So, you want to become an astronomer? Maybe you had your
appetite for stargazing built up by all these rumors about a
monstrous Mars being visible this weekend, only to find out it's
just an Internet hoax. Don't fret: It turns out there are plenty
of opportunities to put your skywatching talents to good use -
especially if you're a kid (or a kid at heart). The first
opportunity is the Star Count project, backed by NASA and the
Canadian Space Agency. This exercise is endorsed by none other
than Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean, who's due to head for the
international space station along with five crewmates aboard the
space shuttle Atlantis this weekend. Star Count calls upon
students around the world to observe the night sky using simple
equipment (OK, it can be a cardboard tube or even a rolled-up
sheet of paper). You mark down how many stars you see, enter the
numbers into an online database - and the result will eventually
provide a good indication of how atmospheric light pollution in
various locales affec