astronomy experiments for kids”, Will Gater, Sept 2007, Astronomy Now.
“A day out at Europe’s ‘Space city’”, Will Gater, Jun 2007, Astronomy Now.
“Columbus, deception and the lunar eclipse”, Will Gater, Mar 2007, Devon Life.
“Moon-mosaic magic”, Will Gater, Mar 2007, Astronomy Now.
“Awesome Andromeda”, Will Gater, Feb 2007, Astronomy Now.
“Dark-sky delights”, Will Gater, Jan 2007, Somerset Life.
“Celestial fireworks”, Will Gater, Nov 2006, Devon Life.
“How to…Sketch and log observations”, Will Gater, Nov 2006, Sky At Night Magazine.
“Magnetic Monster”, Will Gater, Nov 2006, Astronomy Now.
“Dust discs of destiny”, Will Gater, Oct 2006, Astronomy Now.
“Dark-sky delights”,Will Gater, Sept 2006, Devon Life.
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Journal articles
“Why should we bother to communicate astronomy?”, Will Gater, Communicating Astronomy With The Public Journal, Issue.2: p.30, International Astronomical Union Division XII, Commission 55. Also appears in June 2008, ST-ECF Newsletter.
“I Tune, You Tube, We Rule”, Will Gater & Raquel Yumi Shida, Communicating Astronomy With The Public Journal, Issue.1: p.30-31, International Astronomical Union Division XII, Commission 55.
*News articles, book reviews etc. are not currently listed.
