On 8/8/11, Canopus56 <canopus56@yahoo.com> wrote:
S&T was redesigned within the last few years, and the magazine now features large eye-catching photographs at the start of each article in order to attract a general public audience. The article leader pictures could be reduced in size by 10 percent, still achieve their marketing objectives, but leave more room of SAO references. Unfortunately, unlike SAO hand-controller entries, a user cannot sync align on RA-DEC positions provided by S&T.
Remember that the design change accompanied a change of ownership. S&T is no longer owned by the senior editorial staff or the heirs of the original managing staff. It is now owned by a large media group, with all the ledger-centered decision making that accompanies such ownership. For better or worse. I'm sure it now takes a committee of marketing people to do something as simple as change a header. That said, I'm not it the camp that believes everything must be streamlined and made easier for the sake of novices or the new "typical" modern amateur. If someone's interest is genuine, they'll take the minimal effort required to look objects up. Knowledge is power and they ultimately will enjoy the hobby more through self-education and deepening of their understanding. If they are too entrenched in "instant" gratification, they will fall away, sooner or later. I suspect there is an online SAO cross-reference table available anyway. If not, there's your winter project, Kurt.