If you could only subscribe to one of these magazines, which would it be and why? What is the difference between the two? What sub-niche does each serve? What is it about the one you prefer that's an advantage over the other?

I'm looking to subscribe to one of them (yes, only one - the reasons don't matter) and I need to know which one would be best for me. I'm going to deduce this by finding out why people prefer one or the other.

As far as I can tell, Sky & Telescope focuses more on equipment and observing, more catering to amateur astronomers, while Astronomy focuses on astronomy as a whole, more for science buffs. Really though, they're more similar than they are different.

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You can't really tell the difference between drunken rambling and sober blogging.

Astronomy is for anyone interested in the subject. S&T is for more advanced amateurs.

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Any day you wake up on "the right side of the dirt" is a good day.

T. Anderson

I was a subscriber to S&T for over 10 years. In that time, I've seen it go from an information based magazine to a sensationalist based magazine. Basically, they've dumbed it down and made it more of a 'rag' than a 'mag'. I've since dropped my subscription.

OTOH, Astronomy has maintained it's level of intelligence and not treated it's readers as uneducated neophytes. It helps that David Levy now writes for Astronomy instead of S&T. Note: David does write a blog for S&T.

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DETAILS: Where the Devil waits to ensnare the unprepared!
Remember. Just because I'm sure doesn't mean I'm right.
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again.

What do you mean "sensationalist"?

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You can't really tell the difference between drunken rambling and sober blogging.

Astronomy for me, with occasional forays into S&T.
It's been a looooong time and love my friends at Astronomy.

edit: Joshua,
quote:...and I need to know which one would be best for me. I'm going to deduce this by finding out why people prefer one or the other.unquote

Only you can decide your preferences, regardless of what others prefer. Don't you think?

...and ... welcome to BAUT!

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clear skies

If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. CARL SAGAN

Mak: Pass the pepperoni please.
Fazor: "Hail, Bautainia! We pledge our hearts to thee! Science and woo, some babbling too, and astron-oh-meee!"
slang: And it made ash out of yew and tree.

Presenting something as more sinister/diabolic/disastrous than it really is. Watch your local evening news for an example.

__________________
I don't ask stupid questions. I just make stupid statements!!!
DETAILS: Where the Devil waits to ensnare the unprepared!
Remember. Just because I'm sure doesn't mean I'm right.
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again.

No, I know what sensationalist means. I'm asking why you think Sky and Telescope is sensationalist.

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You can't really tell the difference between drunken rambling and sober blogging.

The titles of stories on the cover smack, to me, of a sensationalist approach to presenting the material. Also, there were some of this present in the articles themselves.

As I have thrown out my past copies of S&T, I can't give you specific examples, so don't bother asking for them.

__________________
I don't ask stupid questions. I just make stupid statements!!!
DETAILS: Where the Devil waits to ensnare the unprepared!
Remember. Just because I'm sure doesn't mean I'm right.
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again.

I made exactly the opposite move, for the same reason.
Astronomy seemed to be turning into little more than a litany of "amazing things to tell your kids", and I dumped it several years ago in favour of S&T, which from time to time still tells me stuff I didn't know and find interesting. (The occasional series of articles in which astronomical events in history or art are reconstructed, for instance.)

Grant Hutchison