Welcome!
Thanks for stopping by.
Chances are if you’ve found this web site it’s because you’ve heard of me through my writing for Sky &Telescope and SkyNews, or because of one of the books I’m associated with. And if you like that kind of thing, then I think you’ll enjoy what you find here — to a large extent it’ll be more of the same.
The great thing about a web page though is that I can get into a subject in depth without worrying about trying to fit it onto a limited number of pages. Not that I plan on abandoning the disciplined, to-the-point, style I’m known for. It’s just nice to be able to stretch out a bit and explore some territory that for one reason or another ends up on the proverbial cutting room floor. And because I’m interested in things besides astronomy, you’ll also find me digging into other subjects too.
I’ll be adding new items every few days, so stop by often. I hope you’ll find the articles I post here interesting, informative, and even occasionally, provocative. My goal is to make this Web site a part of your routine and a place where you can find reliable information on subjects that interest you. Please drop me a line and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see more (or even, less) of.
Lastly, using the links provided for purchasing your stuff from Amazon.com helps keep this site up and running. It doesn’t matter if you buy one of my books, or just a pair of socks — it all counts. And best of all, doing so costs you nothing. To directly link through to Amazon.com, click here. Canadian readers can use this link to go to Amazon.ca if preferred. Thanks!
Stay tuned, and enjoy!
Gary
Biography
An award-winning writer, experienced lecturer, observer, and equipment reviewer, Gary Seronik has been fascinated by the night sky since childhood. Indeed, he began subscribing to Sky & Telescope magazine in 1973 when he was only 12 years old! “The truth is, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawn to the night sky. Maybe part of the reason was that my family lived on an orchard under a splendid, dark rural sky. For me, the stars were as much a part of nature as the birds in the trees and the bugs crawling on the ground,” he recalls.
In the early 1990’s, Gary’s passion for sharing the wonders of the night sky eventually lead him to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he wrote and produced planetarium shows. In 1996 he began writing for Sky & Telescope and joined the staff full-time as an associate editor in 1998 and was a contributing editor until 2016, when he took over from Terence Dickinson as editor of the highly regarded Canadian astronomy publication, SkyNews. In November, 2019, Gary re-joined S&T as a consulting editor.
He enjoys a wide range of observing pursuits from studying intricate details on the surface of the Moon to seeking out faint fuzzies at the limits of perception. One of Gary’s favourite activities is binocular observing — he’s author of Binocular Highlights: 109 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users.
But when it comes to his absolute favourite telescope target, Gary will quickly tell you that for him, nothing beats the Moon — though Jupiter comes in a close second. His lunar observing and imaging skills are put to good use while at S&T. Gary served as editor for the new edition of Antonín Rükl’s classic Atlas of the Moon and for Charles A. Wood’s highly regarded book, The Modern Moon. But of all the Moon products he has helped bring to fruition, Gary is proudest of the recently published Field Map of the Moon, which he regards as the ideal telescopic companion for dedicated lunatics like himself.
Over the years Gary has ground mirrors for numerous homebuilt telescopes, several of which have appeared in the pages of S&T. Many of the magazine’s readers will remember articles describing his 6-inch f/9 planetary Newtonian and his 8-inch f/4 travelscope. Currently, his favourite instrument is his home built 12¾-inch Dobsonian travelscope, which has already flown with him to a number of far-flung locations, including Costa Rica.
Gary continues to enjoy exploring the night sky, making telescopes, and writing about it all from his home near Penticton, British Columbia.
(For more information, you can read an interview with Gary here.)