Articles
Here’s where you’ll find examples of Will’s writing* in magazines & journals.
JUMP TO A SECTION: COVER STORIES | COLUMNS | FEATURE ARTICLES | JOURNAL ARTICLES
Cover stories
NASA needs you!
Sky at Night Magazine
November 2012 [Also published online]
In 2016 NASA will launch a spacecraft to the near-Earth asteroid 1999 RQ36. The probe, OSIRIS-REx, will explore the asteroid and, hopefully, return a sample of it to Earth. As part of the mission, scientists are asking amateur astronomers to observe asteroids so that more can be learnt about objects like 1999 RQ36. In this article Will interviews the scientists working on the mission and finds out how amateurs can get involved with the project.
15 years of Cassini
Sky at Night Magazine
October 2012
On 15 October 1997 NASA launched the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. Today, Cassini is still exploring the Ringed Planet. This article celebrates the mission’s fifteenth anniversary by looking at some of the stunning images the spacecraft has returned, from spectacular panoramas of the whole planet and its ring system to close-up views of its moons. The feature also includes an interview with Cassini project scientist Dr Linda Spilker.
The violent Sun
Sky at Night Magazine
July 2012
Every second our star seethes away, its surface erupting and churning as it releases vast amounts of energy. Enormous arches of plasma leap from its limb while its surface is routinely peppered with sizzling regions of magnetic activity. These are nothing, however, compared to some of the solar events that astronomers have recently witnessed. This article looks at two of these phenomena – solar tornadoes and sunquakes – and explores what we can learn from studying these spectacular outbursts.
Top 10 sights of 2012
Sky at Night Magazine
January 2012
2012 promises to be an exciting year for amateur astronomy with the return of the BBC’s Stargazing LIVE series, a total solar eclipse, and a transit of the planet Venus across the Sun’s blazing disc. In this article Will looks at the ten must-see celestial sights of 2012. Elsewhere in the issue Will interviews Professor Brian Cox about the new series of Stargazing LIVE and finds out what it’s like behind-the-scenes on the set of the BBC’s spectacular live astronomy show.
Secrets of the Moon revealed
Sky at Night Magazine
December 2011
In recent years scientists have discovered that the Moon is not quite the barren world we thought it was. The results from NASA’s LCROSS probe & several other missions, for example, have shown that water is present over much of its surface. Indeed this is just one of the mysteries of the Moon. In this article Will interviews some of the scientists who are revealing some of these lunar secrets to find out what their research tells us about the history and formation of our nearest neighbour.
Curiouser & curiouser
BBC Knowledge Magazine
November/December 2011
As part of a Mars special of BBC Knowledge Magazine Will looks at the mission of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory rover named ‘Curiosity’. It faces an incredible journey to Mars, culminating in a spectacular landing using a rocket powered crane. Elsewhere in the Mars special editor Sally Palmer looks at the Mars 500 project, while Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees discusses the economics & ethics of exploring the Red Planet.
The new season starts now
Sky at Night Magazine
September 2011
As the dark night skies return, Will takes a looks at what celestial sights are in store over the next few months. From an overview of the constellations on show to details of the planets and deep sky objects to look out for, this feature covers the top observing targets between October and March. The article also includes details of the major UK star parties being held during the new observing season.
Comets in disguise
Sky at Night Magazine
March 2011
In December 2010 astronomers monitoring the night sky with the Catalina Sky Survey, in Arizona, spotted something unusual happening in the asteroid belt. This is the story of that discovery. This article examines the unusual Solar System bodies known as ‘main-belt comets’ with a focus on the newly recognized member of this group, asteroid Scheila. The feature explores what we know about these objects so far and even what they might be able to tell us about Earth’s history.
A planet like Earth
Sky at Night Magazine
December 2010
This article tells the story of the ongoing search for planets around other stars (known as exoplanets). In particular it focuses on some of the most interesting exoplanetary systems found so far. At the heart of the story are the planets orbiting the star Gliese 581, and the possible detection of a roughly 3 Earth-mass world sitting in Gliese 581′s habitable zone.
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.
The impossible star
Sky at Night Magazine
August 2010
In May 2010 the European Space Agency released an exciting new image, from the Herschel Infrared Space Telescope. It showed 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.
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.
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 – from Galaxy Zoo to Stardust@Home and the HiWish project – with information on what they cover and how you can get involved.
The deadly supernova
Sky at Night Magazine
April 2010
Could the world be destroyed by an exploding star (known as a supernova)? Could a solar flare (a powerful explosion on the Sun) really fry us? How often do asteroids or comets impact the surface of the Earth (and what happens when they do)? And could samples returned from space really 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.
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 the particle physicist Professor Brian Cox. Illustrated with spectacular images of each, the article explores the fascinating science behind the seven wonders and what they tell us about our Universe. The article also includes an interview with Professor Cox about his experiences filming the series at locations all over the world.
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 just want to try your hand at astro-imaging, then using a robotic scope (over the Internet) may be for you. This article examines how you can use the different remote observatories around the world, how much they each cost to use, how they work and where you’ll find them.
Theia – search for the lost planet
Sky at Night Magazine
August 2009
Scientists think that the Earth and Moon formed after a violent impact between two objects, sometime in the early history of the Solar System. The objects were the proto-Earth and a body called Theia, which was destroyed in the collision. This feature explores Theia’s birth, how it came to crash into the proto-Earth long ago, as well as how you can help scientists search through spacecraft images for the remnants from its formation.
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. This detailed 6 page feature explores the bold new plans of NASA’s new ‘Constellation’ programme, how its technology compares to that of the Apollo missions, as well as the details of how a lunar mission is expected to unfold.
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.
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. Among the 40 objects to observe are planets, nebulae and glorious galaxies too. So wrap up warm and prepare for an amazing observing experience!
The next supernova
Sky at Night Magazine
August 2008
When will the Milky Way’s next supernova occur? Which star in our Galaxy might explode? 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!
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. From planets to stars, comets, galaxies, the Moon, the aurorae, shooting stars and much much more. This article details Sky At Night Magazine‘s definitive list of the 50 astronomical wonders you must see before you die. How many have you seen?
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.
Feature articles
(Cover stories in blue)
“Light revolution“, Will Gater, April 2013, Sky at Night Magazine
“Stargazing for Beginners“, Will Gater, January 2013, Countryfile Magazine.
“NASA needs you!“, Will Gater, November 2012, Sky at Night Magazine
“15 years of Cassini“, Will Gater, October 2012, Sky at Night Magazine
“The violent Sun“, Will Gater, July 2012, Sky at Night Magazine
“55 years of The Sky at Night“, Will Gater, April 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
“The observers’ guide to star parties“, Will Gater, March 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
“Top 10 sights of 2012“, Will Gater, January 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
“Stargazing LIVE returns!”, Will Gater, January 2012, Sky at Night Magazine.
“Secrets of the Moon revealed“, Will Gater, December 2011, Sky at Night Magazine.